[Jewelry making - Article 00077] - Re: [Orchid] Carving fossil ivory

[Sumner Silverman]

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Cathy

    I love working fossil ivory ( a misnomer since it is not actually
    replaced by mineral). It is perfect for intense detail. However, you
    must like working hard material, which I do. 

    I start by using a band saw, it produces a unique odor. I use the
    saw to not only slab the material but to rough out the 3d shape
    (careful of those fingers and don't let it get too hot). I then use
    rotory tungston burrs, the kind that look like they are rough
    skinned, not looking like files. I then will use files, burrs, and
    small chisels that I make myself out of the back end of drill bits. 

    The rest of the shaping is done by scraping rather than cutting for
    the most part. I use various knives and tools that I have devised
    over three decades of carving. At this point, it might help to get
    the ivory a little wet. Although it might sound unsanitary, I will
    occasionally touch my tounge to the part that I'm working on. 

    In the final stage I switch between sanding and scraping, as needed
    to cut in better detail. I might start at 100 grit or 220. I go to
    320, 400, 600, 1200, and on down with the marvilous new fabrics
    coated with abrasives (see Rio) to 8,000 grit (?) . I use toothpicks
    shaped to a refined paddle shape to back the papers and get into
    details. I need not further polish except nose oil :-). This is not a
    fast process, it is the only pursuit in my life that is truely anal. 

    If you would like to see the amount of detail and degree of finish
    possable, look around on my website (see especially the cigar holder
    section). Any further questions, contact me through the website, if
    you like. 


www.sumnersilverman.com



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