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MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/27/2013: 10:50:09
How thin of a piece of ivory do you make letter inlays from? IS there some place where you can buy pre made letters for inlaying?
Jim Yates - Posted - 04/27/2013: 11:08:15
I believe it's illegal to sell ivory. If you can talk to a piano repair person, they might be able to supply you with some old keys. That's where I got my hands on some.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/27/2013: 11:32:24
Well what ever the material is. I am not actually using ivory, but its close. How thin do you make it before cutting out the shape.
Randall - Posted - 04/27/2013: 11:37:50
I have used piano keys that were ivory from and old piano. They were about .060. Worked fine! Stunk like crazy! Run me out of the shop while cutting!
Edited by - Randall on 04/27/2013 12:16:10
rot-n-dobe - Posted - 04/27/2013: 11:39:57
i believe ivory is only illegal if it was imported after 1964. i got mine from the son of a guy who used to refurbish pianos in trade for building him a gun stock. it is beautiful stuff and works great but it is softer than shell, and will yellow over time. from memory, i would say mine is 1/16 thick or so.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/27/2013: 11:54:07
Thanks guys That is what I was looking for
mikehalloran - Posted - 04/27/2013: 12:39:27
Living in Alaska, obtaining ivory is not going to be a problem. Selling the products legally will be impossible but you already know that.
As for the burning smell, ivory is made from the same proteins as hair, feathers and fish scales. If you can stand burnt hair, you can deal with ivory.
Edited by - mikehalloran on 04/27/2013 12:40:23
ColdFingers-alaska - Posted - 04/27/2013: 13:54:34
Fossil ivory is readily available in AK and legal to own.
alaskafurexchange.com/walrus.shtml.
Have never worked with fossil ivory but I have done some shell inlay. Cutting letters and script is a delicate operation. I would not use less than .060 thickness material for script. It is less likely to break than .050.
If the inlay material is too thin it will tend to be transparent and you may not get good contrast between the finished inlay and wood. Just my observation, for what its worth.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/27/2013: 14:43:07
Thanks The material I have is legal, or I wouldn't even do this. Thanks for the advice on the thickness.
Fathand - Posted - 04/28/2013: 14:46:55
I believe Pig (boar tusk) Ivory is perfectly legal. Elephant Ivory is illegal.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/28/2013: 16:36:52
I never save the pig tusk. Of course, last time I hunted pigs, I had not started pickin on the banjo. Those are the most fun critters to hunt. We need a new thread on hilarious pig hunting stories
Leslie R - Posted - 04/28/2013: 16:53:22
Wart hog ivory does not yellow. It might be a reasonable assumption wild boat tusks do not yellow, but I can not say for certain.
Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 04/28/2013: 22:06:29
quote:
Originally posted by ColdFingers-alaska
If the inlay material is too thin it will tend to be transparent and you may not get good contrast between the finished inlay and wood.
Translucent, yes. Transparent, no. 
But the translucence of pearl is why it's a good idea to paint the backside of your inlay pieces white before you glue them in.
It makes them "pop" and painting would probably be a good idea in the case of really thin ivory inlays too -although ivory (and ivoroid) are nowhere near as translucent as MOP.
~Pete
Fathand - Posted - 04/29/2013: 10:49:04
I was sort of thinking of asking a butcher or farmer for some from domestic boars but I think they may remove them when the animal is small.
quote:
Originally posted by MOUNTAIN GOAT
I never save the pig tusk. Of course, last time I hunted pigs, I had not started pickin on the banjo. Those are the most fun critters to hunt. We need a new thread on hilarious pig hunting stories
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 04/29/2013: 12:23:08
Well I sure wish they had removed them from that one wild boar that chased me down a creek bed. Man that was close. It was biting at me heels.
McUtsi - Posted - 04/29/2013: 12:33:30
Tagua nut might be an idea ; I´ve used it,now & then,over the
decades ; terribly hard to work,though.McUtsi
