Thread: Ivory Polishing File

Great tool Jimmy! Here's another example from another site of a similar tool that I use all the time to polish scales of all types before I hit them with the buffer. They work great ...last a long time...and you can pick up 3 sticks for around $5.00, and they have 3 grits on each stick.



You can find them at: STEWMAC.COM : Micro-Mesh Touch Up Stick

WP34

The problem is,even at that high grit,your abraiding the material,as he said,do not hit the grip screws as it will remove the finish.
I love the way he keeps telling potential customersou can get 50 to 100 dollors more for high polished grips at the shows
Thats all bunk.People in the know will pay a major premium for well aged Ivory over higely polished Ivory,IME
Interesting post tho jim.

I've found nothing so far that beats the micro-mesh.

Originally Posted by Lemur

I've found nothing so far that beats the micro-mesh.

Again, you are removing material,polish it once,than let it age.
I have seen people that had no clue,polish a $5000.00 Netsuki and turn it into a $1000.00 pce.

That's the "problem" with antiques, if I have an old very nice razor and some "expert" tells me that if I sharpen it I will ruin its value.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Again, you are removing material,polish it once,than let it age.
I have seen people that had no clue,polish a $5000.00 Netsuki and turn it into a $1000.00 pce.

I agree that you wouldn't want to use these on a Japanese figurine or many, many other antiques or valuables of this sort...

But...they work GREAT on scales that really by themselves don't have that much intrinsic value, be they ivory, bone, horn, or plastic.

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

I agree that you wouldn't want to use these on a Japanese figurine or many, many other antiques or valuables of this sort...

But...they work GREAT on scales that really by themselves don't have that much intrinsic value, be they ivory, bone, horn, or plastic.

Intrinsic value is nebulas,95% of my razors (all users) are scaled in ivory,the day is fast approaching that the material will be gone forever

It’s a finger nail file/buffer. Available at any drugstore for about a buck, your bride probably has a bunch of them.

A dab of Maas and a paper towel works best for me.

Interesting how a polished fingernail, feel just like ivory.

For books it is different. A well restored antique book will be worth more than the same book haning in tatters.
The catch is of course that it has to be done by a master, using authentic materials, and the exact same methods.
And it has to be complete though. My mother stopped counting the number of clients that visit her with an 1800s bible with 50 pages missing, expecting to get big bucks for it after restoration.