Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 11, 2012 09:47am | #1

   wooden combs

   I've never made a wooden comb, but my first thought was Hickory, known for its strength along the grain in things like tool handles.

   I would think you'd want the grain running along the length of the teeth, so you might need to laminate strips running the other direction on both sides of the base to add strength along the length of the comb.

   For cutting the teeth, I might try a Dozuki - the Japanese dovetail saw, so the inside faces of the teeth would be as smooth as possible.

   As to a finish, I'm thinking in terms of dipping the shaped and sanded comb, teeth down, into a tray of thinned shellac - perhaps a 1# cut, or even 1/2# cut.

   But, as I said, I've never actually made one, so these are just, uh, hair-brained ideas.  ;-)