Comprehensive Scrimshaw Tutorial for Tools and Techniques

Scrimshaw carving is an ancient art dating back to prehistoric times. Scrimshaw is essentially scratching lines into bone, ivory, tusk, or horn, and then filling those in with ink.Brian Stockman is a master carver who has practiced scrimshaw for more than 45 years. In this comprehensive guide you will learn the basic techniques of scrimshaw and which tools to use for different effects.
You're probably also interested in How to Scrimshaw a Whale:
• How to Scrimshaw a Wha...
00:00 Scrimshaw Tools and Techniques
00:40 Brian's scrimshaw bona fides
01:00 Most basic tool: X-acto knife
01:50 Scrimshaw styles
02:00 Prep work on material (bone/horn/ivory)
03:32 Ink surface black (optional)
04:20 TOOLS
04:22 Round point scribe
04:44 Triangle point scribe
05:18 Straight chisel (various sizes)
06:20 Hawkbill knife
06:26 Flat triangle plow
06:45 TECHNIQUES
07:00 Straight edge (Hawkbill knife)
07:44 Walking/Rocker engraving (Chisels)
09:55 Turkey Call (Turkey wing bone material)
10:51 Curved lines (Triangle point scribe)
11:47 Dots/points (Triangle point scribe)
12:12 Porcupine symbol
12:47 Very curvy lines / Autographing (Round point scribe)
14:00 Shading / Pointing (Round point scribe)
14:36 Foreshading /Crosshatching (Hawkbill knife)
15:24 Happy little tree (Round point scribe)
16:05 Straight bold line (Flat triangle plow)
17:30 Inking
19:25 Review
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Brian Stockman is a master carver with a deep knowledge of traditional wood, stone, bone, and ivory carving.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks for watching -- I hope that you found this Scrimshaw tutorial helpful for your learning process. If so, you'll be interested in this video (How to Scrimshaw a Whale) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4utooSje8uXj7M

[@sithlordsoup]

That’s good scrimshaw

[@michaelbanks898]

Brave men all, lost sons of New Bedford

[@thebusbums2825]

Lost sons of New Bedford

[@henryspadt6160]

I didn’t get the joke until I typed scrimshaw since I wanna learn how to improve and the 3rd result was family guy

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Henry, that’s funny cause I’ve never seen family guy so I was like” what’s that all about?” Well anyway, I hope you got something helpful out of our video. Happy New Year and happy scrimming.

[@ozlozano9470]

The Bob Ross of bone carving “ the happy little tree” 🌲 I love it!!

[@StockmanOriginal]

😁

[@morsmb1]

I wish for more videos informative like this one. How to carve bone to create amazing art! Not many making this type of art and its kind of a shame. Thank you so much teaching us

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Moira, we’re so happy that you found our channel, and that you enjoyed this video. Yes , we have more coming concerning bone carving. There seems to be a lot of interest in this.

[@morsmb1]

@@StockmanOriginal would really love to see how you make more engravings So excited for the new videos coming and thank you answering

[@PhilEvansOnline]

I found out about Scrimshaw today and then found this video, what an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing! Your latest fan, Phil.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Phil, we are so happy to have you in our tribe.

[@dennisfant2620]

I have some powder horns I have been working on. This is by far the best video I have seen on types of tips and how they cut.. I'm saving this video . I'm wanting to put GPS coordinates on my horns. To hide my secret treasure spots.. Ha! Na. Just my favorite places to hunt or be in the woods. Hoping when I'm gone under somebody will find them and get to see the beautiful wilderness.. Awesome video and beautiful work.. Thanks for sharing!!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks for watching, Dennis! Appreciate your kind comment!

[@usmcretired2112]

A friend mentioned your name and I followed the link here. WOW....I will subscribe at once, I'm hooked. I have always dreamed about getting started, thank you for the fire I needed. Hap Smith Jr. 2112 U.S. Marine Corps (retired)

[@StockmanOriginal]

Welcome to the tribe Hap! We’re so happy you found us, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your service.

[@usmcretired2112]

@@StockmanOriginal As for my service, thank you. It was my honor, all 20 years. Did what I loved (gunsmith) and made life long friends. I will try to not be too much of a pest with questions. As I mentioned somewhere recently, "I'm taking baby steps at this point." Very interesting ART.

[@ff-ou4sb]

Great video and the highlighted close ups of the still image worked really well. Thank you!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you for watching!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Check out our latest scrimshaw video as well: How to Scrimshaw a Whale (Your First Scrimshaw Project) kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4utooSje8uXj7M

[@davedelany2116]

After having a try at scrimshaw myself, I have a whole new appreciation for your art and how easy you make it look 🤯 I definitely need to work on some decent tools and practice practice practice 😜

[@Archer838]

I agree. He makes it look much easier than it actually is! Great artist

[@Obersturmbannfuhrer14Asperger]

Pointilism(?) is about the best I could come up with

[@Archer838]

Thanks for posting this video. Very interesting

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you so much James for checking out our channel, we sure appreciate your support.

[@Old52Guy]

Outstanding! I'm just starting and this is very helpful. Thanks

[@StockmanOriginal]

Welcome aboard Old52Guy, we will be putting up more scrimshaw videos soon.

[@sandraboyle5993]

Fascinating to watch and interesting to listen to. Knowing your tools makes all the difference. Lovely work, thank you

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks, Sandi!! -Max

[@StockmanOriginal]

I thank you as well Sandra- Brian

[@tylerhovda]

What an amazing and inspiring video!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you Tyler, I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

[@MsJulianaPedroso]

Great video! Thanks!

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thanks for watching. We’re about to publish a series of videos about sharpening these tools, as well.

[@johnvaness8445]

Thanks, great video. First time watcher.

[@StockmanOriginal]

We appreciate your support John, happy to have you along with us.

[@JollyPeanut]

Very cool love this.. 👍

[@StockmanOriginal]

Jolly Peanut, thank you and welcome aboard!

[@seleldjdfmn221]

Nice Job. waiting for The next one! #great xP

[@alessandrofirmani700]

This is awsome ❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@StockmanOriginal]

Thank you so much Alessandro!

[@allnews712]

Thank you

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello ALL NEWS , thanks for checking us out. And you are very welcome.

[@ozlozano9470]

Thank you for your expertise. I’m a casual carver, done wood totems for the kids whittle away only done a couple of pieces. Carved a Celtic heart made out of a hard nut for a girl once. I’m starting to work on bone 🦴 what inspired me was the Māori, Hawaiian style fishhooks necklaces. My comment I’m having a hard time finding good tools. I’ve tried exact knives (too flimsy) i have some knives and chisels, I find rasps and files work best. SELL THE TOOLS. I don’t know if that makes sense but most of these you tube content creators sell merch and this may be a way your audience can get started.

[@ozlozano9470]

I have a power tools drill but I find hand tools much more comforting and less noisy

[@StockmanOriginal]

I say az, so good to have you with us! There is nothing l like better than helping folks get into carving. For bone work I make a lot of my tools out of old files, it’s great steel if you can shape them without burning the temper out of them. One of my favorite tools is a triangular scribe which is sharp on all three sides right down to the point. I could make you one if you like. As you develop your skills you’ll realize what tools would be handy. We have a video on scrimshaw tools that might be helpful to you. Maybe someday l could get into making and selling tools on a grander scale but in the meantime I’d be happy to help you with some. Thank you for your interest.

[@StockmanOriginal]

We've added timestamps (Chapters) to the video description to help you jump back and forth to examples of the different scrimshaw tools and techniques.

[@kadellagroove]

incredible. I'm wondering how much hand pressure are you applying to the tools and how deep of a cut do you need?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Stuart, the pressure you apply depends on how bold you want your marks,it’s not much though. Just takes a little practice.

[@francesriver7915]

Hi! Can I practice the technique in any other material, for example turquoise or any other cabochons for jewelry? Thank you 🙏 videos are amazing

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Frances, thank you so much for checking us out, we appreciate your support. You will find most stones to hard for scratching on. The best place to find material for scrimshaw other than a whale’s mouth is the local pet store. You are likely to find nice clean bones, antlers, and water buffalo horn there.

[@kylelindberg7771]

how do you test your scribe for sharpness? I'm a beginner and an using a scribe I made out of dowel and a fishhook.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Kyle, that sounds like a good idea for a scribe. I usually test sharpness on my thumbnail, that way you will feel it bite in a little. If it slips it’s dull. Thanks for checking us out.

[@johnbrowning741]

Where do you find usable bone? I have a hard time finding thick bone for my practice. I'm trying to learn to get a hard polished finish.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello John, the best place to find bone, antler, and horn these days is the local pet shop. They sell these things for dog chews.

[@arkas6797]

Please let me know which colors are suitable for your technique and if you allow a shop to buy them. In Europe your technique is almost unknown and I can't find materials. Thank you for everything once again.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Arkas, so nice to have you in our tribe and thank you for joining us. I tend to lean towards the traditional style of the olden days. I use lampblack base pigment in the form of india ink, and walnut tea if I’m looking for a brown. Occasionally the old timers would depict blood by using red sealing wax. The india ink l use is made by a company called Higgins, Pelican is another company that makes good ink. Please let me know how you make out.

[@arkas6797]

@@StockmanOriginal I bought the series of Dr. Martin's Bombay - Color Indian Ink. I think I made a good purchase. I bought colored inks because I'm interested in drawing small birds as well as copying patterns from ancient Greek amphorae. Thank you for your help and your time. Have all the good things of God.

[@debbielee8201]

I have my dad's ring that had a rattlesnake scrimshaw into. It's hard to see the snake now. My dad passed away 2 years ago and I would like to preserve his ring. Would it be possible for you to rescrimshaw it for me?

[@StockmanOriginal]

I could do that for you, I’ll ask Max if he can hook us up. Thank you so much for watching.

[@usmcretired2112]

Is there a good book to get for beginner carving, like wood spirits on sticks?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Will have to give that a think, but in the mean time, have you watched this video of ours on carving a wizard on a walking stick, yet? Wizards are basically wood spirits :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3fSe6lonJZ8jc0

[@veronicaclarkson5083]

Can you tell me what this is ?? Bone horn tusk tooth see image

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey Veronica, thanks for checking us out! I’ll take a look as soon as I can figure out how to get the image up. We might have to try it through messenger.

[@feedmyadcplease7841]

hahaha i lost it at "should be hard to get... hopefuly"

[@StockmanOriginal]

Right???

[@frankplummer5084]

Stockman where are you located ?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hi Frank, l’m New Hampshire, USA. Where are you?

[@ztuzar163]

i have a 7 inch long whale tooth, but i never know what to do with it

[@StockmanOriginal]

Scratch it! But maybe start with something else to practice on. 😉

[@StockmanOriginal]

Or you can send it to me :-)

[@ztuzar163]

@@StockmanOriginal can whale teeth be shipped around without issues?

[@nick_steele9790]

@@ztuzar163 Let me know what happens with it, I'm incredibly interested!

[@Peter-od7op]

I want to try this on my powder horn trying to make. Iam 65 my son 17 said dad lets try this.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Peter, thanks so much for joining us! You definitely should give it a go, the nice thing is, if it’s not quite right the first time, you can sand it off and try it again- no pressure.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Peter, thanks so much for joining us! You definitely should give it a go, the nice thing is, if it’s not quite right the first time, you can sand it off and try it again- no pressure.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Peter, thanks so much for joining us! You definitely should give it a go, the nice thing is, if it’s not quite right the first time, you can sand it off and try it again- no pressure.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Peter, thanks so much for joining us! You definitely should give it a go, the nice thing is, if it’s not quite right the first time, you can sand it off and try it again- no pressure.

[@roberttripp6757]

No pitney

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hey robert tripp, thank you for watching. What’s a pitney?

[@callmeishmael3031]

Throughout my long scrimshaw career, all I ever used was sewing needles in clutch pencil lead holders.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Great option! That would give you fine control, I imagine.

[@StockmanOriginal]

Also, sailors used sail needles, which have a triangular head.

[@kylelindberg7771]

have you ever done scrimshaw on a whale's tooth?

[@StockmanOriginal]

Hello Kyle, thanks for checking us out! Yes, l have worked on whale’s teeth quite a bit. In fact we have a video of me scrimming a whale on a piece of whale tooth. I also carve on teeth.