Reviewer: Glen P.

This Video is a a talk between the doctor who sells power carving equipment and someone who uses it in carving ivory and its replacements. They do cover the basics about using the material in the title. However, it is far from a tutorial as they don't cover it in depth and some of the video is not as close to or has enough contrast control for the most benefit of the viewer. Some of the info the guy gives is not fact. The Tagu nut info is a little shaky since it is the same chemical make up as ivory, it is vegitable ivory. It does give enough info for anybody with any interset in or carving experience in any media; You will pick up enough info to get on your way to carving. The video needs a contrast adjustment and more close ups of the work. Also, they never show a completed pair of earings the worked on in the video. The guy does great work but not as an instructor.

Reviewer: Dave F.

This video is not very informative. First, the equipment used is not well described, so you are left wondering if any rotary tool/bit combination will work for this type procedure. Worst yet is that the lighting/contrast in the video is so bad that very often the viewer cannot see what the "instructors" are drawing or carving. Ron Ehlert does a much better job explaining and showing his scrimshaw work in his American Pioneer video on making a powderhorn. In that, Ron is carving on horn using hand tools, and he isn't hawking any products.

Reviewer: 4a P.

This one is about as bad as it gets. Sound quality is poor, picture quality even worse. I could not see any of the detail the instructor was doing ---- rather ironic when you realize scrimshaw is all about the fine detail. The instructor doesn't describe the main instrument he is using (I think it is an air driven scriber, sort of like a dentists drill) or suggest where you could purchase one. He doesn't describe the transfer "mylar" he is using or where to get it (other than to contact the producer of the video to order one of their kits --- no info as to what is included in the kit!). The "professor"/instructor dialogue is a great waste of time (the Socratic method might work well in the teacher/student interchange, but not in this scenario.) Also, the video is way too long for the amount of info it conveys. I don't need to spend an evening watching someone show me every "brush stroke" (which I already stated you can't see) --- just show me technique.

Reviewer: Gary L.

Unfortunately, this was waste of time and rental money. I never did scrimshaw, but I do know there are basic tools, none of which they described. I don't want to call this a tutorial, beacuse it wasn't; it was a watch me do this. The scrimshander is using a high-speed power drill that the doctor sells. It's a quality product, but not appropriate for beginning scrimshaw. He should have used tools we beginners would use. The sound quality is poor and the image/color contrast even worse.