Methods for making surgical implants (or grafts) for the repair of bone defects, and more particularly, surgical implants that include demineralized bone fibers, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for increasing the wettability and ensuring uniform density of such implants. The surgical implants have a wettability time of less than 5 minutes and a residual moisture content of less than 6% by weight, and they remain cohesive and retain their shape upon complete rehydration.