The Origami Forum

I've been thinking about getting one (The "ultimate origami weapon" on origami shop looked cool) and I was wondering how many people here use them.

well actually i made one it is great

I received one as a gift (with some paper) a few years ago from a friend and I have used it a few times. Not all the time, but on occasion.
Though, mine if a regular bone folder, not the one from origami-shop (which would definitely get used a lot, because I'm always grabbing tweezers or a sharp pencil or my sword-shaped paper knife to poke areas that my fingers can't reach, like when doing closed sinks, or trying to do a neat squash fold and the point of the flap just won't behave.

I use one all the time to get sharp creases. I also have a wood one with a pointy thing for getting into those hard to reach places.

Yes, I use two different kinds. I use one of these:



...in two different ways: the edge to make strong creases (I never have much by way of fingernails, and even if I did, this is much firmer and stronger) and the point to open up narrow pockets and other openings for, say, squashes and the like. I use one of these bone folder/burnishers:



--really, the extremely narrow flat end--to "etch" some crease lines into the paper before creasing. I do this particularly for unusual creases that have to connect two points; I lay a ruler or yardstick (or meter stick) connecting the two points and run the narrow edge (which is the edge at the bottom of the picture above) of the thing on the paper to "etch" in a line that I can then fold along and make a firm crease.

ive found that if you grow out your fingernail a lil bit longer than normal...you can use your nail to make sharp or soft creases and to get those points precise, etc, etc.....ive never really found it necessary to use other tools to make creases.....although akira yoshizawa used a hammer and bone all the time.....i guess its all just a matter of opinion and preference. personally i find it a little excessive....but thats just me. good luck!

I use one, I mostly use it for making sharp creases on thick spots for box pleading.

I don't use bone folders, but I do use tweezers to help strengthen folds and pull out any sink folds. I also use my nails sometimes. =P

polistes wrote:well actually i made one it is great

What material did you use? I was planning to make a wood one, but was told on a bookbinding forum that it wouldn't work well. Perhaps because so much scoring of heavy paper is involved. I know my plastic "bone" folder that came free with some paper has become misshapen from so much scoring...

I think wood would work fine.

Sroge4 wrote:I think wood would work fine.

It does...for a while. If you hone a relatively narrow, sharp edge to use for scoring, it will dull in relatively short order. So will a bone folder--nothing is weathering proof!--but it will last a lot longer than a wood one. It would also depend on the type of wood, but bone will last longer than just about any kind of wood, at least any kind of commonly-available wood.

I have two different types, but I don't use them. Instead, I have grown my Nails longer than most other men would, which is cheaper and easier.

On Weathering - use a plastic folder for the best wear.

I have an "ultimate origami weapon". The long tip is useful for tight spaces and the shape fits well into my hand. However, I do find that the fine edge gets nicked fairly easily, so when I only leave this one on my desk and take a classic bone folder (as shown above) with me when I'm on the move.
I bought my "weapon" quite early, so the tool or wood may have changed since then.