Cleaning ivory

17 February 2014, 20:25

Mark Taylor

Cleaning ivory

I picked up a 94 levergun the other day. Made in 57 so a couple years younger than me.

Mounted a peepsight on it and proceeded to look in my stash for a classy front sight comparable to the front on it. Have a sleek one with an ivory bead, which is what I desired. Prob is it is darkened quite a bit. What is the best way to brighten these up? Tried a bit of gentle brushing but seemed not to help. Any cleaner work?

17 February 2014, 21:35

Lapidary

You can polish it with Fabulustre on a cotton buff. The dark color could go all the way through though.

18 February 2014, 05:27

Bobster

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Taylor:
I picked up a 94 levergun the other day. Made in 57 so a couple years younger than me. Mounted a peepsight on it and proceeded to look in my stash for a classy front sight comparable to the front on it. Have a sleek one with an ivory bead, which is what I desired. Prob is it is darkened quite a bit. What is the best way to brighten these up? Tried a bit of gentle brushing but seemed not to help. Any cleaner work?

I wonder if a commercial tooth whitening preparation would bleach it?

19 February 2014, 02:41

farbedo

Hydrogen peroxide is used to clean and whiten ivory piano keys. That is usually the active ingredient in tooth whitening preparations.

Worth a try, I don't see it harming anything.

Jeremy