Stabilizing ivory?

[koyote]

I have -in assorted pieces from folder scale size to ... um, big- 23 pounds of fossilized mammoth ivory. Also a few sticks of 12,000 year old caibou antler and fossilized moose antler. And some steppe bison vertebrae.

Anyway. I need help! The moose antler needs a full soak and a press, it's not holding together well at all, the rest just needs stabilizing.

How do I or - and I don't want to F%^&#( this up- WHO do I talk to about this?

(Yeah, it's legal, has export papers from canada, too)

I mean... 23 pounds. If I'm *cautious*, I can immediately see a few dozen scale handles, at least 6 hidden tangs, and several dozen folder scales. There's also a lot of brown and even soem black colors. I'm excited, of course, but damn, I need help on this one.

 

[Steven Penner]

http://www.stabilizedwood.com/wssi.shtml

They are the trusted experts and have done a lot of high value material.

I would however consider doing it in more that one shipment to minimize risk of loss - in shipping for example.

 

[Robert Mayo]

I agree send it off to be done by wssi it will be done right.

Bob

 

[koyote]

I sent them an email asking.

I'm a bit stumped by the moose antler. it's got the potential to be a great set of scales (not a complete antler) but it pretty much has to be saturated completely. maybe bathed.


The caribou antler pieces are going to work fine for through tangs, and actually feel solid enough. should get them stabilized for good mearue, though.

How expensive is this stuff? Meaning, how good a trade did I get?