Make Your Own Wood Comb!

In this video I will show you how to make your very own beard comb!

Wood combs are awesome because they help distribute your natural oils and do not create static, which leads to split ends and weird beard. You can make one with limited tools. I use a scroll saw in this video, but you could use a coping saw with a steady hand a little elbow grease and achieve the same result.

Start with a piece of wood that is at least 1/4" thick. Depending on the type of wood i'm using sometime I will use stock up to 3/8" thick. Remember to orient the teeth parallel to the wood grain!

The next step is to draw your pattern onto the wood. I design my combs digitally and use my vinyl cutter to make a sticker for a template. You can freestyle your pattern, use carbon paper, or print and glue your pattern onto the wood.

After the pattern is applied, use a 1/16" drill bit to make small holes in the gap between the top of the teeth. This will make it easier to cut the teeth out and provide you with a nice round radius at the top.

Cut them teeth!

Dremel Motosaw is an inexpensive way to start scroll sawing and it works very well. That's what I use and I love it. You could achieve the same cuts with a coping saw, however, it will require some serious elbow grease.

Now that you are finished cutting out the designs, remove your template (if you have one) and get ready to make some dust!

Here I use a belt sander with 80 grit paper to taper the teeth of the comb. I like to leave about 1/8" at the tip of the teeth.

The dremel sanding drums make this step very easy, but you can achieve the same effect with round files and sandpaper.

I like to use the drums to remove any imperfections from the sawing process as well as beveling the sharp edges on the outside of the comb.

Use a sharp chisel to remove the sharp edges between the teeth, creating a rough cylindrical shape. This step doesn't have to be perfect. Any imperfections will sand out in the next step. Remember to remove small amounts at a time and don't take off too much!

Now here's the (fun) part: sanding the teeth and the edges of the comb. I use flexible 3M sandpaper that you can find at most any hardware store. I start with 100 grit and sand the teeth into a smooth cylindrical shape stepping down to 120 grit then 150 grit. Sand around the edges of the comb for a nice, smooth, round edge.

Filing a small bevel at the top of the teeth makes the comb glide nicely through hair without snagging.

A light finish is all you will really need to protect the comb. It will absorb your natural oils and keep the comb looking nice for a long time. I use this beeswax and orange oil finish. Its nice and easy to apply and looks and smells great after its dry.

I like to buff the finish after it has dried to add a slight luster. You can use a buffing wheel or even a nice soft rag.

Feel the goodness. It's nice, right?