Pens and knife handles from antler?

K

Ken Fitzgerald

Member

Messages

2,322

• Oct 26, 2012

• #1

My youngest son called with a question for which I have no experience or knowledge. When someone makes a pen or knife handle from deer antler4, what is used to seal the antler or bone? What is used to polish it?


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Last edited: Oct 26, 2012

Charles Hans

Member

Messages

1,412

Location

Independence, Kentucky

• Oct 26, 2012

• #2

There is no need to seal antler, it does fine on it's own, as far as polishing it, i have used Micromesh up to the 12000 grit, and I have also buffed it with white diamond polishing compound and a buffing wheel.

 

Ryan Mooney

Moderator

Staff member

Messages

8,140

Location

The Gorge Area, Oregon

• Oct 26, 2012

• #3

Its been a long while... so insert a giant grain of salt.

A little BLO or walnut oil or something similar won't hurt it and makes it easier to polish (while wet). I agree no need for a film finish unless its really porous (in which case you need to do something more complicated anyway..)

 

Paul Douglass

Member

Messages

4,992

Location

S E Washington State

• Oct 26, 2012

• #4

On pens where the antler is down so some marrow is showing I put a CA glue finish on them. Same method I use to apply it on wood pens. Always worked for me.

 

J

Jim Burr

Member

Messages

3,633

Location

Reno, Nv

• Oct 26, 2012

• #5

As mentioned elsewhere...CA is a standard finish of choice on Antler since it will still absorb dirt and oil. Polish is easy with MM and Hutts and/or buffing.