how to Polish small ivory carvings????

PaulDiStefano

PaulDiStefano

Joined
Nov 14, 2016
Messages
636
Hello, I have been carving on this piece of ivory and made some flowers that are just a little bit smaller then a dime. They have some subtle detail i carved into them and I am looking for a way to polish it and make it shine without washing out the detail. I want a shiny buffed look and have seen super shiny small detailed carvings before but I have no idea how its done. Any ideas? I have tried small buffing wheels with pink no scratch but even that at a super slow speed with a dental rotary tool washes out some of the carved texture and shapes.

I used small gravers to cut in some shapes and texture to the petals.

this is the piece i'm working on below.
IMG_0734.jpg
 
Last edited:
I use a buffing wheel made out of thin stacked disks on a dremel tool with white metal buffing compound to buff bone. Never worked with ivory though. I always carve deep so I dont lose any detail sanding and buffing.
 
You would normally polish the petals before adding the detail lines, but with care you should be OK, with maybe a little touch up.

I polish carvings with a variety of soft Cratex wheels and tips using my flex shaft (a Dremel will work). For the final polishing I use a small chamois wheel (1/2" to 3/4").
Use slow speeds and don't buff too hard.

The trick to any polishing in ivory is to sand it VERY smooth before polishing. I usually take it to a minimum of 1000 grit, and often to 8000 grit. At that finish, you can just hand buff with a soft cloth. Use matchless white or any god fine grade white rouge to polish ivory.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
You would normally polish the petals before adding the detail lines, but with care you should be OK, with maybe a little touch up.

I polish carvings with a variety of soft Cratex wheels and tips using my flex shaft (a Dremel will work). For the final polishing I use a small chamois wheel (1/2" to 3/4").
Use slow speeds and don't buff too hard.

The trick to any polishing in ivory is to sand it VERY smooth before polishing. I usually take it to a minimum of 1000 grit, and often to 8000 grit. At that finish, you can just hand buff with a soft cloth. Use matchless white or any god fine grade white rouge to polish ivory.
Click to expand...
I had it somewhat polished before I added the detail lines and textures even in the branches. But once I added the textures it completely got rid of any smooth surface. I’ll try those chamois wheels out. I’m having a hard time finding 1/2”. Where do you get yours.
 
effenoam said:
I use a buffing wheel made out of thin stacked disks on a dremel tool with white metal buffing compound to buff bone. Never worked with ivory though. I always carve deep so I dont lose any detail sanding and buffing.
Click to expand...
I had tried that but can’t find a wheel small enough in diameter. They all seem to end up washing out the ends of the petal muchhhh faster then the inside up my the middle of the flower. That’s the hard to reach spot I can’t seem to polish evenly with the ends of the petal
 
Small circular nylon brushes for rotary tools. You charge them with compound.
They are best used with slower speed. Dremels at full speed throw the compound off.
 
Improper post removed. No buying/selling in Shop Talk


Post this request in The Exchange - Services Wanted.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bill DeShivs said:
Small circular nylon brushes for rotary tools. You charge them with compound.
They are best used with slower speed. Dremels at full speed throw the compound off.
Click to expand...
Ohh ok. I actually had no idea what they were good for. I’ve just been using it to brush the dust away haha. I’ll try that out. Thanks!!!
 
All of the little bristle type rotary brushes are used with various compounds for polishing difficult-to-reach areas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top