Sticky Antler

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bonefish

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On another thread, Dario asked if antler was supposed to be sticky. I answered that it can be, if not dried sufficiently.

I started a new thread instead of hijacking the other one. The subject on that thread was about CA finishing on antler.

Today, I turned some antler that I know has been drying since last year. As I was drilling it, it got hot, and the residue that came out of the drilled hole and stuck to my drill was sticky.

Later, as I was sanding it, I applied a lot of pressure, and the sanding dust was sticky.

Bonefish

Apparently, if your method of working with it causes it to heat up, the shavings and durst will be sticky.

Isn't the pith, or marrow in antler similiar to what hide glue is made from? That would explain why it gets sticky.

Bonefish
 
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Mine are supposed to be dried that long too (according to the fellow I bought it from)...and they came out sticky. As I said, easy to clean but just wondering.
 
Bonefish, your antler was most likely taken from a deer that was killed early in the year. The sticky part was either blood or marrow. It does not matter how long the antler was dried after it came off the deer. What matters is the time of year the deer was killed. That is why sheds are always bone dry.
 
Originally posted by Penmonkey
<br />Bonefish, your antler was most likely taken from a deer that was killed early in the year. The sticky part was either blood or marrow. It does not matter how long the antler was dried after it came off the deer. What matters is the time of year the deer was killed. That is why sheds are always bone dry.
Click to expand...

There has to be an explanation. Yours makes sense. But, for a guy who has been making stuff with antler for (many) decades, this is a new one on me. I have never had a sticky experience with antler, old, new, shed, kilt, whatever. Not disputing you. Just saying interesting.
 
It was the marrow that became sticky, or glueish like, but only after it heated up from drilling and sanding.

Georgia deer season ends during the first part of Janruary. If the deer was killed legally, the antler has been drying for a minimum of nine months.

This is a picture of the inside of a piece of Sambar Stag from India. I don't know how old it is, but I've had it about 10 years. I also don't know if it was a pick up.

The brownish part in the middle is the marrow, or pith as some people call it.

I sand it flat on a belt sander, and when it gets hot, this center part gets sticky, as does the sanding dust, or at least it did when I sanded it about five years ago. I think whatever this is is similiar to the substance that hide glue is made from.

I haven't had much experience with hide glue, but I know that when it gets warm, it gets sticky, even if it has set up.



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This information is being submitted only as an attempt to explain why it might become sticky. These comments are based on my experience, only. Others might have had different results, or experiences when working with antler.

This is a picture of the other side of the same piece. Make a nice knife handle, huh?

Bonefish



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Sambar stag has long been prized for knife scales (handles). I understand it is becoming fairly scarce and knife makers are turning to other materials. Your explanation that your sticky antler came from a Georgia deer helps. Aren't Georgia deer sticky all over? [:D]
 
If Clinton was from Georgia, I would be ashamed to insult anyone elses deer or anything else. [;)]

Man, do they grow some weird specimans wherever Clinton was raised.[:D]

Bonsfish
 
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