Dave Warther's Resin-Ivory™ Top grade Imitation ivory for game calls and pen blanks. Resin-Ivory™ is the highest quality imitation ivory we have seen, worked or handled - ever. Arvorin and other alternative ivories are made as a spun polyester but Resin Ivory™ is a resin based material that has greater strength and beauty.
This material comes in two grades. Both are of the same high quality but with different grain features. Resin-Ivory™ has grain like ivory. As the material is turned in your hand you see grain variation from side grain to flat grain and then back to side grain again just like with real ivory. The end grain on Resin-Ivory™ shows a swirl pattern whereas Resin-Ivory+S™ shows the end grain feature of real ivory with the Shreger lines - hence the "+S" designation. The Shreger lines form a herringbone or diamond patterning in real ivory and our Resin-Ivory+S™ has this same grain feature.
We recommend the Resin-Ivory™ for most applications and especially in applications where the end grain is not visible or where your item will enter international travel. The +S grade looks so much like real ivory that customs agents are going to think it is real ivory. It flouresces under a black light so they will be able to discern it from real ivory once they check it. The +S material is ideal for gun grips and three dimensional projects where the end grain is visible.
This material turns like butter on a lathe and takes a high polish by buffing with white jewelers rouge on cloth or felt wheels/pads. One needs only sand with 400 grit wet/dry paper and then take it to a buffing wheel or hold felt to it as it spins in the lathe. It also accepts a clear coat finish without any resistance or any proclivity to peeling, etc..
This material is also the best imitation ivory we have scrimshawed. There is no squishiness when scriming and there is no bleeding of the ink into unwanted areas as seen on other imitation ivories. It scrims like ivory! It also works like ivory with conventional saws and files.
We cut the slabs from bar stock so the slabs have a cut surface on both sides. This material is ideal for inlay stock but should not be purchased for knife handles or similar applications where very consistant thickness and a smooth surface is needed.