How To Bone Carve: Ancient Hawaiian Hook by Louie the Fish

[articulatebonehead]

great video! wish i could have heard you better at certain points over the harmonica, though.

[JChoneybell]

Cool Dude!!!

[JohnDrakeMI6]

Very educational and answered all my questions as to how a REAL bone Hawaiian Fish hooks are made and much different form the "plastic" ones on the market. P.S. Get rid of the harmonica music, it was very annoying trying to concentrate on the details.

[Zeriouslly]

PS i came across a guy selling a couple of pig tusks he'd bought over in Vanuatu years ago. Exquisitely polished! And do you know how they'd been polished/sanded?? Toothpaste on wood!! The carver must have had either the patience of Job - or no tv...

[rhynoheart]

I've used the pet bones for knife handles before and they work very well. I fully enjoyed your clip. I have two of these hooks from New Zealand and give one to my friend during different stages of their lives. It has gotten where with the hooks popularity is increasing and quality pieces are higher in price. So I've decided to start making them for friends, instead of buying them. Thank you for the video and sharing. I picked up a few new things from it.

Thanks,

Jonathan

[KettlebottomCrew]

@rhynoheart No problem! Good luck with Bone Carving!

[micers]

@rhynoheart The harmonica is too loud relative to your voice. It irritates rather than supports your presentation. Thanks for the presentation though.

[jackjaggerjaw]

does anyone know how to sand of the inside curve of the hook without using power tools. Im also using koa wood instead of bones

[KettlebottomCrew]

@jackjaggerjaw You can use fine round or half-round files to get it close and hand-sand for the final finish. For sand paper, we use 100 grit at first, switch to 220, and finish with 320...

[Zeriouslly]

@jackjaggerjaw first off - use Wet and Dry sandpaper! I only use 220grit as its the best - by the time its worn down a bit it turns into 320 grit anyway lol. And sand the hook over a bowl of water, dipping into the water now and then to unblock the sandpaper and restore its 'cut'. For getting into inside places you can either simply fold the sandpaper over or roll it into a small roll which gives it a bit of strength. By the way, when I get a sheet of 220grit I immediately cut the whole sheet up

[Zeriouslly]

into pieces about 2 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches, using an old pair of scissors because the scissors give the sandpaper a fine cut edge, unlike ripped paper, and that makes it easier to sand carved edges.

[shahrid1987]

us maoris have that hook aswell, we call it matau

[demosphen888]

@shahrid1987 of course u maories have it. U, samoans, hawaians and other polynesians have common ancestry and similar cultures to eachother. I even saw hawaians dancing one of them stupid hakas! No offence.

[bubbathesecound]

Meet him in person, he's a really nice guy. I bought one of his australian black jade hook necklace, a fine piece of art work.

[nacidocoqui]

Dear Mr Ty, I've looked high and low on the kettlebottom site for the web-only videos link for the full video. No luck, alas. Do you have a link, or could you post the full video here to youtube? Lots and lots of folks asking about the wrapping and lashing, myself included. There are precious few resources on the web that specifically cover said topic; all the ones I seem to find use non-traditional holes drilled into the hook before wrapping. Thanks in advance!

[KettlebottomCrew]

@nacidocoqui I'm sorry, I don't have an edited Lashing video up. I hope to re-edit it soon...

[TheJeffmcnair50]

@nacidocoqui A simple method that works pretty well is "Snelling." And you should be able to find instructions in most any Knot book or on the web. No holes needed. Plus, it looks nice and clean and is very easy to get the hand of.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@TheJeffmcnair50 Actually, we do have a video on our channel that shows how to snell a fish hook. I think the eye of the hook is essential but, if you found a way to do it without it, that's awesome and I'd be interested in seeing a video of it. (Search the KettlebottomCrew channel for the how to snell a hook video)

[chiefwaz]

Can someone post how to tie the knot to attach this type of hook to necklace, the type with holes drilled in don't look authentic. Thanks

[MIKEALLUNGE]

Yes I had a question. Where would you get some whale bone because I would like to make mine some what authentic. Also I seen they make them out of Jade or "Green Stone". I have no idea of how you would get it but it would be cool to learn how to carve them out of Jade :) Thank you very much.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@MIKEALLUNGE There is no way to legally aquire Whale bone, as far as I know. Native peoples that traditionally have hunted and used Whales may use them (ie. Maori, Hawaiian, Eskimo, etc) but otherwise sale or trade in any marine mammal parts is strictly off limits.

[glenx2710]

@MIKEALLUNGE ebay



[Satch4621]

Hey there KettlebottomCrew,

Great video, it has been a big help with my carving

Any luck on pulling together the lashing video or putting up the full version of this that used to be on your site?

Thanks!

[severedarterie]

My 16yr old son saw your video and made one the next day using only a Dremel.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@severedarterie That's very cool!! The advantage of the carving motor that Louie uses is that the motor won't inhale a lot of dust and burn out but the handpiece works just like a Dremel. For the finish, you can touch up small details with small hobby files and finish with medium and fine grit sandpaper (80 and 220). There are several sanding attachments for the Dremel, too...

[severedarterie]

Is it possible to work the same shapes out of wood? I live in an area where the nearest petco is 20 or so miles away, but wood is abundant, i have a knife to whittle with and lots of wood, im wondering what kind of wood and tools and curing products i would need

[KettlebottomCrew]

@severedarterie You can do this with wood but should probably use a good finish, such as clear polyurethane, to finish the piece. You can use the same tools as Louie does. If you don't want to spend a lot on the carver's motor, you could use a Dremel instead-- they work in the same way. The difference is that the Dremel's motor will inhale dust and burn out quicker...

[StealAwayTheStars]

No compound involved in buffing? Also, what size blade did you you use on the jewelers saw?

[KettlebottomCrew]

@StealAwayTheStars We used white rouge-- a polishing compound. Sorry if I missed that detail-- I'm limited to 10 minutes and had to heavily edit down the process. As far as the saw blade, you can get a spiral-toothed blade that cuts in any direction, which is awesome, but otherwise can use a fine-toothed detail blade...

[orangegold1]

Ive been trying forever with wood and it takes 5 times as long and the wood snaps, this bone method seems cool, can't wait to try it over this upcomming spring break!

I'll make one for my girlfriend (:

THANKYOU!

great tutorial.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@orangegold1 Good luck with Bone Carving!! It is a lot of fun-- just hold on tight when polishing and only polish at the bottom of the wheel-- it's heartbreaking to have your piece ripped from your grip and flung into the wall!! Keep me posted on how you do.

[bulletneck1518]

Hey, how can i get the DVD on the lashing i'd love to purchase it.I've been using hemp in a braid that spirals then lashing with a figure 8 lash,but would like to learn the traditional way.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@bulletneck1518 I don't have the video any more-- like an idiot, I erased it when I burned the original DVD's, which I sent to Louie. I will let you know if I can edit a Lashing video and get it online...

[JamAM007]

Do you sell your work to the continental US? If you do, have you made and sell a cross? I think it would be neat to have a cross designed with a tad of the fishhook style.

[KettlebottomCrew]

@JamAM007 Get in touch with Louie directly through his website. Search out Louiethefish (all one word) to get to his website. Enjoy!

[LonglivePAIEA]

Cheeeeheee!!! That's my uncle!!!!

[bulletneck1518]

great video.can you do one on how to lash and twist the cord to the hook?

[KettlebottomCrew]

I may be able to edit and post how to lash the hook. Louie uses a three-part hand braided cord and uses a lashing process that matches ancient lashings from Hawaii. I shot the video a year ago and haven't cut it together yet. Once things at Kettlebottom slow down, I hope to have the time to revisit my stockpiled footage...

[makini01]

Aloha I bought one of you hooks awsome!

[KettlebottomCrew]

I wear one of Louie's hooks that he made for me when I shot this video. It hasn't left my neck since and I love it.

[Ukuleleclint]

Awesome! I have been buying many hooks from an artist friend who has been making them for many years now.. much money invested ...now it's time to invest some time. I'll start doing this for sure.

Mahalo nui loa, hoaaloha!

[KettlebottomCrew]

Glad to push you toward this awesome craft! Louie has been carving for many, many years and produces some amazing stuff!! Check out the website louiethefish for more inspiration...

[neeverd]

Ask Louie about the lovely trout he carved at the Mohaka Hilton years ago before some low life flogged it. Louie had talent to burn but the carving was exquisite.

[willnhawaii33]

cow bone.. it took me two years of studying this on my own and studying all sorts of carvings with no degree but I now carve for fun and for sale.. I try to make hooks that no other may have. it's hard when many go with similar designs.. yet, it's a ancient art and is the basis on carving tiki's

[tcrimson]

what kind of bone does is this gentleman carving? cow, pic, whale?

[KettlebottomCrew]

He uses beef bone from Petco a lot-- it's inexpensive and easy. He also buys ivory, abalone shell, pearl shell, and green or black jade, though I don't know where. Good luck trying out Bone Carving and keep us posted!

[5tonyvvvv]

yeah but we never evolved from ape like creatures or neanderthals

[KettlebottomCrew]

That's one theory. I tend to believe in evolution based on the evidence in front of me. Blind faith is not for me personally but science is not for everyone else, either...

[tcrimson]

Awesome! I've been trying to do learn how to carve bones like this for a while...unfortunately, there's not much in the way of whale bone in Pennsylvania, and for some reason I can't find any nearby butcher shops to buy beef bones, but I'm not giving up!

[KettlebottomCrew]

Get out to Petco or another pet shop-- the chew bones they sell are about 6 inches long, cleaned and bleached. They are perfect and ready to go...

[VideoScore]

BTW if anyone is interested in some of the ways to tie cords to bone pendants I could make videos and post them up on here.

[KettlebottomCrew]

I filmed how Louie does it but YouTube only allows 10 minute videos. I haven't had time to cut the lashing video and post it but have been able to supply a DVD to those who are really interested. I'm curious how you lash them. The way Louie does it is in the traditional manner used by Ancient Hawaiians. I'm interested to see how you do it... If you post it, please let me know...

[Ukuleleclint]

Hello

I would love to get ahold of one of those DVDs that show how to tie the lashings. How can I get one of these, please?

Thanks. Awesome video.

[churrobilly]

can you put a video of how to tie cord to bone pendants? are there different methods of tying the cords?

[mcav12]

Oh yes please do! : )

[pinkmonk13]

@VideoScore Please do! I would be so grateful. My husband purchased a beautiful fish hook necklace while we were holidaying in Hawaii and the cord where the hook attached snapped and we don't know anywhere we can get it fixed here in Australia. I honestly thought there would be SOMETHING on youtube, but ZILCH! :(

[VideoScore]

I was a professional bone carver for a few years. In my garage setup I had an extraction fan directly in front of the carving part of my bench which took the dust outside and onto my vegetable garden...

[wahiawaiian1]

I LOVE IT!!! I have always wanted to try to make one!!! Mahalo!!! Now I know how! I think its amazing that you make them!!! You make it look so easy! The way I had figured it out in my head was waaaay harder than it needed to be. Thank you! =)

[KettlebottomCrew]

It is our pleasure!! Louie is an awesome guy and loves to share his craft with the world. I actually just got back from a trip to Nevada, where I helped him teach the 6th graders of a public school how to Bone Carve. (That, and we did a LOT of Flyfishing!!) It was really rewarding to see how much fun the kids had! We had a blast teaching them, too... Keep an eye out for a video about Bone Carving a Dolphin. I shot it while I was there and hope to edit and post it soon!!

[starsgorki]

nice craft. the bone must really smell bad when you're grinding it :)

[KettlebottomCrew]

Yeah, bone carving is awesome!! Pay attention to how Louie places fans to direct the dust away from him as he carves. The bone dust is very fine (and smelly) and the fans are essential...

[mootopia]

Nice!

[stellasage]

HAHA he spelt fiji wrong

[KettlebottomCrew]

Thanks for catching that-- it was my mistake! ps. you spelled "spelled" wrong! It happens...

[dudrhkd7]

can you use this to catch fish

[KettlebottomCrew]

I have a dream. To one day carve one and catch a "keeper" tautog on one, using a handline, of course. I will then make a fire, cook the fish on a flat rock, and eat it by the sea. (which I've done many times while spearfishing.) I think it'll catch fish because it is modelled after ancient fish hooks Hawaiians caught them on for generations...

[runescapeman637]

fucking hell me nuts cam out me ears

[KettlebottomCrew]

Boy, that's unfortunate.

[DragonToes13]

I know you ain't callin Polys Primitive LMAO

and I'd like to see the fish hooks from Homo-erectus - plus who the fuck taught you craft

[stuthemoo]

Hi,

One more question.

I watched the full version and was wondering where I could get some of the "three part braed"

Thanks

[stuthemoo]

Hi, I couldn't quite make out where you got your bone from.

Could you write it out for me?

[KettlebottomCrew]

Louie gets his bone from Petco stores. They are a pet-supply store chain and sell the bones as chew toys for dogs. It is a cheap, easily aquired material and is perfect to learn on. From there, you can eventually use Ivory, mother-of-pearl, Jade, and any number of other materials... Search for the Kettlebottom website for a full version of the video. You can see how to carve the hook in much more detail and see how to lash it to a line...

Ty

[stuthemoo]

Thanks alot.

[AZpaniolo]

Great video. I'd love to take up bone carving as a hobby one day. Do you have any suggestions for sources to learn how to lash the hook in order to make a pendant?

[KettlebottomCrew]

As far as books with fishhook pictures, they are all museum publications and take a fair bit of research to find, but there is stuff online under Hawaiian fishhooks. Also I just hooked up on a great carvers website called Tiki Central,. Lots of forums, pics, talks about tools etc, including pics I put on there under Tiki Ohana and Creating Tiki. Have them check that out.

I hear the stripers have all but disappeared on the east coast. Is that true in RI?

Tightlines, Louie

[KettlebottomCrew]

Search for Kettlebottom to get to our website. The full version is posted there, under web-only videos, and shows how to lash a hook to a line. There's a whole lot of other stuff there, too...