Deer Antler suprise

[FrankH4]

So my boss had seen some of my pens, and liked them especially the antler ones. I kind half heartedly asked him if he'd bring me some sheds(he raises whitetail) I'd make him a pen or two if he did. This was my desk this morning at 7am. Some still had the velvet on them they didn't smell too good. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend.

 

[philipff]

Let me suggest you air them out a full year or the stench will gag you! P

 

[Kenny Durrant]

He put them on your work desk!!!! He might want you to start on them right of way. Very nice gesture.

 

[turncrazy43]

Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Good luck. Show us the results before you deliver them to him.

 

[PBorowick]

Oh geeze.... Ask and you shall receive!

 

[howhale]

Saw some deer antler pens in a catalog. Was really impressed and asked my grandson, the hunter, if he had any scrap antlers around. He said if I give some to you can I have a pen so I, of course, said sure. Glad I read this thread before he dumped a load of them on me and I just left them sitting around the shop. Might never have figured out where the stench was coming from. Outside they go until the odor is gone. Guess I better tell him his pen might not be forthcoming in the very near future, LOL.

 

[FrankH4]

Saw some deer antler pens in a catalog. Was really impressed and asked my grandson, the hunter, if he had any scrap antlers around. He said if I give some to you can I have a pen so I, of course, said sure. Glad I read this thread before he dumped a load of them on me and I just left them sitting around the shop. Might never have figured out where the stench was coming from. Outside they go until the odor is gone. Guess I better tell him his pen might not be forthcoming in the very near future, LOL.

it was only a few of them that stuck honestly the older ones stuck more. fresher ones were not so bad.

 

[FrankH4]

Here are 5 of them made.

 

[howhale]

Really nice pens FrankH4. Hope mine come out even close to yours. Also, thanks for the input regarding the age of the antlers and the smell. I think I will purchase some to start while I wait on the grandson to get around to giving me some. I like some of the hardware available to use with the antler barrel.

 

[Woodchipper]

Nice. Have some antler and want to make a couple of firearm pens to sell at the local shooting club.

 

[FrankH4]

Thank you , howhale Antlers kind of turn and polish like acrylic. I kinda prefer them to wood now. They are a pain to find straight pieces and drill straight through. I think next batch I will turn them down a bit to a more straight piece before drilling. I don't know if I got lucky bunch but only had one chip out incident.

Good luck howhale, and Woodchipper.

 

[howhale]

FrankH4, I wondered about the prep for pieces to turn given the extreme shapes of antlers. That is one reason I am considering the purchase of some to try my hand. Good to know they will turn and polish like acrylic which will be new for me as I have only done wood so far. Maybe I will order a couple pieces of acrylic to try before the antlers. I have turned a couple pens from crepe myrtel salvaged from ones in my yard and after drying. I found shaping them somewhat of the lathe was needed to "straighten" it enough to drill a good straight hole for the tube. Will you try turning yours down between drive centers first to shape them before drilling?

 

[crokett]

I drill the antler before I turn it. I plan the angle of the drill bit beforehand. I then turn on a mandrel after the tube is glued in. It can make for a fairly lopsided blank to turn but that seems to work out the best. it is tough to turn pieces of that small a diameter between centers to make them round first

 

[howhale]

After cutting a length of antler planned as the piece to turn, I considered "shaping" the selected portion of the antler to reduce the exaggerated areas. I thought I might try one of my sanders, or even a scroll saw to knock off some of the most exaggerated parts. I would hope that I might then be able to plan the tube hole and hold the "shaped" piece better to get a good drill. result.

 

[PBorowick]

I've found that drilling the antler in my pen blank vise works very well. I can arrange it to where I know the path of the drill bit and if it will break out the side or not.
I have cut antler on my chop saw and gagged myself out of my shop. I now use my bandsaw for cutting to length and taking off the excess and it is much faster and cleaner!

 

[howhale]

Ahhh, dust collection, dust mask, air cleaner and deodorizer seems required for deer antlers. Also, might plan to work on them when the wife is away so I can clear the smell so many describe before she locks me in the shop until it is gone I will definitely use the bandsaw or scroll saw. Thanks for the input.

 

[Penchant 4]

Plan to have plenty of CA on hand, should the turning expose punk/marrow. It will soak it up.

 

[howhale]

Another great tip, thanks very much. With all the great help and tips from everyone, I might just have a chance to do this with some success. Thanks.

 

[JWinIndiana]

Aw come on guys, the smell isn't that bad. I have been shoeing and trimming horses since 1977, it smells a lot like a horse hoof during the process of being trimmed. With that said, my son in law can field dress a gut shot deer without a problem, but if I am turning or have cut antler in my home shop, he gags and walks back out!