[Reni B]

A friend gave me 6 tnaga nuts to carve. I have never carved on the tnaga Nut before. Does anyone have a rose pattern that I may use? Any tip and/or guidance on the carving of the Tnaga Nut.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

tagua nuts are called vegetable ivory and are used for everything from buttons to inlay in woodwork. Sue Walters has some beautiful pyrography in tagua nuts........take a look at her site!

[whitecree]

Called vegetable ivory for a good reason. It is very hard. You'll want something like a pin-vise to hold it while you work.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I forgot, if your tagua nuts are whole, be very careful cutting them if you use power! they can slip and turn and you don't want a finger involved in the situation!

[Krum]

I have glued them to a board then sliced them. Easier to get them nice and thin! I have made necklaces out of them. You can really get them thin that way. Have fun!
Krum

[DMSLewis]

Originally Posted by Reni B

Does anyone have a rose pattern that I may use? Any tip and/or guidance on the carving of the Tnaga Nut.

I don't have a pattern but here is a picture ( I hope) of a bunch of tagua roses. I don't recall where the picture was from, it was a website where tagua products are sold Sorry, no pattern there. Maybe seeing the different angles in the picture can help you do a pattern yourself.

[decoycarve]

I have carved tauga nuts into little santas. I first cut a flat on the bottom. I then skin the hull off and start shaping the nut. To do detail I make a shallow stop cut and chip out tiny chips up to the cut. Gloves and Googles are essential safety equipment. The little chips pop off the nut and fly in any given direction at a high rate of speed. If you get a piece in your eye DO NOT RUB YOUR EYE! The little chip is hard as rock and has some very sharp edges that will scratch the surface of your eye. If any one is watching you suggest they wear eye protection. ( another been there done that story)
Otherwise they are fun to carve. If you use power slow it down. The nut will get hot quick and burn. Stinks and turns nut brown all the way through.
( another been there done that story)
Also be aware that the nut is hollow. If you carve in too deeply the hollow spot will pop thru in the most visible part of the carving.
( another been there done that story)
As you can tell I have made a lot of mistakes trying to carve these. If you do get one almost done and the face caves into the hollow don't get mad and throw it across the shop. It will ricquchet off something and come back and hit you.
(you know the story by know)
Goody

[deweyrf91]

Tagua nuts are a challenge to carve, mainly because they are so slippery. Hard to hold on them while carving. But slicing them into wafers, then buffing/polishing, makes for a very nice surface to carve on. They carve very nicely though, good for ivory substitute.

[MDWine]

NO FAIR GOODY!!!

You have to post a bigger picture of that Santa!! I would really like to see him!

BTW, I started on "slim santa" tonight at the club meeting... we gotta hook up soon so I can get ... uh ... a little guidance! ;o)

...and those roses are incredible!! Wow!