polishing antler button?

[Rifleman1776]

What tips, tricks, techniques or secret brews can you share that are used for polishing antler ends/buttons? Want to polish this for a special project.

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[Flint311]

I've just belt sanded it, filed it, and then use sandpaper and/or steel wool. Or any combination of these. Just be careful as the button burl waves as it goes around the base. Easy to nick what you want left on. Good luck!

 

[Artificer]

The pith in the burl end can vary in hardness, so many folks use super glue to stabilize it to work it. Other folks use slow hardening (20-30 minute set up time) CLEAR 2 part epoxy.

I often use my Dumore Handy Grinder (Dremel Tool on Steroids) and different carbide cutters and bits to shape the area and then go to sandpaper and finally a buffing wheel. I do wrap cardboard and tape around the "knurly knobs" on the end so I don't knick/ding/cut them when I'm shaping the pith.

Gus

 

[necchi]

The pith in the burl end can vary in hardness, so many folks use super glue to stabilize it to work it. Other folks use slow hardening (20-30 minute set up time) CLEAR 2 part epoxy.

That's the key!
Should be right up your alley Rifleman, :wink:
Anything used can/will bleed through to the antler section though.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The pith in the burl end can vary in hardness, so many folks use super glue to stabilize it to work it. Other folks use slow hardening (20-30 minute set up time) CLEAR 2 part epoxy.

That's the key!
Should be right up your alley Rifleman, :wink:
Anything used can/will bleed through to the antler section though.

Actually, I am thinking about just popping it into my stabilizing pot and hardening the whole thing. Have never stabled antler before. I would first experiement with a small less valuable piece. Wouldn't want to remove the natural color.

 

[necchi]

The stuff is quit porous, I wanted to seal the drilled out section of an Elk tip powder measure I made and poured some spar varnish in it,, let it stand for a few minutes then poured out the excess.
It weeped through to the outside just under osmosis in a few hours,, it still worked out for me.
Good luck.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

This should be interesting to see. Be sure to post photos of the antler as you go along.

A friend made a small knife for me about thirty years ago. He made the grip scales from antler. It looked alright... sort of. He dipped or coated the antler with some sort of what can only be described as a liquid plastic/ epoxy/ varnish stuff. After a few years and very little handling, the sealer he used peeled like an artichoke... The whole thing fell apart. :idunno: