Deer Antler Turning Blanks

[JWS Penworks]

Where can one find deer antler pen turning blanks. Are there any special percautions to take when turning deer antlers?

Thanks for your help,
John

 

[Petricore]

Definately wear a respirator or some kind of breathing filter. The fibers of the deer antler are like tiny hooks that can get imbedded and stay in your lungs. Not sure where you can get the blanks, I just get the antler and cut em up myself.

 

[JWS Penworks]

Originally posted by Petricore
<br />Definately wear a respirator or some kind of breathing filter. The fibers of the deer antler are like tiny hooks that can get imbedded and stay in your lungs. Not sure where you can get the blanks, I just get the antler and cut em up myself.

Thanks for the heads up about the respirator. Does it turn pretty easy? What type of finish do you use on it?

Thanks!
John

 

[hanau]

go to a local taxidermist maybe able to get it there.
ebay
also they have pre drilled
http://www.augumspenworks.com/apwwebsite_033.htm

 

[mrcook4570]

Originally posted by JWS
<br />Where can one find deer antler pen turning blanks.

On a deer [)]

Talk to hunters. Most are fascinated by the thought of having a pen made from antler and will gladly trade a bunch of antler for a pen.

 

[txbatons]

I get my antlers from my brother who's a hunter. I have to say, though, that the stench from turning it is enough to cure me from doing a whole bunch of antler pens. Wow. [xx(]

 

[exoticwo]

I usually get them from my "FRIENDS & NIEGHBOR" program.
The antler pens I turn receive the same finish as all wood pens.

 

[Russb]

Try Ebay you may find deals there. Treat antler like many synthetics. I sand then use Brasso for a final polish.

 

[Tea Clipper]

I get mine from Moscow Hide and Fur. Keep in mind that these are antler pieces and not ready-to-turn blanks. Drilling the hole is the trickiest part...[]

 

[Petricore]

Originally posted by JWS
<br />

Originally posted by Petricore
<br />Definately wear a respirator or some kind of breathing filter. The fibers of the deer antler are like tiny hooks that can get imbedded and stay in your lungs. Not sure where you can get the blanks, I just get the antler and cut em up myself.

Thanks for the heads up about the respirator. Does it turn pretty easy? What type of finish do you use on it?

Thanks!
John

If you get alot of the marrow in the pen, you will need (or want) to fill it with thin ca while turning, and before finishing to really seal it up, otherwise you could get a real nasty grain on the finish.

 

[jtate]

Definitely use a sanding sealer of some sort - I use CA but something else would work - before sanding unless you like the residue of the sandpaper to get all stuck in the little holes in the material. Personally I don't care for that look.

And fresh antler smells worse than aged antler. Ask how long the deers been dead. Fresh antler cuts easier though, IMHO.

 

[Gulfcoast]

JWS

Craft Supplies and Penn State Industries carry deer antler for pen making.


Joe

 

[JWS Penworks]

Thanks for all the responses and the advice!

John

 

[guts]

John,how many do you need?

 

[JWS Penworks]

Originally posted by guts
<br />John,how many do you need?

I was looking for enough to make about a half a dozen pens.

Thanks,
John

 

[guts]

John,send me your snail mail address and I'll send you enough for a couple,just let me know what pens you are planning on turning,big pens take big antlers that don't always look as good as the smaller ones,I don't sell wood or antlers but will let you have a couple to try before you decide to buy a bunch.

 

[mdburn_em]

A respirator will keep the smell down.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by Petricore
<br />Definately wear a respirator or some kind of breathing filter. The fibers of the deer antler are like tiny hooks that can get imbedded and stay in your lungs. Not sure where you can get the blanks, I just get the antler and cut em up myself.

Petricore, myths like this have been going around for a long time. What you said has no basis in fact. Some folks don't care for the smell. But there is no particular danger from working with antler. That said, a respirator is never a bad idea when working with any kind of dust.