Scrimshaw Advice Needed - Mollyjogger FAIL

[cwiehle0]

Hello everyone, I have been vacant on this forum for a while. Sorry, but I need some help.

So I purchased one of those Molly Jogger scrim knife kits and scribed a bison walking off into the sunset. It looked about as I expected for my first time - my bison looked like a water buffalo with a old man's human head. That is besides the point- when finished I went to wash off all the steel wool dust and 90% of the ink washed right off. Sooo, I figured I would try sharpie marker ink (seen a guy on youtube do it), bad idea. I think because the bone was now damp having absorbed water it absorbed all the sharpie ink and my humanoid water bison was now a splotch of bird poo.

What gives? Was I supposed to seal the handle to keep the scrim from washing off? Anyone?? Any tips?

Chris

[TexasJack]

I love to see posts like this. Otherwise I'd think I'm the only one that tries new things only to fail miserably!

Truth is that if you're not failing, you're just not trying hard enough. Failing is how we learn and the only way to never fail is to never try to do anything.

Hopefully someone will come along with some experience that can help you.

[jimmontg]

I know a lot about making knives, but scrim isn't part of it other than scrimshers prefer ivory way above bone as bone is more absorbent.

[Doug Lester]

Try Boone Trading Company. They have a product that you can spray on something like bone that wants to absorb the ink.

Doug