Deer Antler Powder Measurer

[Katahdin]

What pressure weight did you use?? 10 or 15 lbs.Keep us posted on, if it goes back or stays.

 

[George]

Like everything else I own, my pressure cooker is an antique. It only does one pressure, not marked, but 15 pounds, I think.

Spence

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

do you have some extra horn that you could do this pressure cooking experiment on, but flatten it instead of straightening it? thank you

 

[George]

I'm not sure how that would work. Antler is not hollow like horn, and I think it might split before it flattened much. That's what happened to this one. I cranked down on this one pretty quickly because it was so soft and easy to do, and it flattened a fair amount, but, unknown to me, it was splitting when I did that. If you approached it more gingerly, maybe that could be prevented. I'll let someone else work that out. My work here is finished. :haha:



Spence

 

[Rifleman1776]

Interesting thread.
No one has talked about using the vinegar trick. Guess I'll have to do that experiement. Got some scrap tines and will rob wife's cabinet for the vinegar. Mebbe today.

 

[George]

Keep us posted on, if it goes back or stays.

It set up as hard as original as soon as it cooled a little, in just a few minutes, and held the new shape after 24 hours.

Spence

 

[omarick1948]

Spence, I bet if you screw on a small hose clamp on the end of that antler it might not be able to split out.

Tim Crosby use's a hose clamp on the end of a horn end to tap threads in the horn so it doesn't slit. I think it would work for antler also.

Rick

 

[George]

That's a good idea, Rick. I have no plans to be making any more antler measures, but I'll remember that if I do. This was just an exercise to satisfy my curiosity. :grin:

I had the impression you might find a reduced amount of cooking which would allow enough flexibility for the job yet not make the antler so soft it easily split. Only fooling around with it would show if that is correct.

Spence

 

[omarick1948]

Interesting thread.
No one has talked about using the vinegar trick. Guess I'll have to do that experiement. Got some scrap tines and will rob wife's cabinet for the vinegar. Mebbe today.

I found out that the vinegar method also works great. Tim Crosby (Horner) explained to me that you use apple cider vinegar fill in a jar with the antler piece in it and soak it for several days, then put in the vise and squeeze. Saw the results and it works.

 

[omarick1948]

do you have some extra horn that you could do this pressure cooking experiment on, but flatten it instead of straightening it? thank you

Why would you want too? Hot oil is quicker and makes horn pliable and yes you can make sheet horn with the method, not to mention you have better control of the temperature range.

 

[omarick1948]

do you have some extra horn that you could do this pressure cooking experiment on, but flatten it instead of straightening it? thank you

Forgot!....You can take the bend out of the horn throat using hot oil method. Most of the "Flatties" I make, I had to straighten the crook in their necks.

 

[George]

do you have some extra horn that you could do this pressure cooking experiment on, but flatten it instead of straightening it? thank you

Obi-Wan, I'm afraid I misread your post, didn't notice you said horn instead of antler. My rely was for antler. I have done cow horn in the pressure cooker, and it worked quite well, softened up so it could be flattened.

Or maybe you misspoke and meant antler when you said horn?

Spence

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Thank you. I meant horn. Horner got me on the horning itch. I was at a store the other day and they had a rack on the wall (similar to the one on Boss Hogg's Cadillac) and I had visions of hacksawing the horns right off their mount...I opted to just buy a raw buffalo horn instead :hatsoff: