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Post by tims on May 6, 2018 15:26:28 GMT -5
A friend sent me a couple bear teeth, they're painted and drilled. She thought the drill holes would be insufficient to hold up with just a jump ring and I agree. She wants me to "wrap them" but has no idea what she wants, just something to make a sturdy and attractive pendant. I have an idea in mind but thought I'd ask for suggestions here as well. Here are the teeth:
The drill holes are close to the top, and the teeth seem obviously prone to splitting. I don't want to cover the cool painting. Was thinking of just wrapping a single wire up from below the hole, passing it through the hole to keep it from sliding off, then continuing wrapping above the hole and figuring out a bail. Just writing that now though has me wondering about a single wire bail and how secure the wrap above the hole would be at supporting weight. The rounded knob of the root doesn't look very cooperative either. And not much room to work between drill hole and paint.
Anyway, suggestions welcome. Could forget the hole and do some kind of capture wrap on the whole tooth. What would you try? |
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Post by orrum on May 6, 2018 17:31:31 GMT -5
Better b careful, brown and griz teeth have to have documentation. Black bear none needed.
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Post by MsAli on May 6, 2018 17:38:29 GMT -5
Looks like black bear canines. I would think a jump ring would hold up on those.
Personally I would run elk or deer leather strips through them
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Post by rockjunquie on May 6, 2018 18:29:31 GMT -5
I would do something like this- leaving off the loops on the face so as not to detract from the painting. Start the bottom hole in your wires with a hole big enough to come up under the painting. Then work your way up the sides with the wires. You can use the hole to kinda fortify the wrap and keep it in place- if you know what I mean.  |
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Post by toiv0 on May 6, 2018 18:35:52 GMT -5
My first thought is a Naja. I would smith a center to connect or carve, then something small to go between.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 6, 2018 18:37:48 GMT -5
My first thought is a Naja. I would smith a center to connect or carve, then something small to go between. What's a naja? Is that a Native American thing? eta- I google imaged it. Can't picture this done that way though. |
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Post by MsAli on May 6, 2018 19:23:55 GMT -5
My first thought is a Naja. I would smith a center to connect or carve, then something small to go between. I like that idea. |
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Post by vegasjames on May 6, 2018 19:37:11 GMT -5
Can you find a tiny metal tube to put in the drilled hole for support? Then you could put a loop in there without wearing on the tooth.
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Post by tims on May 6, 2018 20:34:11 GMT -5
Better b careful, brown and griz teeth have to have documentation. Black bear none needed. Something I hadn't considered. I don't / won't own either of these and didn't request they be sent to me. I'm not charging any fee to work on them. My friend is Lakota but she received these from her acquaintance, someone I know nothing about. I will verify with her before going any further. |
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Post by tims on May 6, 2018 20:37:41 GMT -5
Can you find a tiny metal tube to put in the drilled hole for support? Then you could put a loop in there without wearing on the tooth. Possible, but I'm less concerned about friction / wear than I am about the weight of the piece causing a split. If I use the hole I'd like some sort of binding around the piece to ensure it couldn't split apart. |
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Post by tims on May 6, 2018 20:44:33 GMT -5
The naja idea looks great, but I doubt my ability to create it. I'm also hoping not to invest too much effort into the project --- I just don't have the time to spare.
I think Tela's concept would probably be the most foolproof and manageable style for me to tackle, and far superior to my original thoughts.
Thanks everyone for all the input.
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Post by MsAli on May 6, 2018 20:55:20 GMT -5
tims really easy way to tell us measure them I'm pretty sure its black bear based off the root Grizzly and browns have a wide root base and are long.
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Post by MsAli on May 6, 2018 20:56:26 GMT -5
Traditionally they ran leather thru them with beads. You can also cap it   |
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
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Post by wampidytoo on May 6, 2018 23:26:19 GMT -5
I would center the wire on the back behind the hole, bend both around to the front, push both ends through the hole, bend them up and make a bail. They will be cinched on both sides and very simple.
Jim
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fishermenrock
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2010
Posts: 70 
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Post by fishermenrock on May 7, 2018 1:52:50 GMT -5
You could wrap wire around the tooth in several bands then come through the hole out the front and make the bail. No glue required, the wire passing through the hole would keep it from slipping off the top.
You could even cross the wires in the front as a sort of braid.
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Post by fernwood on May 7, 2018 5:32:35 GMT -5
I have seen the style MsAli mentioned with the cap embellished. Some have the leather threaded through the top of the cap (which is glued to the tooth), providing a double layer of strength. |
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