What does everyone do with boar or warthog tusks to prevent splitting?

[Sabre]

I have seen people talk about filling with different waxes. Some people fill with silicone. Some seal the outside with lacquer. There are a lot of ideas out there. I am curious what people have tried and if you have older sets of tusks you have done things with that have stood the test of time.

I was talking with a taxidermist (not my taxidermist) that had said they had a client whose hippo teeth began splitting and they had repaired them and filled them with epoxy and a few years later they burst into pieces even after the repairs and filling with epoxy.

Wondering if anyone has discovered some magic preventative measure to keep these teeth from splitting.

 

[buck wild]

I personally use fiberglass resin (resin only, no fillers). I use a towel to hold the tusks upside down, then pour into the top, or the bottom as the case may be since they are upside down . Let it kick to the gel phase and if needed, trim any seepage or overflow with a knife. Do this in the gel phase or you'll be grinding it off once it hardens. Mix outside, or in a well-ventilated area. You can also "color" the resin if you want it to be ivory or another color. Use dry temper paint to tint the resin before adding the catalyst. I made some ram horn candelabras once and used black resin to cap the horn openings.

 

[thriller]

I use epoxy to fill the tusk works well

 

[Phil Giordano]

I asked to my dentist to fill the tuskes with that special epoxy "ivory like" they use to make artificial teeth (and repair the real ones), also every now and then, I apply some glycerin oil. That combo works great

 

[Nyati]

I have no idea what my taxidermist uses for a filler, but I have boar tusks that are over 40 years old and still fine.

 

[deewayne2003]

JB Weld - clear plastic

It’s an epoxy that you mix together for holding plastic and it dries clear.

Just push the tusk through the side of an old cardboard box to keep them upright while filling and letting cure.

 

[spike.t]

I have seen people talk about filling with different waxes. Some people fill with silicone. Some seal the outside with lacquer. There are a lot of ideas out there. I am curious what people have tried and if you have older sets of tusks you have done things with that have stood the test of time.

I was talking with a taxidermist (not my taxidermist) that had said they had a client whose hippo teeth began splitting and they had repaired them and filled them with epoxy and a few years later they burst into pieces even after the repairs and filling with epoxy.

Wondering if anyone has discovered some magic preventative measure to keep these teeth from splitting.

Was told years ago to give em a good olive oil rub...regularly from getting them....can't remember the time frame...but ones I had in my previous life stayed fine...maybe just lucky or atmosphere was good for keeping them OK..

 

[Safari Dave]

I have old ivory grips on a pistol.

The guy I bought them from told to to wipe them with down well with mineral oil once every 6 months.



I've never done anything with my warthog tusks, and they have been just fine for 18 years...

 

[VINOYASADO]

You can fill them with glue gun / silicone

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

I asked to my dentist to fill the tuskes with that special epoxy "ivory like" they use to make artificial teeth (and repair the real ones), also every now and then, I apply some glycerin oil. That combo works great

This is the best solution to keep and prevent the tusks to break in pieces.

 

[SETH RINGER]

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT NOT TO DO.. DON'T WRAP THEM IN TISSUE PAPER AND PUT THEM IN YOUR SAFE! THEY SPLIT RIGHT IN HALF!

 

[Flbt]

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT NOT TO DO.. DON'T WRAP THEM IN TISSUE PAPER AND PUT THEM IN YOUR SAFE! THEY SPLIT RIGHT IN HALF!

I have used the jb weld on some my nephew wanted to keep said he wanted to make a necklace out of them.

For me most of my hog skulls/ jawbone just get hung on a metal tpost in the fence leading up to the house along with most of my deer skulls they last for a few years the squirrel get some.

 

[Safari Dave]

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT NOT TO DO.. DON'T WRAP THEM IN TISSUE PAPER AND PUT THEM IN YOUR SAFE! THEY SPLIT RIGHT IN HALF!

Maybe that's what I am here for!

To simply be a living example to others of what NOT to do!

 

[John Wasmuth]

Fill them with clear two part epoxy, I use Loctite. Never had a pair split once that’s done.

 

[DieJager]

In the EU they sell a product called tuskler. Specially made for this job. Never used in my self but after reading this topic maybe have to use in for my warthog tusks

 

[Sabre]

Maybe that's what I am here for!

To simply be a living example to others of what NOT to do!

I have been that example many times myself

 

[Sabre]

In the EU they sell a product called tuskler. Specially made for this job. Never used in my self but after reading this topic maybe have to use in for my warthog tusks

That's interesting. From the photos I saw online it looks like a two part epoxy type product as well.

 

[daxter11]

I've got 3 sets of the cutters and tusks at the house... I use them for decoration in my "hog/hunting" room.

 

[mark-hunter]

Candle wax, or normal silicone.
All ok.

I also have one pair of tusks, never filled with anything, and in good shape for all these years. I wonder if filling is really necessary?

 

[neilw]

I rub liquid paraffin on mine a couple of times a year and never had a problem