THO Game Calls Forums
The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Stabilizing Your Own Blanks => Topic started by: Donnie on September 17, 2012, 02:22:00 PM
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I'm curious if anyone has tried this. I have access to some big pieces of elk antler and would like to have a couple of chunks dyed and stabilized.
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Nice idea. I like it!
Vince
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Maybe someone with a home brew setup would like to take this on for me and I'll gladly pay for the materials associated despite the outcome.
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Depending on the sizes ( if it fits my set up) i will do it, no charge, i am new to stabilizing and have done a fair amount of wood but nothing like this. no worries eirther way.
Jeremy
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I'm talking about somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.5" by 3" maximum (hopefully a lot smaller) depending on the straightness of the horn. I want a couple of call size blanks to play with. I haven't even seen the stuff yet but will have a 5 gallon bucket to pick through in the next week or so.
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They've talked about this before, it was pointed out that you have to put tape over one end to keep the resin from running out that being said I guess you would have to bake it will it was standing vertically
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Bone and antler can be stabilized quite well. If the bone is really porous, it may take a couple of cycles to get it done. I have done whale bone that was very porous, so much so that you could see light through it from one end to the other.
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I've done some antler once with Curtis 's(Turn tex) set up and it works well you get a little variation of color because of the densitys in the antler but it comes out nice . Working on a call now ,doing it in blood wood with red antler cap . We will see how it turns out.
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All good information guys, and I appreciate it. I'll have to wait til next week to get my bucket to see what I have to work with and hopefully it looks good enough to do some work with.
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Where do you get resin?
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I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with Dennis. Keep us updated!
Vince
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I have the antler in the oven as I type 6:29 pm est.
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I have a lot of Elk antler. Most of it is too porous to do anything with. Being able to stabilize it would be a huge deal for me. How is the project going?
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You can use Curtis' Catus Juice. Go to Turn Tex he has resin and and chambers.
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I will have some pic . tomorrow of some stabilize moose antler on a grunt , came out pretty nice
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A grunt done with Blood wood & walnut ,the walnut was only because I screwed it up and I didn't want to make fire wood out of it ,and the end are stabilize Moose antler.(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/fallingriver[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/fallingrivers2/fricalls003_zps2ba83f91.jpg)s2/fricalls005_zps935478ca.jpg[/IMG] The antler are cut to about the size I need
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(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/fallingrivers2/fricalls003_zps2ba83f91.jpg)
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(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/fallingrivers2/fricalls005_zps935478ca.jpg)
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That turned out well Doug.
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Nice work! I really do like how that turned out!
I'm thinking a green or a brown if I were to do it. I wonder if a brown would give it an 'old time stained' look to the antler?
Vince
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that a thought I will have to try that ,I'll have to get a hold of Curtis for more juice and colors
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Guys I have Curtis' setup and have done some large whitetail antler before. I would just ensure that the antler has been allowed to dry for some time before you try to stabilize. I did a set of antlers for a pen set that were only allowed to dry about three months. The inside near the base turned a yucky yellow and brown where the "marrow" would be when put in the oven to cure. I did another set that was on the fence in all the elements for about a year. Boy they turned out great, couldnt have been happier. Maybe it was just my luck or an isolated incident.
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Guys I have Curtis' setup and have done some large whitetail antler before. I would just ensure that the antler has been allowed to dry for some time before you try to stabilize. I did a set of antlers for a pen set that were only allowed to dry about three months. The inside near the base turned a yucky yellow and brown where the "marrow" would be when put in the oven to cure. I did another set that was on the fence in all the elements for about a year. Boy they turned out great, couldnt have been happier. Maybe it was just my luck or an isolated incident.
I would suggest drying the antler in an oven at 150° F for 24 hours before stabilizing. That should dry them out close to 0% moisture and eliminate the problem you had.
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The antler I did was 4 or 5 years old so there was no problem , as you can see it came out pink with the marrow alittle redder
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IT has been since sept 2012 and I would like to see a stabilized antler. I have elk and deer antler.
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Butch, what you see in the photos earlier in the thread is what you get. A photo isn't going to have an antler showing up in a photo any different than one that is not stabilized if it is not dyed during the process.
The dying process will take the slightly milky white bone and give it a little color. I have not seen any ever that were overly brilliant/vibrant. Like above, a red will end up generally pink, etc.
Vince
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I have a lot of Elk antler. Most of it is too porous to do anything with. Being able to stabilize it would be a huge deal for me. How is the project going?
I don't see the point in stabilizing antler or bone. But with porous/marrow using resin to fill in might make it usable. No need to use vacuum just dunk and soak for a while then let cure.