antlers straightening(yes)

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guts

guts

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2005
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1,318
Location
Fairchance Pa. USA.
Can antlers be straightened,yes they can,all I did was boil it for about ten minutes and put it in the vice,it might change shape in time but for now it's straighter,will let everyone know if it changes.



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Frank,I cooked it in the house,no smell at all,I tried another one that did not do as well,it was kinda flat on one side and did'nt stay as straight,I think using antler as round as possible is the best bet,it's been out of the vice for a little over an hour and no change.
 
THANKS for that information. I have an antler that Is like your and I have been asked to make a duck call out of it. I have put it off trying to figure out how to segment it due to its curve. I will give this method a try!
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776

All the antler stuff I've done over the years, I'd a never thunk it. I'm going to try. Wife is gone today, nobody to complain about the stink, if there is any. ;)
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Frank, I'm sure she is used to how you smell! :D;)
 
I would be very concerned that it will "seek it's original shape". So, after turning off a bunch and making a pen, the antler attempts to bend again, creating cracks.

Please DO keep us informed on this. Certainly would be nice if we could straighten without fear of later problems!!!

CREATIVE THINKING, in any event!!! Congrats!!!:):)
 
Thanks Ed,the one i did yesterday has not moved any at all (yet)I'm gonna wait a few days before I cut and drill it,want to make sure it is good and dry.
 
Originally posted by guts

Thanks Ed,the one i did yesterday has not moved any at all (yet)I'm gonna wait a few days before I cut and drill it,want to make sure it is good and dry.
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<center>GOOD THINKIN"!!!!!!!!!</center>
 
There was an article in a recent Fine Woodworking (#193) about bending and twisting wood. The gist of the article was that due to the fiber structure of wood, you needed to ensure that you bent the wood by compressing one side and not stretching the other side.

If one side stretched then its fibres pulled apart and the thing would not hold shape long term.

Is antler fiberous? If so, a jig like the author used may be of value.
 
Originally posted by holmqer

There was an article in a recent Fine Woodworking (#193) about bending and twisting wood. The gist of the article was that due to the fiber structure of wood, you needed to ensure that you bent the wood by compressing one side and not stretching the other side.

If one side stretched then its fibres pulled apart and the thing would not hold shape long term.

Is antler fiberous? If so, a jig like the author used may be of value.
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Antler is bone, not fibrous. My guess is that it will not go back to original shape.
 
Are you doing this on shed antlers or on harvested ones? I'm not sure if it matters but all I have are shed antlers. By the way, they are from whitetail deer, not my neighbors shed :)

John
 
John,I'm really not sure but they are probably harvested,like Frank said though it should'nt make any difference,I tried soaking one over night and it did'nt work as good as boiling them,Frank did you try one yet?
 
That's really a great idea! I'd never of thought of that and I've made a bunch of antler pens, wishing many times they came a little straighter. I'll definitely have to try that.
Don't let the deer find out about this though. I can just picture a bunch of bucks lined up at some boiling springs, sticking those antlers in for a new straighter, longer, set of head gear.
 
Originally posted by guts

John,I'm really not sure but they are probably harvested,like Frank said though it should'nt make any difference,I tried soaking one over night and it did'nt work as good as boiling them,Frank did you try one yet?
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Nope, been out of town, back for only a few hours, then gone again. Won't have a chance until next week.
 
I used to bend Bufallo horn to make walking sticks and shepherd`s crooks, the only time it would try to return to its original shape was if you boiled it again.
This may be the same with antler, just my 2cents worth!:D
 
Ok, so my burning question is, any problems with the antler the past 3 months? I have one that was given to me that is beautiful and might be a candidate 4 straightening.
 
The one I made in September is still straight as a duck call. The two pens that I made are the being used today in the US of A, one by my daughter. They are fine.
 
Add a small amount of white vinegar to the mix, 1 teaspoon per gallon.
The acid in the vinegar will soften the kertin in the antler, allowing it to flex even more...and when it dries, the vinegar will evaporate, the kertin will harden in the last shape you bent it to.
 
Just curious... how long did you have to boil it before you tried to press it in the vise. I suppose antler thickness will make a difference on boiling time? By the way... very nice pen and great info. Thank You!
 
I tried this the other day and the antler cracked instead of straightening. Boiled it for about 30 minutes then put it in the vise, slowly tightening it and before i got halfway through straightening it started cracking in the middle instead of bending. Do i need to biol longer? Or something else i missed.This was with whitetail antler.
 
Hawk,I had one of the first ones I did crack but it had a lot of curve to it,you might try the vinegar thing as posted above and let it boil longer also,good luck.
 
Buckskinners have known about this for a long time. The same thing works with cow horn. That is how the flat powder horns, spoons and combs were made way back to colonial times. To answer all your questions about it retaining its shape, the answer is yes sort of. You must let the antler or horn completely dry while being clamped. If you don't, it will recurve to some degree depending on how much moisture is still in it. There is no real way to tell how long to keep it clamped as each piece absorbs water during boiling differently. If the piece doesn't bend easily, boil it longer. Be carefull if you use the vinegar. It will actually dissolve the bone and it's not really needed anyway. By the way, horn really stinks when being boiled.
 
Bill,
is the purpose of boiling the antler for the heat or does the boiling actuall soften the bone too... I have a microwave in the shop that I use for wood, thinking if it's the heat, might be able to use it... if not I'll add water and then microwave.

I don't have a vice, so will have to figure out something else for the pressure.. thinking a couple of boards and one of my heavy duty screw clamps might work.
 
Chuck,I tried the micro wave and it did not work,I think you need the water added for it to work,it takes a good bit of pressure to get them straight.
 
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Originally posted by rogerpjr

Buckskinners have known about this for a long time. The same thing works with cow horn. That is how the flat powder horns, spoons and combs were made way back to colonial times. To answer all your questions about it retaining its shape, the answer is yes sort of. You must let the antler or horn completely dry while being clamped. If you don't, it will recurve to some degree depending on how much moisture is still in it. There is no real way to tell how long to keep it clamped as each piece absorbs water during boiling differently. If the piece doesn't bend easily, boil it longer. Be carefull if you use the vinegar. It will actually dissolve the bone and it's not really needed anyway. By the way, horn really stinks when being boiled.
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Well, I've been a buckskinner since 1970. Never heard of antler straightening until recent threads here. Horn, yes. Big time with the horn. But horn and antler are very different materials. I intend to try the boiling antler thing this summer. Will open new possibilities.
 
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