Take care of Mammoth Ivory on a knife.

[Phillip Dobson]

The word fossil, as connected to mammoth and walrus ivory, means; found in the
ground, or unearthed. The fossil ivory we are using has been preserved in frozen ground
for many thousand years. It is full of moisture when unearthed and takes considerable
time to dry out. It is not fossilized, like fossilized wood that is millions of years
old and has turned to stone.

Yup, fossil is a broad definition and includes things like casts and footprints as well.

The word you're thinking of is "petrified" (lit. turned to stone). It can actually happen pretty quickly if conditions are correct.

 

[D.Mirabile]

What we normally use is 'mineralized' ivory... Unless you are lucky enough to actually have some petrified ivory, which is very rare, but extremely beautiful. And I do have some. As for care, I never soak in any type of oil. I have found that the best thing to do is use a good paste wax. I like Renaissance, but Johnsons paste wax is just as good.
The main thing above all is heat generated while working the material !!!
Use new belts... I'm sure that everybody knows that, but it cannot be over emphasized.

Also, maybe even more important is picking the material.... Ivory is one thing that I would never buy from just a picture. You must handle it.. Or
be able to send it back if it wasn't a good piece.

Know your ivory..... Know your source....
I'll never tell mine!
David

 

[Don Hanson III]

Peter, "petrified" is the word I was lookin for. Some folks confuse it with fossil or fossilized.

David, 'mineralized ivory' is a very good description of what we use. But fossil ivory is just as correct.

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

Todd,
If he did soak it,I'd guess, that is where he went wrong. If this is the case,Id do just as Tony says,let it dry out.
Also,a few guys I know that are Ivory "buff's",they say they only coat thier scales,with whatever,never soak.
I know the opinions of some,will say Mammoth Ivory is more stable than elephant ivory,because it is already fossilized. If this is the case,I can't see why you would need to stabilize it,as nature has,already.
-Vince

Vince, I think he did soak these.

But Don is saying here to soak for a long time? I do believe Don has messed with some Ivory in his time, and knows what he talking about......

So what do we do? wipe? soak? Dry it out? Stabilize it?

Or just try to live with it?

TA

 

[VCM3]

Vince, I think he did soak these.

But Don is saying here to soak for a long time? I do believe Don has messed with some Ivory in his time, and knows what he talking about......

So what do we do? wipe? soak? Dry it out? Stabilize it?

Or just try to live with it?

TA

Todd,
On slipjoints,that are put together & finished,I do not see any advantage,to an occasional "soak",over an occasional liberal application of whatever you use
I currently only own one Ivory slipjoint.Recently,I have interested a good friend into collecting mammoth scaled slipjoints. He did ask,"what should I do to maintain these"
I told him if he was not going use & carry them,occasionally take them out & wipe them down,with mineral oil.I told him,if he handled them frequently,he probably needed to do nothing,but just wipe them down before putting them into thier "safe queen" coffins
I have used lemon oil & I know others who use a blend of lemon & mineral oils,I've also heard of just plain old oils from one's hand.
I have heard guys say they Do Not soak,so I just followed what I've heard
I think Don is saying he only soaks certain ones &,prior to pinning.
IMO,soaking a mammoth ivory scaled slipjoint,is a dramatic overkill version,of an occasional coating (witch is satisfactory,IMO),and the results,sometimes & in this case,were not good.
I'd bet,if they were left alone,they would eventually dry up & un-swell.
-Vince

 

[Don Hanson III]

I'd bet,if they were left alone,they would eventually dry up & un-swell.

I'd put my money there. I also would never soak them again.

One thing I've learned over the years, if it don't work, don't do it again

 

[VCM3]

I'd put my money there. I also would never soak them again.

One thing I've learned over the years, if it don't work, don't do it again

Yep ! :thumbup: And I'll add,
Sometimes less,is better.
-Vince