Why do scrimshanders use real ivory instead of ivory substitutes?
Substitute or faux ivory is made from plastic, and plastics are far from environmentally friendly. They are not biodegradable, and they use scarce petrochemical resources. As far as resources used, responsible scrimshanders only use materials that come from: Extinct animals, ie: mammoth and mastodon (and fossilized walrus), Materials naturally shed by animals, ie: antlers, Materials taken from animals long ago, ie: piano keys, pool balls, etc. Materials taken annually by legal hunting or by fish and game officials, ie: elk “whistler teeth” Materials that do not violate Federal or State laws When working with substitutes, micarta easily chips when scratched instead of producing a fine line, corian doesn’t hold ink or pigments well, and ivoryite fails in all areas for detailed scrimshaw work. Vegetable ivory or the “tagua nut” is good for carving, but its natural oils resist ink and other pigments. Also, for knife, sword and pistol grips, natural ivory does not slip in the hand like subs
