Bone would likely be easier to get; antler isn't exactly easy to acquire here nowadays, it seems. I'm tempted to see if I can find an old antler walking stick and trim the handle off, but a lot of these are probably plastic nowadays.
In either case, I will (eventually) get round to this, I promise!
Thanks for the tip re: 3M papers, Dave. I think I'm familiar with them as "wet 'n' dry", used to use them for getting a nice, shiny finish on brass controls on steam engines (under advice, might I add, for anyone wincing). I've considered them but think I'd prefer to try the bone/antler trick first, since it seems even less likely to damage the metal. However, I've used wet & dry for some polishing in the past, and it is, as you say, highly controllable.
Best,
Meredydd
|