Antler turning with a twist????

[sandking]

OK, I've only turned two pens and now I think I know everything (LOL). But I thought of a design I would like to make for my dad for Christmas and need some help.

First off I don't know if this is even possible but here it goes.

I want to turn him a Baron pen out of deer antler. Because deer antler seems like it can be boring I would like to add a picture to the cap area. My idea is to print something like this out really small

Can I glue it onto the antler after I'm done turning? how would I finish the pen to pretect the antler and the image?

 

[Monty]

I would suggest having it laser engraved on the upper barrel.

 

[ctEaglesc]

Gluing a picture on an antler would be kind of tacky though I think possible.
Have you considered making it real special and trying your hand at scrimshaw?It isn't that difficult and since you would need to polish the antler anyway the hardest part would be done.

 

[Skye]

Can you polish over scrimshaw?

 

[broitblat]

I would agree with the laser engraving. You can color fill the engraving if you want it to stand out even more. Check out http://www.kallenshaanwoods.com or http://www.perfectcreationsonline.com/. I'm sure there are other places or a local trophy shop that could also do the engraving for you.

 

[ctEaglesc]

Originally posted by Skye
<br />Can you polish over scrimshaw?

To do scrimshaw correctly the original srface must be polished to begin with.
It could be sealed after that though authentic scrimshaw wasn't seal.
It would have to be a solid pies like axis or a piece of other antler that did not contain any porous sections.
I have been toying around with the idea of doing one,just getting the right design in my head so my wife can draw it.[]

 

[bonefish]

Isn't there some type of process, and I don't know what it is called or how to do it, but a picture can be placed directly on the object?

Kind of like using the pen or knife handle or whatever as the photo paper.

Photo engraving is a name that comes to mind, but I don't know if this is correct.

Bonefish

 

[kent4Him]

Originally posted by broitblat
<br />I would agree with the laser engraving. You can color fill the engraving if you want it to stand out even more. Check out http://www.kallenshaanwoods.com or http://www.perfectcreationsonline.com/. I'm sure there are other places or a local trophy shop that could also do the engraving for you.

I agree with Barry. Ed at Perfect Creations is great to work with and his prices are reasonable. If you produce it on the computer, Ed can laser engrave it.

 

[kent4Him]

Originally posted by sandking
<br /> Because deer antler seems like it can be boring

I do have to differ with you on that one. Whether Pure White or Speckled Gray, antler is not boring. I sell them as fast as I can make them, and only one have I had engraved. When a hunter hears antler, it's almost like they must buy it.

 

[nilsatcraft]

It sounds like you might be looking for a way to transfer an image to another surface. If so, you can use a transfer pen (which works with a woodburner) to transfer a xeroxed or laser printed image to the antler. For an idea of what kind of pen I'm referring to, see http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=311-0400 on our website. There are others out there but the basic idea is to print something with toner then use heat to transfer the toner from the paper to the material.

 

[sandking]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think engraving is the way to go. I don't know Nils if I understand what that product does. Do you have a link that shows a pen that used this product?