Working with Ivory

[orvet]

Has anyone here worked much with ivory?

I picked up an ivory shoehorn cheap, (for ivory), at a flea market. I can get perhaps two sets of small handles from it, but several more if I can figure a way to straighten out the curve in it.

Anyone have any suggestions?
How much different is ivory from working with bone or stag?

I appreciate the help.
Dale

[muskrat man]

Dale, I've done some work with ivory, just finished up a 34OT in ivory as a matter of fact. It is similar to working natural bone, it cracks about as easy but will chip at the pin holes real easy.It will also buff away quickly so you have to be careful, it's almost as hard to buff as celluloid. Don't let it get too hot or it will start to "delaminate" so I don't think heat would be a good idea to straighten it. I've straightened stag with heat, but not bone. Ivory is pretty fragile so I think I would just stick to salvaging what I can from it as it is.

Take Care and good luck
Kaleb