Stabilizing Bone and Antler

[birddog1]

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.s2/fricalls005_zps935478ca.jpg[/IMG] The antler are cut to about the size I need

[birddog1]

[birddog1]

[Donnie]

That turned out well Doug.

[VECtor Calls]

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

[birddog1]

that a thought I will have to try that ,I'll have to get a hold of Curtis for more juice and colors

[trooperjd]

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.

[TurnTex]

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.

[birddog1]

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

[Butch @ Droptyne designs]

IT has been since sept 2012 and I would like to see a stabilized antler.  I have elk and deer antler.

[VECtor Calls]

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

[Frank Fusco]

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.