Making a Viking Comb

Personnel hygiene is crucial when you're a hairy raider with big plans for world domination. Plus, you kind of want to sleep at night. Either way, vikings were not trolls.

Since I'm an obvious fraud (and also because I don't have the skulls of all my enemies), I couldn't make this comb from bone. Instead, I made it out of wood.

This is the part of the show where you scroll down to the other steps, fascinated by my cleverness and obviously amazing skills.

Step 1: Back to the Basics, People.

I started with a log. You have to get the wood somewhere, no? So I used my dad's ax to slicy and dicy it into planks. Fortunately, I had enough knot-wood free for two combs. So Sharktooth lent me a hand, cutting the plank into halves.

This is that OTHER part of the show, where you scroll down again.

Step 2: Before You Grind...

Have some inspiration. And listen to some blues.

Step 3: Now THAT Looks Good!

I pulled out the bench sander and started flattening the wood to a more even shape. Once it was the thickness I wanted, I proceeded to grind out the shape, mentally aiming for a norse-viking-comb-thing. It turned out pretty well, actually.

Step 4: Okay, I Sort of Cheated.

I've never worked with a band-saw before. My extent of power tools is from belt sanders to hand drills. I didn't even know we had a band-saw. However, we did find one, and I decided to give it a go. Hey, I mean, I've never used a band-saw, and I'm going to be making thin, tight cuts. What could go wrong?

Anywho, if you don't have a band-saw, you could use an upside-jigsaw, or, if you're gutsy enough, you could use a handsaw.

Point is, I made the cuts. The band-saw I used was fairly old, so the cuts were hectic, uneven and terrifying. Or it's because I've never used a band-saw. That might do it.

Step 5: Sand Your Life Away. Literally.

I cut a used sander belt into strips, and began manually back-sanding between the teeth. It was 80 grit, but it was taking a while, so I used my carving chisels to round the teeth a little.

After getting a nice, very rough shape out with 80 grit, I jumped up to 150 grit and smoothed it out a little.

Step 6: Admire My Epic Artwork.

Because I'm a nut, and because it would make the comb look SO much cooler, I drew out a design on paper and traced it onto the wood. From there, I wood burned it.

And it just occured to me that you could've looked at the pictures for this. It's very self-explanatory, people.

Step 7: Step Back and Admire Your Work. or Throw It Away. It Depends.

While the other comb was drying (I washed it before I wood burned it) I made another, with a Celtic cross and some swirling on it.

These combs are super easy to make, so long as you're careful, and I'm really proud of how they came out. They work very well, and look magnificent when they're not used.

Now what the heck am I going to use the second comb for?

Thank you all for readying, I hope to be back with more projects soon.