Real Tortoise Shell.

So I have a razor that needs some new scales. While I was in the military though and stationed in Diego Garcia, I came across some sea turtle shell. The part that looks pretty. I didn't harm any turtles and found it floating in the water while fishing and its just a piece not the whole shell. Its got some crustiness from seawater and I'm sure some coral or whatever. I bleached it to kill off any organisms and the pattern only shows when wet. I was wondering how to make it look better and possibly usable for scales. Should I sand it and then wax it or something? I will get some pictures up tomorrow.

Interesting,I bought a hawksbill shell in Mexico decades ago,I tried to work with it but all fell apart.
Is an artform working with it I think,very complicated.

I think the used to treat it as a primitive form of bio-plastic , and they would build it in layers, heat it under steam and pressure and mould it in to shape under pressure- similar to layered pressed horn. I didn't know the shell was thick or stable enough to work with in its 'raw' form

OP pics of the goods ASAP please!

This is correct, the scutes would be heated and pressed together to form thick sheets, as the material becomes soft and somewhat 'sticky' at higher temperatures and can self-adhere.

A good start would be these three videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2IjqKLMdw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWh6v7Tjtfs&feature=player_embedded"]下町に息づく伝統のわざ　鼈甲2/3 - YouTube

One more to come
~Richard

Enjoy the learning!!
下町に息づく伝統の技　鼈甲3/3 - YouTube

~Richard

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Geezer

Enjoy the learning!![/url]

~Richard

---

Ah I was looking for these exact videos. Incredibly helpful

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cosperryan

...While I was in the military though and stationed in Diego Garcia...

---

I spent a year @ DGar from Jul 83 - Jul 84. An interesting place in the exact middle of nowhere.

Awesome vids- thanks!

Well my computer is in for a repair or replacement I dont know which will be cheaper right now but that means I cant post pics yet. For some reason I cant upload pics when im on my phone with this site. As soon as I get it back though I will post some (hopefully tomorrow or monday). I have actually got two pieces with one being quite thick. I really hope I can do something with them even if I just use them as a layer on top of it or something

i have a couple of whole ones that i picked up in farmers kay from some local guys that eat the hawksbill on a regular basis.i used turtle wax and then sprayed them with clear poly.they look fantastic.on the other hand i wouldnt consider making scales from them.