Amber Listserv / Black amber/ bakelite

[toddr]

Having just begun carving bakelite, I have found that the catalin brand 
of bakelite was often translucent. I would think it more likely that it 
is catalin, than amber, but it is hard to identify things from images, 
but the seller should be questioned on whether they tested it in any 
way. You can build up heat by rubbing your finger vigorously across the 
item, and bakelite will emit an identifiable odor.  I am currently 
carving a piece which incorporates both amber and bakelite. I find them 
to be very similar as far as carving techniques go. One is a man-made 
organic resin, and one is a natural organic resin. That necklace would 
be almost as valuable as a similar amber piece if it was bakelite, but 
it could just as easily be Acrylic. Right now, raw bakelite carving 
stock goes for up to 200 dollars a pound.
 I have made three big amber purchases in my amber carving career. One 
was in person, at the tuscon G&M show, one was some dirt cheap (50 
cents/gram) broken amber pieces, off ebay, and one was through a learned 
amber dealer whom I met on this list, and that was the best purchase I 
ever made. I was carving his amber tonight!
Todd at ambercarver.com
On Sat, 1 Jul 2006 23:18:12 EDT, Tamber12 at aol.com wrote :

 >
 >
 > Maggie, I was thinking at first that it could possibly be jet.  But 
after
 > seeing the last photo with the light coming through and the reddish 
tones, well
 > it could be cognac or dark red.  Or it could be bakelite.  But I 
think most
 > bakelite is opaque, is it not?  What other thoughts are out there?
 >
 > Tammi
 >
 >