Free Flint Knapping Library
The flint knapping community is as generous with its time and expertise as any enthusiast group I know. Case in point, this fantastic resource from knapper Mike Lynn, who has compiled more than 340 pages…
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naturalmaterial
How-To: Cuttlebone Casting
This ancient, simple, accessible method for casting small objects in metal exploits the amazing properties of a naturally-occurring and easily-worked high-temperature mold-making material.
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How-To: Moss Graffiti
Wanna leave your mark in a cool but unobtrusive manner? How about a mossy message for the masses? Grab a clump of moss, whip up a moss milkshake, apply, and watch your art grow.
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How-To: Carve Bone
Continuing our Natural Materials theme month coverage today with a pair interesting, entertaining, well-produced YouTube tutorials from a lifetime craftsman in bone. Check ’em out.
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Working with Horn: Resources at UK’s MoDiP
That’s Museom of Design in Plastics, and their online collections are really outstanding. While there is some good online info on hornworking in the hobby community (especially the SCA), it’s mostly text with simple line art. I couldn’t find much photography of real artifacts and tools before stumbling on MoDiP’s online Nature’s plastic exhibit.
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Natural Slate Electrical Panels
We’ve already had some great reader suggestions for Natural Materials month. The first that caught my eye this morning is from MAKE pal and Flickr-pool-roundup regular John Honniball, aka anachrocomputer, who directs our attention to the use of natural slate panels as insulators in vintage electrical equipment. Above, a beautiful example from the Canada Science and Technology Museum…
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Top 10: Natural Materials
When we say “natural materials,” the mind leaps immediately to wood, stone, leather, natural fibers. But there are lots of interesting and more “exotic” materials from the natural world that we don’t tend to think of, right away, and digging these up and showing them off is one of the things I’m most looking forward to in this month’s theme. To kick things off, here’s a sampler of some of my personal favorite unusual natural materials from our archives, arranged in highly unscientific how-much-does-Sean-like-it order. There’s cool stuff here made from antler, acorns, fish scales, insect parts – even shark’s teeth! Enjoy!
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