Ivory pins?

[Brock Cutlery]

I've got a few old WW II chess pieces, mostly broken, but they are big enough pieces to use for a bolster, and maybe some pins.
My question: Could I use a wood lathe to turn down some pins for a handle?
I think ivory pins in ebony would look pretty cool.

Thanks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yes, you can turn ivory. It has to be spun fast and you need really sharp ( preferably carbide) cutters. Any cracks should be filled with thin CA and cured for a week before turning. Old ivory tends to break easily, so make very light cuts. Preforming the piece on the grinder to roughly round is advised. Use 120 and 220 grit abrasives to finish the shaping. For pins and thin cylinders, you must turn with the grain.

Simplest method to turn ivory is to flatten each end and glue 1x1" by 1/2" thick maple blocks to them (use CA). Try for reasonably parallel ends, and mark the centers. Use a small spur on the head and a live center on the tail. This way you can use the entire piece with no waste. It also prevents tightening down the tail stock and spur from splitting the ivory.

 

[Brock Cutlery]

Yes, you can turn ivory. It has to be spun fast and you need really sharp ( preferably carbide) cutters. Any cracks should be filled with thin CA and cured for a week before turning. Old ivory tends to break easily, so make very light cuts. Preforming the piece on the grinder to roughly round is advised. Use 120 and 220 grit abrasives to finish the shaping. For pins and thin cylinders, you must turn with the grain.

Simplest method to turn ivory is to flatten each end and glue 1x1" by 1/2" thick maple blocks to them (use CA). Try for reasonably parallel ends, and mark the centers. Use a small spur on the head and a live center on the tail. This way you can use the entire piece with no waste. It also prevents tightening down the tail stock and spur from splitting the ivory.

Thanks for the thorough response Stacy. It sounds like an interesting endeavor.

 

[winterbear]

I love the idea but why solid ivory pins. I'd likely use corby's and recess them in the scales if thick enough then cap with ivory for the look. Thin pins I imagine would be difficult to turn and likely could be done the same, use short metal pins that are centered in the scale/knife then insert small ivory pin over that so the ivory is what is seen when finished. Interesting idea anyway you go about it. Chris