epoxy repair of straight razor handle(scale)l

v35

I believe I broke one side of a miniature straight razor by pinching while cleaning up light rust.I'd want to repair it with Super Glue, The blade looks like ivory or whalbone having a longitudinal ivory like grain
It might even be celluloid or walrus tush. it swings opem but closes prtfectly tight.
Any recommemdatiom on clean/degreasing and super glue 0r epioxy?
The sideoplate is a little more btittle than I expected.

TRAP55

Ask Bill DeShivs, he's a member here, and knife repair is what he does.
www.billdeshivs.com/#8206;

bullshot

I doubt if it is walrus tush, walrus butt won't hold an edge. [:D][:D]

v35

Tusk (misspelled)as tush of other mammals, though elephant ivory or whalebone was no big deal in the 1880-1900s when this was made by Grandpa's company.
Celluloid was also common.
I'm looking for knowledgeable advice on a cleaning solvent and glue/adhesive soas not to screw up the base material.

Tailgunner1954

IIRC there is a "test", where you touch a hot needle to the material (on the back?) and see if it smells like burning plastic (celluloid) or something else

babun

""The tip of a red-hot straight pin, when touched to an inconspicuous place will melt plastic but have NO effect on bone or antler and very little on horn. Additionally, horn is smooth and usually multicolored when used in a knife handle. Bone often takes on a patina similar to ivory which yellows richly with age and can appear to have been stained in tea or coffee. The bone handle is usually also smoothly finished. Antler handles most often show some of the roughage found around the base of the antler with warty nodules and grooves from blood vessels, etc. On the rare chance that your handle might also be ivory, ivory has growth rings similar to those on a tree trunk or branch. You might need a magnifying glass to see them, but if it is ivory, they WILL be there. (Look on the edges or tips of the handle.) Other than wood, the only other material I am aware of used for knife handles was mother-of-pearl- from abalone and other large, thick sea shells."""


Your piece could very well be celluloide, if it is, crazy glue will be too strong for it. Old celluloide is fragile and chemically melts easy.

bullshot

I'd go with TRAP55's suggestion if the razor is important to you. Always better to have a pro look at something before you hear "I sure wish you would have brought it in BEFORE you tried to fix it yourself".

skicat

When I was in high school I worked in a piano repair shop and the owner would use hide glue to attach the ivories and also other repairs. I'm no expert but I have the feeling that hide glue would be pretty gentle to use.

bigoutside

I'd put it in a shadowbox for display. Broken side down.

And not think on it another second.

wpage

+1 on display elmers white will hold for safe keeping.