Cutting ivory tusk

Jeff

Jeff

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just bought a good chuck of an elephant tusk.

Roughly 3" dia and 3" length

Any tips, do's, don'ts in sectioning this.

What are the best square sizes?
 
Jeff said:
Just bought a good chuck of an elephant tusk.

Roughly 3" dia and 3" length

Any tips, do's, don'ts in sectioning this.

What are the best square sizes?
Click to expand...

A few do's and dont's=

Cut slowly ,heat is an enemy to Ivory

The Ivory closest to the nerve is best for joints and ferrules, so cut accordingly.

Hope that the Ivory tusk the section came from has not been "back cracked" . If it has it will not matter how you cut it, it will fall to pieces.
 
Here are some pics

Ivory1.gif


Ivory2.gif
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
From the pictures you provided it looks like there are some bad cracks that will seriously effect the value of the ivory. You are going to have to work around these cracks. Maybe slab some pieces off for inlay material.

Personally I would not pay very much for such a flawed piece.

Good luck and if you need any more help feel free to call me.

Good Cuemaking,
Click to expand...

Thanks, no I didn't pay all that much.

3 or 4 ferrules out of it would basically pay for it. :)
 
I would cut off at least 1/2 inch from each end and throw it away. The surface cracks are visible in the picture and they will be all over the face and judging by the discoloration of these little cracks, they are apt to be very deep.

The ivory near the large cracks is also unuseable.

To check for cracks you can't see you can spread some liquid dye or ink, then clean offe the surface down to the ivory. The cracks will show the dye.

Whenever you cut ivory pieces you need to seal the end grain. Use 5 minute or melted wax or something else, but do it ASAP. On a cue, the ivory ferrules are sealed with a tip or the shaft.

Glad you didn't pay much.
 
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