Ivory can be cut with any tool that will cut wood: a hack saw with coarse teeth, jewelers saw (for very fine
work), or better yet if much cutting or any slabbing is to be done, a band saw. Metal cutting blades 1/2" wide with 6 to 10
teeth per inch seem to work the best. The fewer teeth per inch the less clogging with dust, but the more teeth per inch the
smoother the cut and the less subsequent sanding required. With any saw, a sharp blade is essential as a dull blade will result
in rough wandering cuts at best and scorched ivory at worst. The same goes for drill bits, burrs and sandpaper: the easier
it cuts the cooler it cuts! If you cut a tusk into sections or chunks you should seal the pores on the cut ends to prevent
rapid drying out and cracking. We have found smearing a white glue (such as Elmers) on the cut ends to be the most convenient
method and we have never had a piece crack that was so protected. Getting a mirror smooth finish by hand can take practice;
try rubbing with Simichrome metal polish or auto polishing compound on a rag. The best results come from a fast spinning buffing
or polishing wheel. We prefer an unsewn 54 ply 6" muslin wheel with a small reinforced hole for use on a tapered spindle.
The polishing compounds come in a waxy block or stick form and are impregnated with fine abrasives. By holding the bar against
the spinning wheel you will "charge up" the wheel with abrasive. Use tripoli or bobbing compound first to remove any fine
sanding scratches and to get a nice shine. Don't hold the piece in one spot or press it hard into the wheel; this will nearly
guarantee the development of the tiny cracks referred to as crazing (it may take weeks or even months for them to show up).
Then with a different buffing wheel use chromium oxide, Zam, Fabuluster, or white rouge to put the glassy sheen on the ivory.
The following is a summary of the international and U.S. Fish & Wildlife laws which regulate the commerce
of ivory: The international trade in wildlife and plants is regulated by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species (C.I.T.E.S.) [a multinational protege of the United Nations]. Formed in 1973, the aim is to establish worldwide controls
over plants & wildlife that require protecting due to declining populations. Headquartered in Switzerland, C.I.T.E.S.,
delegates meet every two years to review data & set new quotas to increase, decrease or maintain the level of protection
on individual species. C.I.T.E.S. regulations do not control a country's internal commerce, only the international trade between
member nations.
*African Elephant On the C.I.T.E.S. Endangered Species List. Importing, buying, and selling
of African elephant ivory is not allowed internationally. It cannot be imported into or exported out of the U.S. or practically
any other country of the world. It is legal to own, buy, sell or ship within the United States and there are no permits or
registration requirements (those were required for importation into the U.S.).
The raw elephant ivory we are selling now is all old "estate" ivory which was legally imported
years ago
* Mammoth or Mastodon Different animals, different looking tusks, the cut ivory can look nearly
the same. Commerce in this 10,000-40,000 year old ivory is completely unrestricted. A great deal of this ivory in cut form
looks practically identical to elephant ivory (except for the outer layer where all the color and weathering is). Our friends
at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory have discovered a reliable indicator for differentiating between prehistoric
mammoth and modern elephant ivory. Color is no indication; it is the angle that the cross grain lines bisect themselves. Angles
of less than 90% indicate that it's mammoth/mastodon, angles greater than 120% show that it's elephant. This information is
now being shared with customs and wildlife agents around the world so that mammoth ivory will clear customs inspections and
not be subject to seizures or delays.
* Sperm Whale An endangered species regulated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Importation
for commercial purposes has been prohibited since 1973. Interstate sales of registered pre-act teeth with scrimshaw is allowed
under a special federal permit. Unregistered pre-act teeth can no longer be registered and cannot be transported across interstate
lines for commercial purposes. They can be sold intrastate as long as state law does not prohibit. Antique scrimshaw (100
years plus) can be sold interstate. We do not buy or sell whales' teeth outside of Arizona.
* Walrus are regulated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection
Act. Raw walrus ivory predating the Dec. 21, 1972 law, tusks bearing the Alaska state walrus ivory registration tags or post-law
walrus ivory that has been carved or scrimshawed by an Alaskan native (Eskimo) are legal to buy, possess, and sell.
* Raw walrus ivory obtained after 12/21/72 is not legal to buy or sell unless both parties
are Eskimo (it is legal to own). A $100 export permit is required to ship walrus ivory or oosik (legal as per above) out of
the United States.
* Fossil Walrus Ivory is not restricted as it pre-dates the 1972 cutoff, it is legal to buy
and sell anywhere within the United States. Shipping ivory or oosik out of the U. S. requires a $100 permit.
