Ivory Ferrule maintenance; grease it?

nossi

nossi

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi!

I really did some search on this before i started the thread. Don`t know whether i used the wrong key words or this question wasn`t asked before.

As the title says, i`m asking myself if there`s a need to do some maintenance on ivory ferrules from time to time. I`ve seen many cracked ivory ferrules. Most of them were pretty old. From my point of view ivory might dry out from the time on it`s cut of the animal. Well... dry material cracks more likely. So i was asking myself if you recommend to grease the ivory from time to time and if so what to use?

Thanks in advance!
 
ive heard ppl use mink oil to rehydrate their ivory ferrules. i clean and wax my shaft atleast once a month. maybe more. i also never seem to keep a cue long enough to really worry about it. i can play bad with anything lol
 
I can only speak for myself, but I've made hundreds of Ivory ferrules & only heard that they should be oiled within the last couple of years. I've never given any instructions to those hundreds of customers, about care of Ivory ferrules, because I didn't know better. BUT, if none of them failed ( my own included), maybe no special care is needed. Based on my own ferrule experience, I wouldn't treat them any different, than any other ferrule material...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I can only speak for myself, but I've made hundreds of Ivory ferrules & only heard that they should be oiled within the last couple of years. I've never given any instructions to those hundreds of customers, about care of Ivory ferrules, because I didn't know better. BUT, if none of them failed ( my own included), maybe no special care is needed. Based on my own ferrule experience, I wouldn't treat them any different, than any other ferrule material...JER
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Well said. But I wonder if it has anything to do with where people live, like States with very low humidity.
 
????????????

The only special treatment I've ever given to ivory: Don't bring in cue in winter an play with ivory untill it has warmed up. If you ever have a scratch in ferrule have it polished out. Never use WD-40 on cue that was supposed to be a joke but I didn't get it either. Ivory ferrulres are tough stuff if they are installed properly. Sorry about the bad joke.............
Pinocchio
 
I think ferrules are less of a concern than ivory joints where the end grain is exposed. Here is an article on caring for ivory that recommends a coat of mineral or vegitable oil every 6 months or so.
Mr H
 
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nossi said:
Hi!

I really did some search on this before i started the thread. Don`t know whether i used the wrong key words or this question wasn`t asked before.

As the title says, i`m asking myself if there`s a need to do some maintenance on ivory ferrules from time to time. I`ve seen many cracked ivory ferrules. Most of them were pretty old. From my point of view ivory might dry out from the time on it`s cut of the animal. Well... dry material cracks more likely. So i was asking myself if you recommend to grease the ivory from time to time and if so what to use?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Ivory should and must be allowed to breath, but this can casue it to dry out and become brittle as it ages. I think mositure is the main culppret with Ivory become weak with time. Since Ivory needs to Breath to remain consistant, and mositure will sofen any form of bone it must be protected to some degree from exposure. To help prevent this I use Virgin Olive Oil on Ivory Ferrules, when I clean a shaft with one or when I replace a tip with one. I talked with a couple of people who have worked with Ivory for many years and this treatment is what they recommended to help slow down the natural aging of Ivory. however, I do not think anything will work forever, but I also do not think that this will hurt anything either.

When appling the Olive oil, I tape off the wood where it meets the ferrule. I place some Oilve oil on a cue tip and wipe it on the ferrule, next I rubb it in with a clean soft cloth.

Hope this helps.
 
oil

manwon said:
Ivory should and must be allowed to breath, but this can casue it to dry out and become brittle as it ages. I think mositure is the main culppret with Ivory become weak with time. Since Ivory needs to Breath to remain consistant, and mositure will sofen any form of bone it must be protected to some degree from exposure. To help prevent this I use Virgin Olive Oil on Ivory Ferrules, when I clean a shaft with one or when I replace a tip with one. I talked with a couple of people who have worked with Ivory for many years and this treatment is what they recommended to help slow down the natural aging of Ivory. however, I do not think anything will work forever, but I also do not think that this will hurt anything either.

When appling the Olive oil, I tape off the wood where it meets the ferrule. I place some Oilve oil on a cue tip and wipe it on the ferrule, next I rubb it in with a clean soft cloth.

Hope this helps.
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Yes - I know a guy who makes knifes for a living and he says that when they use ivory you should rub a small amount of baby oil on it a couple times a year. Just rub it in and wipe it down...

Larry
 
Mink oil and mineral spirits I heard from people are the best to use to protect the ivory from becoming to dry...
 
Thanks for all your comments.

I`ll go for some maintenance every 2 or 3 month.

As i really don`t wanna "mess with the dog" i`ll try that olive oil as manwon recommended ;-).
 
nossi said:
Thanks for all your comments.

I`ll go for some maintenance every 2 or 3 month.

As i really don`t wanna "mess with the dog" i`ll try that olive oil as manwon recommended ;-).
Click to expand...

I glad I could help!!

Have a good day!
 
I have always used peanut oil. About every 6 to 8 months, wipe it on, wipe it off. Just takes a drop or two on a que-tip. Supposed to keep it from drying out and cracking. I believe Richard Black recommends the same thing, but, with baby oil.
 
Just have your cue guy seal it or wax it when he does your tip. I have never seen a problem with ivory ferrules.
 
ive seen a few crack with the grain but i think if there is gonna be a problem all the wax and oil in the world cant halp
 
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