mammoth ivory finish

M

magnum .44

Joined
Jun 12, 1999
Messages
1,110
how should i finish mammoth ivory. i've never worked with it before. should i put paste wax on a a finish or super glue. i can even use lacquer. is the stuff non porus? i'm gonna sand up to 2,500, or 10,000. depending on the finish. thanks in advance.
 
Super glue it in the rough state to fill and stabilize the cracks. The rough it let it set for a while in a dry palce to stress relieve. Then fit and finish with very slow belts not getting it hot, or by hand . The finish you get depends on what look your after. I like the semi stag look for mammoth.. leaving some cracks and color in the material after finish.
As for a final I use 4000 grit by hand then just a dab of ren wax .

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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!




 
darrel, when you say rough state, do you meen after the shaping or after 400grt. i'm gonna go with a shinny finish. how many of them little tubes should i buy for full tang 5" handle? how long should i store it before i sand each coat, and how many coats will produce a mirror finish? thanks for the advice
 
I made a bowie with sambar stag recently.I applied 4 coats of superglue before buffing it to a high shine. I dont think that more is needed, but better safe than sorry.
 
Work it slow with sharp belts and paper.
Above all make sure it's dry. If it includes moisture it will shrink like crazy and pull back from the finished tang. Most I buy requires extra drying before using.

Fill any fissures or cracks with super glue.

Finish with an 800 grit and then buff with white compound.

Couple of coats of Renaissance Wax or Johnson's Paste Wax and hand polish with a soft cloth.



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Ben R. Ogletree, Jr.
 
Do you dry the ivory after you've slabbed it, or when its still in bulk? Whats the best way to dry something as old and fragile as mammoth ivory?

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
One of the things that can set your mind at ease when working with CA glue in reference to how long should you let it cure before working it is an accelerator, or kicker as it is called. These curing chemicals are available and in different strengths. Use a slow type after a reasonable curing time to prevent hazing and curdling of the CA coating, and you will see that a good hard coat is assured immediately. Finish as stated by others.
 
The glue only seals the surface of the ivory, but if you stabelize it, its al way through the piece ( thats what I've been told).
 
Yes Stabilization works well on this stuff. After cutting it into slabs I let it sit on the water heater for 6 months. This dries it. Some like it dry some like it wet. I like it dry because all it can do is expand NOT shrink. I dry it then stabilize it. I use thin super glue. The acceleraot will leave a white finish so I dont use it. I let it sit for a few hours each coat..

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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!




 
Darrel-
What do you do, paint it or dip it before putting it in the vacuum? The way my rig is set up, I'd have to flood the bottom of the chamber in order for it to work right.
Harry
 
Well I am glad to have chocked up one happy customer so far. The e-mail he listed is incorrect though. it is yekimak@hotmail.com .

Thanks Harry! Send me pics of what you make out of it..

YeK
 
yek, we're the peices dried before you got them? i'd have figured they've been drying for 33,000,000yrs. isn't that enough, hehe.
 
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