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Mammoth tooth

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:15 pm
by caskwith
I have been given a piece of mammoth tooth that i would like to use as a stem ring. Any advice on how i should go about drilling and shaping it? It seems awfully hard and a saw didnt have much effect on it, i really dont want to ruin it.

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:39 pm
by LexKY_Pipe
You might want to try a diamond tip blade on your band saw. How the heck would you drill it though?

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:09 pm
by Nick
Very slowly, I imagine

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:55 pm
by Uncle Arthur
It needs to be handled like stone. It is also quite prone to fractures.

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:48 pm
by ckr
I use diamond core drills, diamond saws and diamond sanding disks for Mammoth TUSK, I would guess it is the same as tooth.

http://www.lopacki.com/

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:15 am
by geigerpipes
I would think it would cut on a normal bandsaw just like the tusk..just dont expect your blade to be super sharp after your done :D and a good tip is glue it onto a peice of flat wood when bandsawing it is to provide a flat surface..I have worked a lot with whale tooth and would think its about the same hardness.. what you want to avoid is causing too much heat wich will generate cracks.. so work slow and lubricate with something like parafin oil or wd40 when cutting or drilling it.
when you turn it make sure to use freshly sharpened cutters

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:24 am
by Uncle Arthur
Mammoth tooth is at least partially fossilized as they have been extinct for thousands of years. Far harder than a regular tooth from a now living animal.

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:35 am
by geigerpipes
I stand corrected the tooth is harder than the tusk witch can be worked with normal woodworking tools..heres a good link for you:

http://markknappcustomknives.com/wersindwir.php

Re: Mammoth tooth

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:12 pm
by Philthy
+1 on Uncle Arthurs comment. It should be hadnled like stone and is usually already fractured/cracked as well as prone to additional cracking. The fact that it should be faced/glued on at least one side with a more stable material should help.