Slicing moose palm in two

[Ohio Rusty]

I've started to work on finishing a few knife projects that I've put off for way too long. Mostly because I sold the one that I carried all the time to a fellow that wanted my bely knife badly. Now I'm 'knifeless'. I make my knives using the stock removal and reshaping of an already high carbon steel knife. One knife begs to have nice antler type scales for a handle. I have several nice pieces of moose antler palm that would make killer knife handle scales. here is the dilemma ..... I want to use both sides of the palm. That means I have to split the palm piece into two halves. I'm looking for advise from other knife handle makers that have had experience in cutting/splitting antler or the like. Is there better way than just locking the piece in a vice and s-l-o-w-l-y sawing back and forth until you have two halves?
Any methods to keeping both halves perfect? I don't want to have the cutting blade drift one way or the other and end up with one half thicker than the other.
Thanks ....
Ohio Rusty >

 

[wulf]

How thick is it?? The first thing that comes to
my mind would be band saw...If you have one...

 

[Capt. Fred]

I agree with wulf, the only tool I can think of that would do that safely and reasonably quickly is a band saw. Cut the palm into rectangles and take them to a friend that has a band saw with a fence.

 

[omarick1948]

A band saw or someone good with a scrollsaw would be the easiest way! If their off a little, a belt sander or sanding block can do wonders!

There is nothing wrong about cutting your slabs slowly and by hand in a vise. Whats the hurry?
Enjoy the effort you put into something you make...It will mean more to you!

 

[paulvallandigham]

You can clamp a piece of wood or metal onto a table to act as a fence, to guide anything you saw with any power cutting tool. That will give you the straight edge cut you desire. I would use a band saw, with a fence clamped in place, to cut the palms of an moose antler into slabs.

Remember that most of what composes antler or horn is made of minerals, not tissues. There are some blood tissues within the minerals to "glue " them together, and that contributes the the stench you get when you cut the stuff. But most antlers are made of Calcium, Iron, and other trace minerals. Horns, like those of Antelope, or goats, or buffalo, are made from similar material as you find in your own fingernails. A lot of Silica, some calcium, and other trace minerals.