Thread: 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.



One more to come
~Richard

Enjoy the learning!!
下çâ€�ºãÂ�«æÂ�¯ãÂ�¥ãÂ�Â�ä¼Â�çµ± ãÂ�®æŀ　鼈çâ€�²3/3 - YouTube