Ivory Question

[lifter4Him]

Hopefully one of you makers or guys who collect ivory pieces can help me here. On my plain elephant ivory handled knives I've been following Jerry Fisk's reccomendation of soaking the scales in mineral oil for a few hours twice a year. Do you know if this is safe to do on scrimshawed pieces? I just got a gorgeous Carson scrimshawed knife and would hate to mess it up if the oil will affect the ink.
Thanks for any help.

 

[george tichbourne]

I would not recommend it to people who purchase a piece of scrimshaw from me. The india ink is a water based material that could be affected by oil. The white acrylic that I use for reverse scrims will be affected by oil.

 

[nifrand]

Bailey Bradshaw soaks his Ivory in milk. Seems to work for me also.
Randy

 

[lifter4Him]

Thank you.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Bailey Bradshaw soaks his Ivory in milk. Seems to work for me also.
Randy

MILK I quess Bailey is a little different

Don sunfishforge

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

make sure whatever you soak it in is "room temperature" as swings in temp can cause an immediate crack.

 

[FrankDL]

Whole milk, low-fat, or fat-free?
Guess it depends on the thickness of the blade!

 

[lifter4Him]

Thanks for the tip Anthony.
I think I've decided to keep treating my plain ivory ones as usual but leave the scrimshawed one alone. My home is fairly temp and humidity controlled so I think it'll be ok.

 

[GigOne]

I'd never heard of using milk. Interesting.



Would Ren Wax work ?

 

[cockroachfarm]

.....soaks his Ivory in milk.....

Interesting. Wonder where he learned that?

Now, when you say "soak" - do you mean soak a cloth in the stuff and keep brushing it onto the handle; or do you mean taking the entire knife and standing it, handle down, in a glass of milk?