Deer Antler Powder Measurer

[MSW]

I get mine from the local pet store - they're about five buck each... they're labeled as elk tines, but look like large deer - can't really tell, not having much experience with elk ... I use a dremel and a grout bit (it's what happened to be in the tool) to get the inner bits out, then I go to a drill bit ... a piece of 320 grit wrapped in a dowel gets the inside smooth, and with a bit of 'tinkering,' you adjust the volume to what you want and, ta da, there you go...
if you don't have a Dremel, there are similar items to be had at Harbor Freight ... here's one (a ten dollar cheapie): http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/rotary-tools/rotary-tool-kit-80-pc-69451.html
or, if you want something a bit more 'muscular,' and you have a bigger wallet: http://www.harborfreight.com/power...riable-speed-rotary-tool-kit-31-pc-60713.html

as a general rule, I keep spinning power tools away from gun stuff - such things can get you into trouble much faster that they can get you out of trouble, but with antler stuff, if you go slow and are careful, you should be OK ...

make one for each gun you own, of course

also, watch the dust - I doubt that this is something you want to inhale or ingest, and if you don't already, wear safety glasses.

good luck with your project!

 

[Mickc01]

Very nice work, Spence.... :hatsoff:

 

[Rick Boylan]

:thumbsup:

 

[ohio ramrod]

For relative straight sections I use common twist drills for the main stock removal, followed by scrapers made from used files. For curved sections I start a hole with a smaller drill and then burn out remaining stock with curved wires heated with a propane torch (Do this outside!). :idunno:

 

[George]

For relative straight sections I use common twist drills for the main stock removal, followed by scrapers made from used files. For curved sections I start a hole with a smaller drill and then burn out remaining stock with curved wires heated with a propane torch (Do this outside!). :idunno:

Has anyone straightened antler? I haven't, but I've seen it demonstrated by boiling it for 20-30 minutes then padding it with leather and clamping it in a vise. A fair bit of straightening can be managed, apparently, much like cow horn.

Spence

 

[eggwelder]

you`ll want fairly fresh antlers for that pursuit. old dry antlers will tend to break, even boiled for an hour. in my experience anyway

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

do you know if deep frying antler in short increments would work better?

 

[George]

I decided to do a little experiment. I traced the shape of a small, very curved antler tip on paper, then boiled it gently for 30 minutes. I took it straight out of the boiling water into a vise and clamped down on it, slowly putting more pressure. It seemed to straighten a bit, so I used a heat gun to keep it hot while I increased the pressure over several minutes. I then let it cool in the vise for a couple of hours. When I compared it to the original tracing I was surprised to see that it had straightened a fair amount. This was a mule deer antler collected in 1989, and I imagine a fresher one would have bent more, as eggwelder said. Thicker pieces would be more difficult, but it seems antler does become more flexible with heat, just like horn.

Not a very impressive result, but I believe antler can be bent a little if the need arises.







Spence

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

I found it impressive, thank you :hatsoff:

Do you think with enough patience and minor adjusting that you could eventually straighten that antler out completely?

 

[George]

You could only know that by trying it, but I doubt it.

Spence

 

[hawkeye2]

It's not just the smell of the antler being burned by a hot wire. If you place one against a grinding wheel or sanding disc it smells exactly like someone drilling on your teeth specially dry and it's not particularly pleasant.

 

[MSW]

Spence, thanks for the post ... yes, I am having a huge

moment here ... it just never occurred to me to try that ... why am I in a constant state of braincramp?

where are my car keys?

 

[George]

Don't worry about it. You won't need your keys until you find your car.

Spence

 

[Cowboy]

Very interesting experiment! Thanks for the pics. I was able to cut off three of the tines. Now the real work is going to begin! I appreciate everyone's great advice.

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[Artificer]

It's not just the smell of the antler being burned by a hot wire. If you place one against a grinding wheel or sanding disc it smells exactly like someone drilling on your teeth specially dry and it's not particularly pleasant.

Yes, I know. :wink: When I was cutting buttons from antler tines and then disc sanding the remaining edge each time to flatten and smooth it, I about drove everyone out of our Shop when doing it. :haha:

Gus

 

[Len Graves]

I don't worry about straightening the antlers. I have been saving my bent drills for a while. I am sure they will work when I get around to it. I also save nails and screws with the heads on the wrong end, for the other side of course.. I have many more equally clever tips if I could find them.

 

[omarick1948]

I just read on another website, that you can soften antler for straightening by using a pressure cooker. I don't know if it works, but if you have a pressure cooker you might experiment with it. If someone tries it, please let us all know your results.

Rick

 

[Katahdin]

I remember reading or was told about vinegar and heating antler,never tried it !!!Pressure cooked require you wait for them to cool some before you open them up,losing temperature I would think.Wondering about putting it in a vacume with vinegar to soften the pith and see what happens.

 

[LRB]

I've read that soaking in vinegar for a couple of weeks will soften antler to be straightened, and it will harden back as the vinegar dries out. :idunno: I always just tried to find what I needed that could be used as is.
Ahh. Someone beat me to posting!

 

[George]

I just read on another website, that you can soften antler for straightening by using a pressure cooker.

Have one, tried it. Good idea. It worked.

I cooked that same mule deer tip for 15 minutes in the pressure cooker, made certain the tip was clamped in the vise within seconds after the pressure was released, and it was obvious immediately that this was a different result. I was able to just crank the vise closed with little effort till the tip was absolutely straight. I could tell the antler as soft, so soft that it split at the end like a green banana. It didn't snap or crack, it made no sound, just mushed open at the end. It wasn't from the straightening but from the squeezing, and it wound up quite a bit thinner and flatter than it started.





Pressure cooking absolutely makes antler softer and more flexible. You would need to play around with the time of cooking and work out how to get maximum straightening without too much squashing or splitting, but this will work.

Spence