old deer antler

[1eyemountainmen]

I am making a "folding" knife and I have a old deer antler for the handle, It is very dryed out. What can I use to put color back into the antler? I want to try and make it look like it just came off the deer. :bow:

 

[bwhoffman]

I had one I dipped in minwax stain and another I wiped with danish oil, both look fresh and real!.

 

[CARBABY]

For muley antlers that have been exposed to weather I have brought a little bit of life back to them by applying a walnut wiping stain. You wipe it on wait a few minutes (3 -5) and then wipe with another cloth. The low points have a darker look than the higher areas. If you want things a little darker apply the technique again. After the stain has dried (let’s say 24 hours)- I have seen Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) applied.. Again this is applied and excess wiped off After 3 minutes. Some times thinning the BLO with turpentine improves the application. If my memory surves me right I think this wiping stain and BLO oil thing was some old trick or technique a taxidermist would use.

 

[JamesG]

You can use leather dye like Fiebing or Eco-Flo you can thin the dye out with rubbing alchol. Good luck and have fun

 

[shmrck1]

1eyed,
I will offer this up for what it might
be worth.Heat the antler pieces just above
the temp of the oil or diluted stain you are
going to use.(a hairdryer will work nicely)I read this method in some publication,I wish I could
remember which one!:redface:Mite have been here??
snake-eyes:hmm:

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Tea. Hot strong tea will give antler a nice brown color. The stronger, the darker. When done, give that antler several good rubdowns of Corn Huskers Lotion that you use for your hands. That will add life back to the antler and keep it from drying out and cracking. It works great.
Ohio Rusty >