Be sure not to use a completely soaked cloth, as too much water will do more harm than good. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Field care / Transportation taxidermy Im making a hunting knife and Im going to use whitetail antler for the handle.Ive made one before but it wasnt intended to get bloody like the new one im working on now.Id like to leave it as natural as possible,it has really good color.Considering it will be used mainly to field dress a deer,should I use something to seal it from the blood.I know about using superglue but was wondering if I . Species: Elk Length: 2-4 inches Specifications- Antler Tines Special Notes- Slightly faded color, very solid and would be great for crafting and knife work. So there is something here that I am missing! Did you make this project? Google it and get ya some. Building knives is becoming a passion with me. Elk earns fame and nickname 'Hammock Head' in Washington town | Tacoma How To Restore Color To Deer Antlers CHEAP! Order the Potassium permanganate from the link. In addition to fading, antlers seem to dry out, the suggestion about Olde English may be helpful. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. The rate of growth per day of 1/4-1/2 make antlers In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled with her enigmatic student, whose dark secrets lead to terrifying encounters with a legendary ancestral creature who came before them. Over time, the antlers can dry out and start to look ragged or worn. The 20% hydrogen peroxide form a beauty supply store might be worth a shot since it works a lot faster. I don't have any before pic's, but have stained and touched up quite a few. Remove antlers from the boiling water after 30 minutes. Interesting info- But I have to admit- when I saw the title the first thought I had is "well THAT won't happen- those suckers are DEAD". WP-Cumulus by Roy Tanck requires Flash Player 9 or better. Dry them off and remove any remaining velvet. Leather Lady Productions all rights reserved 2006-2023. Whether you gather the antlers for your personal projects or purchase real antler dcor for your home, knowing how to restore old or damaged antlers and how to preserve the natural color will keep your antler dcor looking great for years to come. Boiling not only improves aesthetics, but it removes the smell. women and hunting The most popular antlers available in North America are; Deer: Generally lighter in color than elk or reindeer, white or mule deer antlers are harder than other antlers. The larger pieces are four days, the two smaller are only two days. Elk antlers vary in density depending on which part of the antler is selected. "Found out that you could put them in fish tank.". I digress, though: I think the dye was responsible for the taste, and the peroxide for the chalk. So now I am really confused. carcass preservation you should be able to turn out some Hair Pipe beads,IF YOU HAVE SOME ANTLER THAT IS STRAIGHT . Finishing Antler Handles | BladeForums.com I've been told that there can be a nasty bacteria in antler also. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. I have not tried the other two things I mention, I just know woodworkers use oxalic . ~~~ C Craft, "I have not had any luck with whitening bone with either bleach orperoxide! Industrial laundries use bleach or peroxide on different fabrics. Answer I've been lookin into doing some as well. I personally use Liquitex Basics ($6 a tube) mix 2 dabs to achieve your color. It's gentle, but takes a few months to work. Then, using an artist brush, apply the antler paint to the area. When finished, the button surface will shine (see the photo in Step 8). Let dry. What machines to use, polishing techniques, compounds, whatever you can share. What is the best way to clean them to get off the rust? 11 Facts About Antlers - Medium Deer and Small Game Hunting and Trail Cams. Although you would never think it if you had ever watch a turkey come in and land in a tree to roost at night. Cigarette smoke will tarnish the antlers and turn them a dingy yellow colour. I tend to be heavy-handed with bleach, but it won't dissolve the bone. How to Clean Elk Ivories. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Antlers, hooves, nose and claws can be cleaned using a moist cloth, but always avoid using any oily substance. poaching But ultimately, they're opportunistic hunters and will eat whatever meat they can get their jaws aroundincluding livestock, of course. Make the oval slightly taller than it is wide. I guess I am just going to have to try and do some more research on this subject! deer shoulder mount I though you were going to hook up jumper cables and perform some undead voodoo to bring the animals back to life! Dangers of Insect Infestation in Taxidermy. Rub the polish in and apply additional coats until the desired colour richness is achieved. Thanks for the great advice, Spinner. 2- Buy a semi-gloss polyurethane in a spray can. How To Restore Color To Deer Antlers CHEAP! - YouTube How long should they be cut? taxidermy tips and tricks If you want to keep the original richness and vibrant colors, keep it out of direct sunlight, he said. The second time I tried it I used a diluted hyrogen peroxide mix. No experience. UKRay, October 11, 2010 in How Do I Do That? Maybe it's the monster buck that was chased for years and finally tagged. Those who perform sport hunting often like to mount the antlers from deer, elk or even moose. It will pull off little strands, and they are just annoying to hand pick from the antlers. Insect Infestation in Taxidermy Just would add an observation. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The Raw Umber color will work on most antlers but to get an exact match you may need to add the Clay Red, Golden Camel or Black. Thanks Kerwin. 22142 Miller Ridge Road I do euro mounts and this is what I use there is no substitute. How To Clean Deer Antlers- Steps to Follow Step 1: Separating From The Skull Cap. Please no spam and please keep it family friendly. Maybe if water was added it would work better but I have found that. With all the money you spend on getting an animal mounted, you definitely want your mount to last a lifetime. Spread it thinly so as not to show lines. Powered by Invision Community, Cutting, Drilling And Polishing Antler And Bone, hand tooled artwork, Harley tank bibs, rear fender bibs, custom tool bags and acrylic painting/custom dying. When we used to prepare specimens for the comparative zooarchaeology lab at UT we never tried to whiten bird bones, just large mammals. At the start of its first winter, an elk may weigh five times as much as when it was born. I think it's just the rinse time that is needed to fully get rid of that pesky extra oxygen. ELK FACTS. However, working with deer antlers can also be extremely gratifying. a soak in a solution of Baking soda and water will neutralize the peroxide. Then i used my dremal tool to cut a slot in the middle of the button. 2. I rinsed with water and let dry for a 24 or so. To learn how to perform regular maintenance on your deer antlers, keep reading! (Not pictured because boring). Then reapply until the antlers only are at a darkness that you like. As far as shaping the beads,alot depends on the hole size.For drilling I would cut two pieces of 10 oz leather and use them as soft jaws for your vise then drill with a drill press or hand drill.If you can find a small enough screw and nut to fit the bead ,you can then chuck the screw in your drill press and hand file/sand the bead to shape, a sort of poorman's lathe. Often hunters wait months or years to get their mounts back from the taxidermist. Use thin super glue. How to Paint Distressed Furniture an Antique White, How to Distress a Newly Painted Wooden Mantel, How to Paint Black Furniture Red to Look Primitive, YouTube: How to Clean Antlers for Hunters & Taxidermy, How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of a Leather Couch, How to Know If Your Walls Are Painted With Oil Paint. Choose a polishing product that will give you the desired colour you're looking for. look at a mount you may have to get the idea. Fortunately, a little TLC with wood stain can go a long way to restoring the condition of the antlers. Antlers: Be sure to dust them well. You don't have to use baking soda or anything other than lots of fresh water to rinse it out. I need to make some chunky antler and bone beads and would very much appreciate any advice you may care to share on the best way to do it. A word of caution if you do this you may need to enclose them in cage of some sort as the little critters love to knaw on them and squirrels and birds will do damage to them! I'd like to use antlers for dog chews. Do that about 2 to 3 times. Chlorine bleach destroys bone (which stag is). I need to make some chunky antler and bone beads and would appreciate any advice you may care to share on the best way to do it. Start buy rubbing a small amount for a lighter tint, if you want darker put more on your rag. Keys To The Best Elk Antler Handles - BLADE Magazine I use a 50/50 mixture of tung oil and mineral spirits. How to Prepare Deer Antlers For Dogs (Checklist) - Pet Spruce Enjoy! The eyes can be cleaned with a Q-tip moistened with Windex. Do not use abrasive products or coarse sandpaper on the antlers. How to polish deer antlers | eHow UK 2 years ago, Hello recently I have purchased some taxidermy for collection and for a hobby. while graceful in flight they seem to just crash into the tree when they go to land! Take some warm water and a mild detergent, like Dawn dishwashing soap. Sterilize the bone by blanching it. Powered by Invision Community. Bubble Empire Rules, The blacksmith and the artist reflect it in their art. Cz Scorpion Flash Hider, Do you think the dye or the peroxide bath caused the resulting chalkyness? I do not advise using deer antlers as dog chews. LOL, I make pens from antler using regular woodworking tools and sand to a high number grit and i too use ca super glue as a finish on them. go to hobby lobby or Michaels, go to the paint section and get tubes of paint (acrylic) in the colors burnt umber, raw umber, burnt sienna, and raw sienna. Cutting, Drilling And Polishing Antler And Bone - How Do I Do That 4 years ago. I'm picking up a bandsaw this week so cutting won't be a problem either. Sometimes the chips just fall in your favor. (photo courtesy of Joe Szilaski) By Joe Szilaski, BLADE field editor Rinse them clean, and let them dry. As far as shaping the beads,alot depends on the hole size.For drilling I would cut two pieces of 10 oz leather and use them as soft jaws for your vise then drill with a drill press or hand drill.If you can find a small enough screw and nut to fit the bead ,you can then chuck the screw in your drill press and hand file/sand the bead to shape, a Just attack it like you would any piece of good solid wood and you'll be fine. I have a few euro skulls that the horns have faded. To make an antler lamp, you will need to drill several holes in order to connect the antlers together. Measure the antler and mark it with a pencil at the location of the cut. If you dont have any pots large enough, you can try using prongs to force them underwater or adjust them periodically during the boiling process. cleaning eyes on mounts Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This is part 3 of of Van Dyke's Antler Repair series; we hope that you have enjoyed and found this series informative and helpful. If I capture those three factors in each knife I build, I am assured the knife will become a piece that is used and treasured by its owner! eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. I got mine from a Knife maker that used it on handles. Paste as plain text instead, I want that knife to look so good you just have to pick it up, feel so good in your hand you can't wait to try it, and once you use it, you never want to put it down ! But this year I forgot! Avoid staining tips and ridges where natural rubbing would leave the ivory exposed. moth proofing taxidermy mounts Officials opted to let him be as long as he was . This will keep these areas from drying out and cracking in the future. Take the damp cloth and wipe them down as you see fit. Hang your antlers out of the way of sunlight. trohy care What is a Clean Deer Antlers ? Actually standard woodworking tools (saws, dril bits, lathes, sand paper, etc.) Take care when cleaning the antler, as too much scrubbing will remove the natural color that you are working to preserve. // Okay guys, somebody must have cut, drilled and polished antler and bone here. [5] 5 Allow the antlers to air dry for a day. That is excellent stuff for oil finish gunstocks . the gray areas of some antler will never become white. keeping the shine on antlers. Deer vs Elk Comparison | Difference Between Elk & Other Deer Species? Trophy Care - Mounts Unlimited It is important to put the antler in a vise, rather than holding it with your hand, to avoid injury. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. I would recomend doing all the cutting outside unless you want your shop or house stinking for a couple of days. Discard any remaining skin from the antlers You need to get rid of any remaining skin or velvet on the deers antlers and you can do this with help of a razor blade or a small knife. Personally I wouldnt use peroxide on antler sheds because it takes bleaches away the tannins on the antler from where the deer rub their antlers on trees etc. Often hunters wait months or years to get their mounts back from the taxidermist. Allow it to reach a boil on a stove or a fire pit. Sierra Gameking 270 140 Grain, Pasted as rich text. Polish the handle with 100% carnauba wax. Is that a result of the peroxide or maybe the dye? Fill the spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide if there is blood on the antlers. Made with a Single Slice of Highly Polished Elk Antler with a Unique Shape and Subtle Color. Thanks, Question Cant wait to get it on my wall. Maybe you've come across a trophy set of antlers on a dead head, and it's been there a while. I like learning more to expand my options. So to sum this up I have not had any luck with whitening bone with either bleach or peroxide! how to clean taxidermy mounts Does boiling antlers take away from the aesthetics?. Your link has been automatically embedded. Step 3: Cleaning the Antlers. an antler for a handle needs to be two inches long). Ray, I work with antler, horn and born several times a week as a knifemaker, and I probably have more machinery for that task than you do but it is still workable without all that.You will probably at least want to have a Dremel,as you can cut, drill, and polish with one.The Super Glue trick is a good one and works well.You'll want to sand your pieces down to at least 400 grit before polishing and I use a soft flannel wheel with white rouge to bring out the luster. Why the bitter taste? Be sure to get into all the cracks. February 28, 2013 in Beginners Place, I have some stag antlers of which I would like to bleach white and I have tried bleach in the past without much success except to make the finish rther gummy looking. Fact #8: During the annual rut (breeding season), males use antlers to display dominance.Females tend to mate with males that have . Apply a thin coat of the polishing product that you chose onto the antlers. (Large - 8" to 9" 10 Antlers): Amazon.com.au: Pet Supplies Allow the paint to dry and repeat if necessary. uniform apearance is not what antlers look like, they are darker at the bases than near the tips. How to RESTORE Elk Antlers With Stain - YouTube If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. // Wipe off the dust and dirt from your mount. Glad you posted this! Using a wingbone call to produce sound like a hen clucking is accomplished by doing almost like a reverse kiss or light sucking motion on the call is what produces that sound. Brown shoe polish will help to darken and shine up the colour. A bull elk carried around a huge circular rope swing stuck on his antlers for six months in Colorado, wildlife officials say. Just make sure to coat the entire bead as the glue will cause slight discoloration. restoring antlers I work with varsity scouts, and as part of a Mountain Man activity we are making knives. Clean off the antlers by wiping them with a damp rag or sand the antlers by hand using fine, 400-grit sandpaper. http://www.dakotaskulls.com/index.shtm. What machines to use, polishing techniques, compounds, whatever you can share would be great. Mix a small amount of stain with paint thinner to create a color wash. Use a rag to rub the wash over the painted tips, giving them a more natural appearance. A better idea would be to ask your butcher for suitable bones for your dog to gnaw on. on Step 6. You mix water with a small amount of it and it will turn into a purple liquid, brush it on in light coats and wipe dry. Using some good old elbow grease, soak the antlers for a few minutes or just start scrubbing them with a wet washcloth and the soap. He knows what condition it was in before you took it to clean up. This should remove any debris that may be on the antlers. The first time I tried bleach and it weakened the bone to the point where I couldn't use them. Cut a long piece, 8 or so inches longer than the drop length. Carved in wood, on business logos, even advertising soft drinks on the window of the local . Guess what I am going to go do LOL! I'm a 1st time knife maker and am looking for finishing techniques for deer and elk antlers. Be sure to get into all the cracks. Clean off the antlers by wiping them with a damp rag or sand the antlers by hand using fine, 400-grit sandpaper. Spray the antlers with a coat of semi-gloss polyurethane to maintain the shine. Both lose potency over time. Step 3: Cleaning the Antlers. Shrek Texture Pack Minecraft, caring for antlers I also have some turkey fans which need maintenance. caring for taxidermy mounts Inadequate preparation can lead to accidents and possible injury. Turkey bone is pretty delicate as well. Radcliff offers decorating advice on her blog, Home Decorating News, is a regular contributor on interior design at LoveToKnow.com and earned certification as an interior decorator from Penn Foster College in 2013. They say they use a industrial grade hydrogen peroxide with special whitening agents to whiten the skulls. Buttoned Bucks: DIY Antler Buttons - Grit I guess the good point here is the calls sounded OK. As said otherwise dusting will work. Wire brushes are available at most hardware stores. You can see the major difference it makes with a good before and after picture. Sunlight bleaches the antlers over time and causes the chalky, deteriorated appearance. Sand or wipe just enough to take away the chalky feel. How to Preserve Shed Antlers | Gone Outdoors | Your Adventure Awaits ELK FACTS. Once you get the desired color stop applying and your done. It's easy. Step 2 Bring the antlers inside. I have never used a finish on stag. Maybe it is the first deer he harvested or the biggest turkey he has taken. // After they are clean from the glass cleaner, spray some WD-40 on a paper towel and shine up the eyes to bring a life-like shine into them. I wonder if anyone know how to whitening stag horn which has been darkened probably by age? It's gentle, but takes a few months to work. Briwax is much much better for what you are trying to accomplish. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If there are any questions I would be pleased to answer. Feb 4, 2021 - Invisible Wall Mount for Whitetail Deer Sheds Antler hooks into the mount and hangs on its own No drilling into the antler necessary! Los Gatos, CA 95033-9410. Yes I use it a lot and I do Rinse with Baking Soda to clean it for dyeing it it has worked for me Every Time . You can clean most antlers with just a wet towel or cloth and a drop of soap. michaelf said: 50/50 mix turpintine / linseed oil . preventing damage to taxidermy mounts I've heard lemon oil helps keep the horn/antler from drying out. Any idea whether the furniture polish would work on feathers? This will leave a nice shine and bring a life-like, colorful look back into them. Whether you are using antlers to make crafts or to simply hang on your wall, the knowledge that you were able to work with this age-old material is deeply self-satisfying. Elk Facts | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation That's likely where the chalkiness came from--the protein keeping the minerals in place was eaten away. I cut what I needed and set on a mason jar with the lid on but not tight, you will get foaning and expansion. TIP Hang your antlers out of the way of sunlight. I've heard of using shoe polish and wood stain, but I'm looking for tips on putting a little color back in them from anyone who has actually done it sucessfully- before and after pics would be cool. Furniture polish or any wood polish also works well for providing a rich colour, especially after applying a stain or polyurethane coat. Rub the glue around with the finger that has the vinyl glove on it. Horn, antler and bone | Tips & Tricks | Dictum Blog Touch. It's a wise idea to wear a respirator or dust mask with sanding or grinding antler as well. I'm ordering some this weekend. Your previous content has been restored. By An old bobcat mount was brought to me with a chin hair patch missing and several whiskers. The yearly shedding of elk antlers makes them a handy natural and renewable resource for rustic home decor. Transporting elk from CO to East Coast | Rokslide Forum From: SJJ. Then take a soft-bristled brush and gently scrub away the debris. It will darken the antlers with each application. Deep Cleaning Tips House Cleaning Tips Spring Cleaning Cleaning Hacks Deer Antler Crafts Antler Art Antler Jewelry Antler Its often recommended that you should clean natural antlers with hot water and bleach when you bring them home. that all makes good sense to me. Time to ask around! Guys, peroxide is not an acid, it's just an oxidizer. I have the ruined skulls to prove it. https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/ How do you get velvet off of antlers that are already hard when you shoot a buck that's in velvet? If you don't own one, you can use a fingernail buffer to make the antlers shine. http://www.elenhunting.com/ The Bearcat is typical elk, the 1911's are sambar from slabs purchased from Elenhunting. Potassium permanganate will dye them almost black (I use this a lot in my knifemaking hobby) and it is complicated to do the job correctly. Only remove what will readily come off, as scrubbing may cause damage to the antlers. "I Never Met A Knife I Didn't Like", (Will Rogers), leaving it under the sunlight for some days may work. So I laid them aside and after laying around for a month the color started poping off and there was a chalkiy residue left on the surface where they laid! You fooled me with the title. Step Four - Towel off the antler and stick it in a sunny spot to dry for a few hours. If your staining the complete antler, get min-wax oak and special dark oak wood stain for the basic color base for the complete antler. I only tried the peroxide one time with the wing bone calls I made and it may have been to strong of a mix! Cleaning a new set of deer antlers that you picked up on a hunt can seem a bit labor-intensive, but the entire process shouldnt take more than an hour. I've used some deer antler for a button on a set of saddle bags. I used heavily concentrated tea water, sometimes if possible it's worked even better if I was able to dip the piece in a hot batch of it. This article has been viewed 103,614 times. It dies on its own as the extra oxygen atom bleaches the bone. By using our site, you agree to our. Ravens join in this bison feast. After giving them a good scrub, fill a large pot with water and a pinch of salt, bring it to a boil, and submerge the antlers. Here is 35% "Food Grade" Hydrogen Peroxide ! However, it is in a concentrated form and, depending on the species, you might want to thin it down with a type of distillate such as turpentine, kerosene, etc. Thanks, Alan I am really trying to get a handle on this one! Remove the antlers with tongs. i have never used this process to actually whiten antler but if I decide to I want to know what is wrong with my proceess, before I do a knife handle and end up with a mess! then may use a little old english if I want to Wipe the antlers down with the damp cloth. then you need to color the antler bases. Before beginning, test to see if the cooking pot is large enough to fit the antlers inside. For some reason every Christmas/New Year's Day it just comes to my mind. Mark the centerline using masking tape along the antler's top, bottom and ends. It's easy! Almost every outdoorsman has some type of animal hanging on their wall. Este artculo fue escrito, editado y revisado exhaustivamente por el equipo de Cuida Tu Dinero con la finalidad de asegurar que los lectores reciban la mejor y ms detallada informacin posible. Cleaning a new set of antlers that you pick up on the hunt, however, is a bit more labor-intensive. You need to remove all biological material, ensuring that you dont bring disease into your home. I learned about this from a guy at the Buckarama that sold antler chandeliers and lamps..The dark oak or light walnut will get you in business. Actually, it smells like crap that has been sprayed by a skunk and then dipped in a sewer. We empower you to efficiently solve each new challenge and make your life better and easier. Those were some good links, Jajimi, thanks! This step is important for removing dangerous bacteria from the antlers. Antlers for Dogs | Why We Did It First | Shop Pet Expertise restoring horns We have antlers that were placed in a rusty container. Direct sunlight will definitely bleach and fade feathers. To date I have not had to do anything to the Elk Antler. Telefon: +40 21 212 86 07 Mix 1/2 teaspoon of potassium permanganate per 1 1/2 cups of water. Can I replace chin hair with squirrel hide? They forge their creativity,closer to the heart. Upload or insert images from URL. keeping the shine on antlers We also had a large closet full of dermestid beetles and a big kettle to simmer things in, but the bird bones always came out a little yellow and greasy because anything we tried to really clean 'em up always made them too brittle. Share it with us! The solution will be a deep purple once mixed, but it will stain your antlers brown. Quick Answer: How To Make Elk Antlers For Dogs - BikeHike