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Old 11-20-2011, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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These are the type of pieces you want to purchase and learn how to use as opposed to investing in a very large expensive piece of ivory.

Always make an effort to look over scraps; they save you a lot of money and they also save you a lot of time in the creation process.



This stuff... ... is more valuable ... than gold! IVORY - learn how simple it is to use. The only reason most people will not even attempt this - ?? Too lazy to spend the time. Oh! sit in front of a computer and type meaninless dribble all day long for months ?? What is actually accomplished ?? nothing worth while (for the most part).





NOTICE: the natural arc like shape? Perfect for just slicing it all up quickly to produce about 10 pairs of ear-rings in less than an hour or two.

Those three pieces combined would probably cost about $60. @ Alaska Fur Exchange. Your PROFIT MARGIN will always = in the neighborhood of 'ten'.

In other words, if you invest 60 dollars and produce the items; you should make around 600 in return for the crafts or ear-rings or bracelets you sell.



As you keep reading this thread, I hope to inspire you to - just try - you got nothing to loose. Everything to gain with your new skills which are very easy to acquire in a very short amount of time.
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Old 11-21-2011, 01:31 AM
 
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I seen on eBay the other day you can buy imitation ivory tusk.
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Old 11-21-2011, 01:47 AM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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Meaning ?? Vegetable Ivory ?
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Old 11-21-2011, 09:57 AM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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Synthetic Ivory ? No thanks; we only work with the real stuff. Vegetable ivory however - looks and feels just like the real thing; It is almost impossible to tell from the real thing. Vegetable ivory is too white. That is the one give-a-way.





Simple shapes are drawn with pencil on every piece of scrap ivory. Sometmes; it takes a bit of thought on how to lay out the shapes on the pieces to achieve the maximum count possible.


Fossilized Mastodon ivory is gorgeous stuff to work with. 25,000 years ago; this ivory was white. White ivory will not fetch the same price as fossil ivory. There is no comparision; Fossil ivory will fetch 3 times the price, so it is much better to work with the best materials possible to receive the maximum rewards or price.




Six per day - for the next 20 days; that is our goal. 120 bracelets in less than 3 weeks time. Will they be able to achieve this goal ?


Watch what happens - right here- for the next 20 days! (fingers crossed). $24,000 in less than a month ?? Totally unheard of!!
That is the goal the boys are shooting for.
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Old 11-21-2011, 05:42 PM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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Default The Hollow End of the Last Tusk of White Ivory

Here at the hollow end; we are going to use just the pure ivory on the outside and leave the core - untouched.









This piece of 'core' is essentially useless. We will merely work around it.


The portion containing the core is easily removed leaving only pure ivory for the bracelet pieces!!

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Old 11-21-2011, 11:56 PM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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This work can be very monotonous; at times, doing the same simple steps again and again.



It takes time to cut all these shapes out and then take the time to make them all exact. Performing the same simple steps time and time again gets old and boring - UNLESS - you have a way to escape. Go someplace else (in your head). Music is essential and I'll also let you in on a little well known secret.

Plants & Animals know the difference (in music). Man has yet to learn the many amazing different benefits of listening to classical music. Try working in a shop working all day to rock & roll music. You will get burnt out too quickly. You can't sit there and work for long hours.







Oops! it broke; see it ?? That doesn't hurt anything, the broken piece is still thick enough to make the remaining pieces normal size!



All sliced up and the pieces cut out for the next batch of bracelets. Now to perform all the same steps to each of the 30 or so pieces to get them ready to mix with other ivories!

Next image will show todays progress... ..

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Old 11-22-2011, 12:04 AM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
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Default Day two!

Here is our progress to date to see if we can accomplish this goal we have set.

Pick a goal - make a plan - stick to it and work hard all day.



Tomorrow we should have at least twice as many bracelets. Time to start packing them away in boxes. I will take a final group photo in 18 more days to see where we stand in our quest to create 100 bracelets in 20 days.

This is going to be a lot of fun. I always tell my sons; when working on something boring, Make a game out of it and learn how to 'play'!
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Old 11-22-2011, 12:41 AM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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This is the next group of pieces being used to create bracelet pieces.

Mastodon Ivory - see that 'blue' color on the ivory? That is from sitting in mud; that is rich in cobalt!



Amazing the many different things you learn by working with ivory.

The pieces look fantastic when polished and they still show glimpses of that rich blue color.
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Old 11-22-2011, 09:12 AM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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Default Tools & Techniques

Lets take a quick look at some of the different tools you will use when using your dremel tool to shape & carve with.

Dremel is a brand name for a 'rotary' type tool. Many other companies make similar tools also. Perhaps the best brand name is Foredom unit that is a motor with a long flexible shaft. A foredom is 3 or more times expensive than a dremel tool. Foredoms last forever! Later when you are more experienced, that is the choice to make.

The first bit I want to show you and explain is a standard burring bit. they are available in many different sizes and shapes. Their main purpose is to 'cut'.

This is the main type bit we use to prepare an inset into a piece of ivory. They have to be used at an 45 degree angle to begin - the cut and slowly straightened to an upright position to create the oval or circle or heart shape.

They can are also used to remove the sharp edges on pieces to round them off or bevel them.

The are available in two different materials - stainless steel or carbide.

Carbide bits last quite a long time. They can also be prolonged by using a 'coolant' when working with them.

The average cost of any burr bit is about $4.00 As you gain expeience you will purchase all different types for different assorted uses.

We use a very fine pointed one for signing name, date and location on our work




This little blue thingy is a magnetic bit holder. it is meant to insert inside a larger rotating bit holder that holds over 100 bits. Certainly you do not need 100 bits or anywhere close to that amount. But is essential to have some method to keep your bits sorted and available in a neat manner.



These small very soft cotton polishing wheels do a great job but they don't last long at all. You might be able to polish about 5 bracelets with one of these before they become to tiny to effectively use properly.
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Old 11-22-2011, 03:14 PM
 
Location: Point Hope Alaska
4,320 posts, read 4,740,353 times
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Default Two more tools & Techniques

A few different options and one very kewl trick.

One of the most important shape templates you must have is a plastic drafting type template full of many different sizes of 'circles'.

Circles are used for many other purposes that have nothing to do with drawing on ivory. Drawing circles on plastic... drawing circles on sandpaper.

Let me show you two additional types of shafts or bits that can used for different purposes then I will explain.



The polishing wheel felt is mounted on the same type shaft as the sandpaper.
Each shaft has a slotted machine screw 6/32" to screw into the shaft to hold the material firm.



Oatmeal (covers) on the container, Butter (covers) on the top of the container are all usually made out of a plastic material - SAVE THEM.

NOTICE: The sandpaper stacked one upon another. This is a very handy method to use for sanding your pieces. Except when you press against the ivory to be sanded, the sandpaper won't comply; it will just drop as you apply pressure. The way to solve this easily and quickly is to FIRST - place a circle of plastic on the shaft, Then add your layers of sandpaper. Now you have something stiff behind the sandpaper which will allow you to push on the piece of ivory and that stack won't collapse.

Two different ways or methods to stack your sandpaper.

Make a stack of about 7 layers using the same grit.

Make a stack of about 7 layers using different grits.

Tear them off and remove them when you need a new clean grit to work with.

A different size burr (cutting ) bit. We have many of these in many different sizes and shapes. You will become very familiar with these bits as you gain experience using them.

Here is what we prepared this morning; Between 7 am & 10:30 am




These are going through all the many different steps to have these all finished and boxed up tonight. At the end, then I will show you ALL the finished bracelets up close. 17 days to go...



More coming soon.. ..
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