Tips for working w/ mammoth ivory?

J

Jason Fry

Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
3,224
I'm about to make my first venture into mammoth. Any tips on working with it? Specifically, how hard is it to drill, and what do I need to do to make sure it doesn't chip out when I drill through? Does it crack easily? Can I get away with doing a thong hole, or will the thin section be too likely to crack off? What finish should I use? Hand sand to 1000 then buff? Mineral oil, superglue, wax, or? This stuff's too expensive to learn by trial and error.
 
I"ve only done a few knives with it, but here is my experience. I don't use stabilized mammoth I soak it in mineral oil a couple days before I use it. Not hard to drill I just used sharp drill bits and put masking tape on the side that could possibly chip out.
As for the cracking easily I didn't have any problems with it cracking. It all was solid and didn't give me much trouble. I liked working it 100 times better than any wood I've used. I'll let someone with more experience talk about the thong hole. I just took it to 1000 grit and hand buffed with flitz.
 
A couple of tips is drill it slowly with the feed and use a moderate speed and raise the bit frequently to clean tha hole. When working it do not let it get hot or very warm as this will cause problems eventually. After hand sanding I go to the buffer with a white rouge, use care when buffing as it will heat up and/or burn the ivory. I have never used anyother finish on it than buffering. I find that the natural color of the ivory is preferred by most folks. A hand rubbed finish with mineral oil may help, I just have never tried it.
 
What I have had when you drill holes through it put a couple of strips of masking tape on the side where it comes out. This will help it not break out the surface. Do not dip in water to cool. I put it on piece of aluminum to draw the heat out. I normally ground with 50 grit to most of the shape then filed and handsanded to 1000 grit andbuffed with white then pink .
 
Much mammoth ivory is porous. I don't suggest using mineral oil on it, as there is no benefit, and it can soften the ivory.
Mammoth should be kept dry. Sand and polish as needed. Wax when finished.
 
Like has been said tape on exit side when drilling. Drill slowly and pull drill out often Ivory will clog the flutes in the drill then start to burn.(don't ask how I know this. Do not cool in water (water will soak in the pores and any natural cracks you may have Then when you go back to grinding it heats expands and makes more and bigger cracks). I usually hand sand to 2000 grit and do a light white rouge buff then hand finish with flitz and renasance (hope I spelled that right)wax. Just take your time treat it nice it'll come out amazeing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top