Thread: Fixing warped Oosik

Does anybody here have any experience with fixing warped Oosik? i recently aquired a piece that is rather wavy, and was wondering if any of the normal procedures for fixing warped horn/bone would work?

Any comments/suggestions are appreciated.

Here are some pics for reference:

So many lines and possibilities that I just don't know where to start.

Originally Posted by JMS

So many lines and possibilities that I just don't know where to start.

Yeah, I'm not touching it either.

Dang, you're right, Mark! I had no intention on quipping anything there but then I read the sentence again!!

Chris L

Do you really want to scale your razor with the petrified unit of a castrated walrus?


As a man, that really is not what I look for in a razor.

I said as much in the B&B forum and was politely edited and asked not to do so again. They don't have the self editing feature for certain words, for better or worse. (btw, wow, pea ness is censored?!?)
I have my own strange fascinations and whatnot don't get me wrong, but ***** bone is not one of them. I am a big fan of ivory and treat the pieces I own with great reverence and respect, but that is tooth. Contradiction? Maybe.
Now, cultures worship genitals of animals for their fertility bestowing powers, and the oosik is no different. While we all shave to look and feel good, and that might bring us fertility (read: get us laid) I don't think having whale ***** bone on a razor is particularly attractive or functional in that aspect. What do I know, I'm not Inuit.
I assume it is like any other bone, that you can probably influence it with steam and pressure (though no as well as horn which is compressed hair, bone is mineral)

BUT

Might I suggest burying it in your backyard and growing vegetables over it?

Respectfully,
bassguy

Originally Posted by JMS

So many lines and possibilities that I just don't know where to start.

That's what she said!

Originally Posted by sapito318

Does anybody here have any experience with fixing warped Oosik? i recently aquired a piece that is rather wavy, and was wondering if any of the normal procedures for fixing warped horn/bone would work?

Any comments/suggestions are appreciated.

Here are some pics for reference:

Forgive us Sir as we are just a bunch of over grown juveniles.

So, yeah, I googled Oosik, just to see what was up here. That is a rabbit hole that lead WAY too far down.


Anybody care to guess what this is?

It's a key ring!

Oosic/oosik works like the hard bone it is. It does not respond well to the heating or steaming methods that horn does.

Since it's a relatively small unit, it may be solid all the way through. Some of the bigger ones can be trabeculated (looks like a sponge) internally so the good material is on the outside. Some of those will make good scales cause you can work them like any flat material if they are thick enough.

That's the real gamble with using this kind of natural material. You don't know what you have until you start cutting into it.

That being said, when you get nice pieces, they polish up like ivory and are really nice depending on the coloration from minerals. Oosic is less likely to suffer from humidity and environment than the dentines (ivories).

Good luck.

Originally Posted by JimR

So, yeah, I googled Oosik, just to see what was up here. That is a rabbit hole that lead WAY too far down.


Anybody care to guess what this is?

Chimpanzee?

Thanks for the info Mike