Author Topic: Turning bone/antler into nocks?  (Read 3891 times)

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Offline stringstretcher

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Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« on: March 17, 2010, 11:16:51 am »
For the poor boy with limited power tools, what would be some ways to cut antler, bone down into nocks for cane arrows.  From taking a cow horn or piece of antler, how do you go about getting a round piece of stock to taper to put into the cane?

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2010, 11:25:34 am »
Anything that can be done with power tools can be done with hand tools. Files work great for shaping horn and bone. You can also rub it on a rock like we did to sharpen sticks when we were kids.  ;)
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Offline stringstretcher

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Re: Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2010, 11:28:17 am »
MMMMMMMM...rubbing on rocks........now that is definately the poor boys method.......lol

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2010, 12:17:13 pm »
I usually saw out a long strip with a square cross-section, then chuck it up in a drill and round it off with a file, coarse sandpaper or the belt sander. When you get it round, then cut it into bite-sized pieces.
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Offline Mechslasher

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Re: Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2010, 12:33:17 pm »
the best powertool you can buy for making cane arrow nocks is a dremmel 1" belt/disk sander.  i think lowe's has them for around $90.  i've about worn mine out, but it has lasted for over 15 years.  another great investment is a smallish bandsaw.  a 9" is less than $100.  i drill is also nice for cutting the tapers in cane for the nocks and foreshafts.  with these tools, i can cut, shape, and fit a dozen antler nocks in an hour.
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gutpile

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Re: Turning bone/antler into nocks?
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2010, 03:16:44 pm »
Chris you the man....but those are simply called primitive bandsaw and primitive belt sanders..if you saw mine you would say they are primitive...LOL...old and worn....