Another Way to Cut Mammoth Ivory

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rootes_of_ohio

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Here is one of the more unique and dangerous ways to cut a mammoth tusk section. I took the original tusk section and cut it into three pieces each over 5" long.

This first piece was split in two.

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Then it was stood on the band saw on its end, and the bark was sawn off the core.

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Then a whole piece was stood on its end and the bandsaw was run through to cut the bark off.
I did it this way thinking that I could possibly end up with the seemingly solid core in one piece.

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You can see the center separated from the bark in this pic.

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Here is the core.
Looks like a real nice solid piece!
Yippy!!

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OOPS, sorry..............spiral cracked and I did not know it until it sat on the bench for an hour.
I heard the snap, crackle and pop.
Figured it was the bark drying.
Nope!

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These are the remaining bark pieces from the tusk section.
Since this tusk was cut when it was still wet, these pieces are currently in storage.
Can't touch them for at least a year as they have to dry out.
If I cut them now, or 6 months from now, I'll have a very unhappy result.

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What do you think!?!?!?!?!?

One of the more stupid, dangerous and tricky operations I have ever done.

Questions and comments are always welcome.

Be good to yourselves!

t
 
I hate to see that the interior cracked. I do find the spiral cracking very interesting though. The remaining pieces appear to be big enough for some spacers. Is this correct or am I mistaken? I also want to add that I would NOT have the nerve to do that.
 
Darrin,

I cut these in May of this year.
Since then, the remaining interior pieces have continued to crack and fall apart.
The "spiral" cracking is really that.............spiraling all throughout the tusk.
You have to look real closely at the pictures to see the small cracks in-between the big separations, but they are there.
As the pieces have dried out, the cracks have opened up and the pieces become smaller and smaller.
Not a thing I can do about it.

That whole operation was more stupid than anything.
Had that section not been so wet, I could have torn up the saw, the ivory or myself.
Just got lucky this time.
Won't be trying that maneuver again

Thanks and be good.

t
 
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