Here's a quick video of how I make wooden combs. I made a few fixtures to speed up the process since I try and make them in batches. There is still a lot of hand work but it is a rewarding process. One unique feature is vacuum infusing the mineral oil in a shop made vacuum chamber. This pulls more oil into the wood allowing the finish to last longer.
This comb is made of cherry wood and it is finished with food grade mineral oil.
Detailed video breakdown below.
I hope this helps. Get out to the shop and make one!
Or if you’d rather, you can find them here - etsy.me/2QCzxH4
Be well,
_Mike
0:11 - Three ply blank glued up to just over .375" thick (alternating grain direction)
0:22 - Rough cutting profile on the band saw (use the router guide as template)
0:44 - Routing main profile with two flute pattern bit at the router table
1:02 - Creating tooth profile at the router table
1:27 - Cutting fine teeth at table saw with miter sled and wood spline to maintain consistent spacing (Freud Diablo 7-1/4 24 tooth Blade)
2:16 - Sanding curved sides surfaces on the belt sander with two fixtures that ride on guide rails left and right of the belt (the first fixture references the flat surface and the second fixture references the curved side that was just sanded in)
3:14 - Sanding a cup into the teeth to achieve consistent tip dimensions (because of the curved profile and sides the teeth get thicker in towards the center)
3:30 - Masking off the sides in preparation for easing the outer edge (this keeps the sandpaper from harming wood you want to keep...)
3:53 - Roughing out the outer edge on the belt sander
4:13 - Hand shaping / sanding the outer edges with a cork backed rigid sanding block (100 and 150 grit)
4:35 - Smoothing the outer edges with a soft foam sanding block (220 - 320 grit)
4:41 - Roughing out tooth profiles 320 grit on a rigid wedge sanding block (start with facets on the long edges)
4:48 - Roughing out the tips of the teeth (same grit and sanding block)
4:55 - Rounding the teeth with 320 grit sandpaper (3/4" wide strip)
5:02 - Smoothing the tips of the teeth with Maroon Scotch-Brite (very fine grit)
5:18 - Attaching a weight to the combs to fully submerge them in oil
5:41 - Covering the combs with mineral oil (food grade from pharmacy)
5:56 - Vacuum infusing the wood in shop built vacuum chamber (30 minutes under vacuum)
6:18 - Removing combs and cleaning them up
7:03 - Finished comb!!!