Ivory in Canada?

stdly · Post by **stdly** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:15 pm

I checked out Tylers link page and saw a link to buy some Elephant Ivory. I took look and they cannot export to any country. Anyone here a Canuck and have a source to purchace some ivory in our Northland.

StephenDownie · Post by **StephenDownie** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:47 pm

Hi Steve,

Depending on the size you might try Tagua Nut. Very similar to Ivory, though not an exact match. Also often you'll find voids in the center of the nut so you might have to be satisfied with what you can cut from around the sides of the nut. Typically you'll get a good 1/2 inch of material to work with.

stdly · Post by **stdly** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:11 pm

Stephen,
Thanks! I did pick up a couple of the nuts from Lee Valley a couple weeks again. I saw you used them on some of your tampers and thought I would give it a try. I forgot I even bought them I will pull them out and crack into one. I just thought if the Ivory was legally sold and available it would be nice to work some into a pipe. Sometimes the smallest inspiration can change the whole outcome of a pipe i have started to make.
Michael Parks gave me some African Kudu horn last time I visited him and I will be using it on my next pipe. I am waiting for some bamboo from Tyler to finish that one the bowl is made already. This might sound phony but the other day while working the horn I started to wonder where this horn had been on its long journey before and after it was to become an ornament then my finger hit the disk sander and I was back.

StephenDownie · Post by **StephenDownie** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 2:26 am

Steve,

I was speaking with Michael a couple weeks ago and he mentioned that he got a wonderful glass shine off the Kudu horn. I'm jealous! Please post pics when you're done.

Jeffery · Post by **Jeffery** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 12:07 pm

Am I the only one that has a problem using a product from an endangered species?

Jeffery · Post by **Jeffery** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:51 pm

Next thing we could do is Tiger and Gorilla pipe pouches...

stdly · Post by **stdly** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:48 am

Jeffery wrote:Am I the only one that has a problem using a product from an endangered species?

Jeffery,
It is my understanding that these materials are sold legally and the proceeds are used to help the animals that still need it and not the ones that die of natural causes. I did find the link for the ivory on this site as well.

Can you imagine making a pipe from all natural materials? That has not been done since plastics were invented. 8O

As far as the pouches I am making a leather pouch right now for one of my pipes, that poor COW! Steak for dinner tonight! I thought I would try and get the vegetarians in on this one too.

kbosi · Post by **kbosi** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:30 am

Here is a nice alternative for Ivory
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/frame ... t_mat.html

stdly · Post by **stdly** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:47 am

kbosi wrote:Here is a nice alternative for Ivory
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/frame ... t_mat.html

kbosi,
Thanks for the link, cool site! One of the vietnamese guys at work is getting me some water buffalo from his mother in vietnam. I see they sell it on that site. I have a small pipe from vietnam made with it and it polishes up very nice.

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 8:54 am

kbosi wrote:Here is a nice alternative for Ivory
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/frame ... t_mat.html

Kirk beat me to it.

I use that stuff for a couple different things, stem rings included, and it's really very nice. It machines somewhat oddly, but you can get an incredible shine. I had a sick thought about using it to make a stem for a pipe, but haven't followed through on that yet.

kbosi · Post by **kbosi** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:38 pm

KurtHuhn wrote:
kbosi wrote:Here is a nice alternative for Ivory
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/frame ... t_mat.html
thought about using it to make a stem for a pipe, but haven't followed through on that yet.

That is one I have not thought of. I think I may try that

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:54 pm

If you get to it before I do, let me know how it goes. It seems like it would be a good material to use.