Bending antler

[Trkdriver99]

I have aquired some antler that is from a european deer and is a cross between elk and moose. I want to use the crown end for a hunting sword that I am in the process fo making. The eye tine would make a guard and is about the right length. My question is could you bend it around the handle and make a guard out of it?

 

[50cal.cliff]

I have straightened peices of antler for use as knife handles. You have to boil, like a cow horn. Sometimes it requires a slow steady pressure with clamp to move direction you want. You will need to keep clamped to maintain movement or antler tends to try and move back towards direction it came from as it dries. As to the movement you want I am not sure how far you can move one. There are others on this forumn that do this sort of thing all the time, who can give better advice on this subject. Google working with antlers this will give you a start on reading material. Good Luck! :v

 

[Birdman]

A Native fella I met said if ya soak it fer a couple weeks in vinager ya can do most anything with it. I've never done it so can't guarentee anything hmmm may have to try it myself one day. I would also think that after soaking it ya would have to recolor it as the vinager is acidic n probably would eat the color off it after awhile. oh yea he also said once it dries back out it won't work on it a second time so ya got to get it right the first time. aw geez another experiment I gotta try, number 100,002,360,004 to go :hmm:

 

[bob1961]

i got some curved pieces i will try that on....can't do nuttin wit them now :bow: :v .............bob

 

[bigbore442001]

I boiled a couple of pieces this afternoon. I was able to straighten one peice out in a vise. I am letting it set overnight.

I do know one thing. The place doesn't smell too good after boiling antlers.

 

[50cal.cliff]

That odor just seems to linger . The last horn I boiled it was raining so boiled in the house on the range. It was so rank in there I went aroung and lite evewryone of those fragrant smelling candles the wife has sitting all over.
Wife thought I was trying to be romantic when she got home.......... :hmm: Er, thats right baby ain't you proud. :surrender: Guess I better get rid of tht picture of the horn siting in her big boiler on the stove, huh! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[RDavidP]

How long did you boil the antler?

 

[Birddog6]

Last time I boiled one my wife left for 3 days....... I sure screwed that up ! :hmm:

I think the next time I will boil a Whole Kettle full !! :grin: :winking:

 

[bob1961]

I boiled a couple of pieces this afternoon. I was able to straighten one peice out in a vise. I am letting it set overnight.

I do know one thing. The place doesn't smell too good after boiling antlers.

when i boiled my horn i couldn't keep it upright in the pan to just boil the big end cause of the bubbles from the boiling water....so i took it out and cut the tip off to vent the steam out from the bubbles....boy it stunk real bad after i vented all that steaming stink out :rotf: and i've cut antlers with a cut off wheel in my hand grinder that turns at 30,000 rpm, now that's some stink fer ya all :shake: :rotf: :v ...........bob