Tagua Nut? - Tiki Carving

H HelloTiki Member Kailua, Hawaii Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 440	H HelloTiki Posted posted on Sun, Dec 11, 2005 8:16 AM Has anybody had experience with Tagua Nut? I was told it was great for pendants & inlays. (Sorry if this posted twice. I couldn't find the first attempt).
M Moondance Member Bucks County, PA Joined: Jul 29, 2005 Posts: 389	M Moondance Posted posted on Sun, Dec 11, 2005 2:27 PM I bought a couple dozen of them that I wanted to try out some day. I got them on eBay. moon [ Edited by: Moondance 2005-12-11 14:28 ]
KK kaha kii Tiki Socialite Laguna Beach California Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 277	KK kaha kii Posted posted on Thu, Dec 15, 2005 12:23 PM Aloha! Well, Im very familiar with da tagua nut... They come from central america and theyre known as "vegetable Ivory" because of the inner meat of the nut closely resembling real ivories such as elephant, mammoth, walrus etc. I use fossil ivories in my work all the time and many times Ive tried to use some tagua. Problem is, Tagua doesnt have a great hardness level like genuine animal ivory and, it can crack if exposed to flucuations in temp. and humidity. Its fairly easy to work with but the size of the nuts limits you on how big of a carving you can make. Once properly worked, its does polish to a beautiful glass like finish and takes enamel and acrylic paints well... AND, because its plant material, its doesnt give off the toxic pilau stench of animal parts when worked! Tagua actually gives off a pleasant fragrance when sanded unlike whale bone or walrus bone which can really smell bad! You can also google the words "tagua nut" and sites will come up explaing the nut and how to properlywork with it... Hope Ive helped at least a little! Good luck with your carving! Malama Pono!

H

HelloTiki Posted posted on Sun, Dec 11, 2005 8:16 AM

Has anybody had experience with Tagua Nut? I was told it was great for pendants & inlays.

(Sorry if this posted twice. I couldn't find the first attempt).

M

Moondance Posted posted on Sun, Dec 11, 2005 2:27 PM

I bought a couple dozen of them that I wanted to try out some day. I got them on eBay.
moon

[ Edited by: Moondance 2005-12-11 14:28 ]

KK

kaha kii Posted posted on Thu, Dec 15, 2005 12:23 PM

Aloha!
Well, Im very familiar with da tagua nut... They come from central america and theyre known as "vegetable Ivory" because of the inner meat of the nut closely resembling real ivories such as elephant, mammoth, walrus etc.
I use fossil ivories in my work all the time and many times Ive tried to use some tagua. Problem is, Tagua doesnt have a great hardness level like genuine animal ivory and, it can crack if exposed to flucuations in temp. and humidity. Its fairly easy to work with but the size of the nuts limits you on how big of a carving you can make. Once properly worked, its does polish to a beautiful glass like finish and takes enamel and acrylic paints well... AND, because its plant material, its doesnt give off the toxic pilau stench of animal parts when worked! Tagua actually gives off a pleasant fragrance when sanded unlike whale bone or walrus bone which can really smell bad!

You can also google the words "tagua nut" and sites will come up explaing the nut and how to properlywork with it...

Hope Ive helped at least a little! Good luck with your carving!

Malama Pono!