Harold; I find a centering vice with a v groove is the best for drilling antlers. Horns are very seldom large enough or straight enough to drill stright on. With a centering vice you can slant or wedge your horn enough to drill through the center. This, however, is the way I drill my antlers. I place my tube in a section that is long enough and wide enough for the pen I am making. Cut your blanks a little longer. Next I place the tube on the ends on each section and mark the center of the antler with enough room to allow for the thickness of the barrel. Center to center will most likely not be a straight line. After marking a square around my center circle, I take my blank to the band and cut a slightly larger square on the end of the blank. Do this on the thicker end of the antler and you will be able to slide the blank farther into your lathe mounted blank holder. Install a centering drill into your tail stock and move it to the center point on the other end of your blank. You may have to reset your holder to match up the centers. Drill a centering hole and than follow with the correct size bit. This method will give you a straight hole from center to center. I don't worry if some rough spots or hollows are left after turning, as they add to the overall look of the pen, and can be filled in with CA. Here is one I did for myself yesterday with dips. valleys, and rough spots filled in. Unfortunately I never had a chance to use it, as my wife claimed it as NEW PEN of the month when I showed it to her. It's was a PSI Southweast Twist in Antique Pewter, with White Tailed Deer antlers, and a CA finish. Jim S
