How to Make a Dutch Comb
Dutch combs are specialized devices necessary to part thick and dual-coated fibers. Combing out and separating wool and exotic fibers, for example, require the stable metal bristles incorporated into the Dutch comb. Dutch combs come two to a set: the hackle, to hold the hair, and the comb, to thin it out. The trick to crafting a successful Dutch comb package is to use an unbendable material, such as nickel, that will both hold and stretch the fibers without tearing them apart. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Safety glasses
- Bandsaw
- Carbon bandsaw blade
- Measuring tape
- Permanent marker
- 1/8 inch thick nickel alloy sheet
- Wood slicer bandsaw blade
- 1/2 inch thick chestnut wood
- Wood epoxy
- 1/8 inch wide drill bit
- Drill
- Liquid Nails adhesive (LN-201)
Instructions
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1
Slide on work gloves, a dust mask and safety glasses to protect skin, lungs and eyes.
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2
Set up a bandsaw with a carbon saw blade, suitable for cutting nickel alloy.
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3
Measure and cut ten 5 1/2-inch by 1/8-inch bristles from the nickel alloy sheet. Mark each end of the bristles with a "I" in permanent marker.
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4
Measure and cut ten 4 3/4-inch by 1/8-inch bristles. Mark each end of these bristles with a "II" in permanent marker.
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5
Measure and cut twenty 5 3/4-inch by 1/8-inch bristles. Mark each end of these bristles with a "III" in permanent marker. Keep the bristles in a safe and secure place for use in later.
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6
Set up the bandsaw with a wood slicer saw blade.
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7
Measure and cut one piece of 1/2 inch thick chestnut to 5 inches by 4 inches. Measure and cut a second piece of chestnut to 4 inches by 4 inches. Center the second piece on top of the first piece. Bond the two pieces together with wood epoxy to make the hackle.
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Measure and cut one piece of chestnut to 4 inches by 4 inches. Measure and cut a second piece of chestnut to 2 inches by 2 inches. Center one end of the second piece to the 1/2-inch side of the first piece. Bond the two pieces together with wood epoxy to make the comb.
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9
Drill 20 evenly spaced 1/8-inch holes, 1/4 inch deep, in the 4-by-4-inch piece on the hackle and the 4-by-4-inch piece on the comb.
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10
Coat 1/4 inch of one end of a "I" nickel bristle with Liquid Nails adhesive (LN-201). The adhesive is specially made to bond metal to wood. Fit the end into the first hole in the hackle. Coat 1/4 inch of one end of a "II" nickel bristle with Liquid Nails adhesive (LN-201). Fit the end into the second hole in the hackle. Repeat this step until all "I" and "II" bristles are bonded into the hackle.
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11
Coat 1/4 inch of one end of a "III" nickel bristle with Liquid Nails adhesive (LN-201). Fit the end into the first hole in the comb. Repeat this step until all "III" bristles are bonded into the comb. Allow 24 hours for the bristles on the hackle and comb to dry before using.
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Tips & Warnings
Bandsaw blades can be purchased at your local home supply store.
