Thread: Closing Straight VS Off Center

Originally Posted by dhammadoug

Do you think this boiling would do the trick or is it a problem with bone?.

I'm pretty sure your Helje is ivory - I've got a few and that's what they are.

Not sure how ivory reacts to boiling water [I'll defer to some of our local pros] It's likely too fragile to unpin that razor, and tapping with a jeweler's ball pein might crack those beautiful scales.

Worst case is you live with it? I could think of worse fates <g>

First thing I would do is see if Pixelfixed has an answer about the Ivory, he knows the stuff forward and backward,, If he doesn't, then I have quite a few broken Ivory scales sitting here to test... I have never tried to straighten them, Bone I know can be done in Boiling water, so can Antler and Horn... But I think I would try Steam on Ivory first just looking at it blind...

Originally Posted by bpave777

Worst case is you live with it? I could think of worse fates <g>

I'm actually worried about a fate of the blade coming in with some force on the scale. I'm in an environment where I share a lot and I'd hate to see someone not cognizant of it get upset from a catastrophic collision.

Originally Posted by dhammadoug

I came here to post a new thread, perhaps I can just coattail this one. Just a couple days ago I received an awesome Heljestrand #31. After polishing it up, its nearly flawless. Just a few blemishes, I don't think it was ever honed. However, it has a very minor bend on one of the scales, probably from laying on one side its hole life. I think they are bone. I've spent hours looking at the scale issue, so much about re-pinning. Do you think this boiling would do the trick or is it a problem with bone?

I really don't want to do anything drastic, but if I'm not conscious of closing it it could very easily damage the blade or scales.

They are Ivory,is some info here:Guitar Parts - Bone and Ivory Working Tips
But I have never tried it.

I was just wondering if anyone followed up on straightening ivory scales? I have a set that has a bend to them and I remember reading on here that there isn't anything that can be done to them. Was hoping maybe the info was wrong and I would be able to straighten them.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I was just wondering if anyone followed up on straightening ivory scales? I have a set that has a bend to them and I remember reading on here that there isn't anything that can be done to them. Was hoping maybe the info was wrong and I would be able to straighten them.

If you follow the link from pixelfixed above it talks about bending ivory with a lot of tips. Let us know if you are successful and how.

I read the info on the link and will have to give it a try. Looking at the site and the price of ivory keeps me from wanting to make alot of scales from it. Wish I started straight shaving long ago cause I remember having to remove a piano from a house with ivory keys that had to be demolished cause they literally built the house around the piano and everything was trashed.