Elk Ivory

[SilkWWU]

Ok so I pulled the Elk Ivories out...how do I go about cleaning them, or removing excess dirt,tissue, ect.  Boil?  Water and Bleach?

[Woodchuck]

small leather pouch with tobacco in it, carry around in your pocket, they will polish up

[SilkWWU]

Anything easier?  Like household products?

[Woodchuck]

to be honest i have never tried anything else, but i am one those "cant clean it, that washes the good luck off" kinda guys. you should see my knife 

[carpsniperg2]

 

[huntingfool7]

Bring a pot of water to boil then drop them in for a few minutes.  Pop them out and scrape off the tissue with the a spoon.  

[Holg3107]

scrape the tissue off let them dry then put them in your pocket with some change for about 2 weeks to polish em up. i'm with silk don't boil the good luck off of them.

[SilkWWU]

So boiling is bad?

[billythekidrock]

Don't boil.....they could crack.  

Just let them air dry or put in a small container of borax for a couple days. Use a knife to scrape off the dried flesh. Then put them in your pocket with some change for a few days to shine em up.

[SilkWWU]

Don't boil.....they could crack.  

Just let them air dry or put in a small container of borax for a couple days. Use a knife to scrape off the dried flesh. Then put them in your pocket with some change for a few days to shine em up.

Ok thanks.  Of course...if I still carried change...stupid debit cards

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Once you get the old tissue off throw them in a brass tumbler for a bit... or just carry them around in your pocket.

[singleshot12]

I would try putting them in a glass of vinegar over night.

[huntingfool7]

the luck is already in the freezer.  boil for a short time, they won't crack.

[bow4elk]

Bring a pot of water to boil then drop them in for a few minutes.  Pop them out and scrape off the tissue with the a spoon.  

+1  works well and quick.  Start to finish in 10 minutes...done deal.

[billythekidrock]

the luck is already in the freezer.  boil for a short time, they won't crack.

Believe me.....they will crack.

[Michelle_Nelson]

YES, they can crack if you boil them. 

[TrkyBob53]

definatly get all of the soft stuff off.  I then put them in my pocket with change.  carry them around for a few months.  nice and clean and shiny

[PolarBear]

I soak them in warm water and dish soap and clean them up with toothbrushes and dental tools.  Also, throw them in a rock tumbler for a couple of days with polishing grit.

[Grizzly95]

I never have change either, but the pocket trick is the best and easiest. I have an uncle that has countless teeth from his and friends that gave them to him and they have all been "pocket polished"

[steeleywhopper]

Treat them like your fishing for Steelhead. Put them in a bag of Borax. I have done this with all of mine and they turn out great. They dont stink and it makes it easy to scrape off the left over particles you could not get cleaned off the first time.

[bowtech721]

This probably sounds stupid but what are the ivorys? obviously they're teeth but what about them makes them so special and valuable compared to the others?

[elk311]

This probably sounds stupid but what are the ivorys? obviously they're teeth but what about them makes them so special and valuable compared to the others?

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/elk-report-43.htm

I'm not keen on the $ valuation comment but it's a good article explaining "ivories". In addition I have never done anything to the three sets that I have. Clean off as much meat as possible when you initially extract them and let 'em air dry. After that some slight rubbing will bring out a natural polish. If you want more, I'd ask a jewler what they recommend.

Good luck !

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Clean off most of the meat and cartilage.  Place set in your jean pant pocket and put jean in laundry bag.  When your wife hollers at you they're done (she's found them in the dryer.)

[bow4elk]

YES, they can crack if you boil them.  

I guess I've been lucky.  When I put them in the water, they are pretty clean to begin with.  A quick dip and the tissue cooks instantly and peels.  A fingernail is all that's needed to scrape them clean.  I suppose letting them bounce around in a pan boiling for a while would cause cracking.  Good warning.  I've done a lot of teeth and never had one crack, even some of the smaller cow teeth.

[Broken Arrow]

like most...scrape and put in the pocket of favorite jeans. After you get enough of them...its fun to take them out and "role the bones"...kind of voodoo....but i mess with my friends all the time....I'll role them on the table and then make up crap....

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Never had one crack and all of mine have been boiled in boiling water for less than 1 minute.

[gasman]

Let them dry naturally. Then saok them in water untill the remaining carlage and stuff fall off.


Found a carcus durring early elk season, took the ivory from the skull, and soaked then in a cup of water for 3 days. Tllk them out and scrared the remaining stuff off with easy.


Now what do i do with them 

[NWBREW]

Let them dry naturally. Then saok them in water untill the remaining carlage and stuff fall off.


Found a carcus durring early elk season, took the ivory from the skull, and soaked then in a cup of water for 3 days. Tllk them out and scrared the remaining stuff off with easy.


Now what do i do with them 

www.elkjewelry.net

[SGM R]

Don't boil, they do crack! I've never heard the tabacco tip, might work!

[DOUBLELUNG]

I just scrape them clean with a pocketknife.  Then a few hours between the cheek and gum to get off the last of the soft stuff.

[high country]

I just scrape them clean with a pocketknife.  Then a few hours between the cheek and gum to get off the last of the soft stuff.

with a lil' cope and sme change I presume.

[steen]

I got mine back from the taxidermist pretty clean and carried them in my pocket with change for a week or so.  They look shiny with 3 rings of color.  I plan to make earrings with them. 
 
Do the cows have the ivory also?  How about the young bulls and spikes is their ivory as nice?

Thanks

[washelkhntr]

I put all mine in a small cup with hydrogen peroxide over night then rinse them off.

Never tried the pocket thing with change, might have to do that next year.

[6x6in6]

Do the cows have the ivory also?  How about the young bulls and spikes is their ivory as nice?

Thanks

Yup!

[HntnFsh]

From what Ive seen the older the animal the more color,character.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

Here's two. All I did was pull 'em and drop 'em in a zip lock with some salt.

Left one is from my 2009 Nooksack bull. Right one is from 2007 Mashel unit 5x7.

Actually now that I think about it Charlie pulled the ones from the Nooksack bull. I put them in salt.