Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 24, 2003 02:09am | #1

   No experience here (me), but you could start with a Google search such as this one:

   http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=how+to+carve+ivory

   There seem to be a few books out there.  Maybe one of them is at your library?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   shywoodlandcreature | Jul 24, 2003 02:09am | #2

   just curious here... is it legal to possess a mammoth tusk where you are?

   http://www.nps.gov/bela/html/heritage.htm#facts 

   (edited to add URL)

    

   "We know that the tail must wag the dog,
   for the horse is drawn by the cart;
   But the Devil whoops, as he whooped of old:
   'It's clever, but is it Art?'"
   — Rudyard Kipling, "The Conundrum of the Workshops"

   
   

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   Edited 7/23/2003 7:12:29 PM ET by Sandra

1. 
   konrad | Jul 24, 2003 02:32am | #3

   Hi Sandra,

   A great question. I have several small pieces (1/4" thick by 1" x 2" - in that range) that were given to my by a good friend. He purchased them at a knife show several years back. I would assume they are legal to posess given they did not cross any borders - but I will ask him about it.

   You have me wondering now.

   Cheers, Konrad

1. 
   jonsherryl | Jul 24, 2003 05:54am | #4

   Konrad, I think you're pretty safe. The current ivory ban is aimed at keeping our modern pachyderms alive. The last of the mammoths cashed out upwards of 8000 years ago. Although these tusks survive mostly as a result of permafrost and they aren't actually fossilized (in the sense of being mineralized), I think they would still be classified as "fossils" by authorities. At least to the extent you can prove it's mammoth tusk. 

   Also, what you have should work pretty much just like modern ivory, but I have no experience in that regard. 

1. 
   macalex | Jul 24, 2003 10:43am | #5

   When you get an answer, please share it!

   I'm having difficulty cutting plugs in some old ivory (elephant tusk) that I think I bought at a junk sale years ago. It hand-saws OK, but burns when try to cut plugs. I want to inlay it as dots.

   Legal to own in this jurisdiction? Don't ask!

   Lovely stuff tho.

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Jul 25, 2003 07:04am | #9

   have you tried a gasket punch.  Used to punch holes in gasket material It is a steel tube that has been sharpen to a bevel of 15°.

   If you cut the tusk to 1/16 inch and then place the punch over the tusk hit the punch with a hammer.  It may work not sure.   

3. 
   SparrowHawk | Jul 24, 2003 12:29pm | #6

   Hello Konrad,

   I have a friend who is a luthier and builds guitars for some celebrities such as Charlie Daniels. I played in a road band years ago with his wife who now does all his inlays. I was over at their house the other day and she was teaching me how she does inlays. Surprisingly, mastodon ivory is not as rare as you would think and perfectly legal. Hippo tusks, boar tusk, teeth (whale) and walrus tusk are also commonly used ivories - even tagua nuts and antlers. Now keep in mind that she uses these for guitar inlays. She generally buys her inlay materials already cut or pressed (shell) into very thin sheets (perhaps 1/40" and often even thinner). She then uses a jewler's saw with a VERY fine blade to cut the material into whatever design is needed. The dust needs to be evacuated as there can be bacteria and fine dust is not lung friendly anyway. She uses super glue and colored (usually lamp black) epoxy to adhere her inlays which are then sanded flush.

   If you have any other questions I probably won't know the answer but I'll be glad to ask her for you.

   Ken

   Edit: To finish shaping the edges and fine tune the inlay she uses a dremel tool with a sanding drum.

   
   

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   Edited 7/24/2003 5:31:12 AM ET by SparrowHawk

1. 
   mitch | Jul 24, 2003 05:16pm | #7

   find a custom knifemakers forum online- maybe The Knifemakers Guild has one.  those guys use that sort of stuff all the time.

   m

1. 
   konrad | Jul 24, 2003 07:37pm | #8

   Thanks everyone. I posted the same question in a number of places and got some amazing feedback.

   http://www.ivorybuyer.com/sales/workingtips.htm

   This site was really helpful.

   As far as gluing goes - similar properties to wood - polyurathane and hide glue were recommended often.

   From the info I was give, I wonder if cutting a plug would work - it may be better to hand shape each individal button. It would be more work, but I got the impression it burns easily with power tools. Also, a number of warnings about the dust. Goes without saying, but enough people mentioned it that will remember to wear a good mask when working it. Thanks again for all the advise, I willl post the results when they are done.

   Cheers, Konrad