How to Engrave or Etch Ivory
Scrimshaw, or the art of engraving or etching on ivory, dates back to the New England whalers of the 1800s, who passed the time on whaling ships by engraving whale teeth. Modern ivory engravers usually work with estate elephant tusks since the importation of elephant tusks to the United States was banned in 1972, or fossilized mammoth tusks. Engraving or etching ivory takes patience and the ability to draw or trace, but the results are a unique work of art that will make a beautiful collectible.
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Things You'll Need
- Ivory piece
- Sandpaper in 50, 120, and 220-grit
- Pencil
- Tracing Paper
- Spray fixative
- Craft knife (like X-acto) or carbide blade
- Sewing needle or pin
- Rubbing alcohol
- India Ink
Instructions
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Sand and polish the ivory. You can use a power sander or sand by hand, beginning with 50-grit sandpaper for rough pieces and continuing to sand with 120- and 220-grit sandpaper until the ivory has satin finish. Polishing and sanding the ivory closes the ivory's pores so that the ink used later will stay in the engraving and not mar the surface.
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Draw the design you wish to carve on the ivory. If the design is basic, draw it directly on the ivory. Draw more complicated designs on tracing paper first, and then attach the drawing to the ivory drawing side down and rub the tracing paper until the drawing is transferred to the ivory.
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Fill in any missing spots in your design with a pencil. Spray the drawing with a workable fixative.
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Carve or etch the design using the craft knife. Use a sewing needle or pin if necessary to make small holes instead of lines. Cut lightly.
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Remove the fixative with rubbing alcohol.
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Ink in the engraved areas with India ink. Use a lightly moistened paper towel to remove any ink from the surface of the ivory. If the ink is faint, re-ink if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Novice carvers can use ordinary pool cue balls to practice.
