finishing antler

[sgimbel]

I'm making my first bullet pens with antler tops. How to you finish the antler? CA? I'm going to turn the antler on the lathe, another first.

 

[Skye]

Most use CA just to seal it up. Also, use a respirator or some sort of serious filtration as it's bad for the lungs to breath the dust.

 

[sgimbel]

I have a brand new respirator. Do you take them to a high gloss like wood?

 

[jskeen]

Depends on how it looks when you get it to size. If it has open pores from exposed marrow, soak it down with ca till it's smooth, and polish. if it's got lots of deep bark left on it, I usually just sand to about 600 and buff. In between, is well, in between. You don't want to get too much ca in the bark, as it won't come out, but you don't want open marrow exposed. That's what makes it fun to turn (well, that and drilling it)

but definitely don't breath it.

 

[sgimbel]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Bellsy]

Sand to 600 grit, then apply 4-6 coats of thick CA and polish to 12000 MM and buff with Huts Plastic Polish. Part off the ends (square up) with a skew then remove from the lathe and lightly break the edges with 600 grit and assemble.

Dave