cleaning, caring for baleen (to buy, move, oil)

[tidelines]

Wondering if there's a specific method of maintaining baleen? Have a couple of pieces approx 12 feet long that, if they were wood, might benefit from a coat of oil or such to bring out the sheen and richness. Baleen seems to get drier and more brittle, so wonder if anyone knows about this?

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by tidelines

Wondering if there's a specific method of maintaining baleen? Have a couple of pieces approx 12 feet long that, if they were wood, might benefit from a coat of oil or such to bring out the sheen and richness. Baleen seems to get drier and more brittle, so wonder if anyone knows about this?

Baleen takes a lot of work initially to clean it up and polish it. But after, nothing really needs to be done to maintain it. Hang it on the wall, stand it in the corner, whatever. It'll last apparently for pretty near forever.

[Majik_Imaje]

Baleen, is something we work with every day.. there are lots of tricks to use

putting that piece in the water will help in cleaning it all off.. I do not know what shape your piece is in.. if it has been sanded or not. Sanding is essential, using several grits.. you can achieve a super high shine on it, like a mirror.. Once it is all polished up.. you can soak it or rub it with mineral oil or baby oil.. this will put moisture back into the piece.. as it gets old and looses the moistrue it can crack or chip or peel.

We do the same with Ivory also, soaking the pieces in baby oil or mineral oil or using vaseline to prevent the moisture from drying out or evaporating.

you can draw (scrimshaw) using a needle or nail, some use white ink over their drawing and sand it out until just the fine white lines remain.

the best 'compound' to use for a super high mirror like finish is 'blue magic'

We purchase that from Shore-International dot com We have tried every compound they make. for Ivory & Baleen .. .. nothing can surpass Blue magic !!

for the 'hair' shampoo it just using your hands to get all of those hairs clean(er)

[aktraveler]

I have a piece of baleen that got scratched during a move and I would like to restore it myself. How many different types of sandpaper grit do you go through to get it smooth enough? Is there a local source to buy Blue Magic?

[tcrackly]

Any pictures of what the "finished" baleen looks like? I'm intrigued.

[stiffnecked]

http://www.crazywolfstudio.com/baleen.jpg

Crazywolf Studio