Antler question

[Oso]

What size antler round should you start with and how straight does it need to be? Also, since the antlers are not perfectly straight, how do I drill a hole that will not be off center on the other end?



Oso

[TimD]

The size of the antler will determine how big the center section is which hass a totally different look than the outside. Some of the ones that I've used were about 1-1/4". Most of the pieces that you will ever use will never be straight so just cut them to the proper length with a little extra added, put it in a sturdy drill press vice of whatever type you prefer and drill the hole from one end to the other.
The use of the larger pieces will really look nice when you turn them down especially on the larger straighter pieces and drill slightly off center so that one side of the drill bits just cuts into the center section there. If the piece of anntler is big enough and crooked enough for you to drill straight thru and then have the drill bit going into and out of the center that will give you a totally different look.
If you're just trying to use the antler with the natural outer dimensions then you'll mainly be limited to very small racks and a lot of spike bucks. The odds of finding very many pieces straight enough to use is not too good. A set of deer horns that have dried for several years will turn to an almost ivory look when you turn them down and polish them with very fine sandpaper.

[Oso]

The antler I plan to use is actually Elk horn. The horns are large, I am waiting for delivery now. I have smaller whitetail racks that dont seem big enough. Will give it a shot though.


Oso

[TimD]

It depends on the size of pen that you're making as to how big in diameter the antler needs to be. For the slimline pen and pencils you need at least 1/2" square. I guess if you could ensure that the drill bit was absolutely centered and that it wouldn't wander you could get by even smaller.
In the crooked sections of antler just allow the width of the pen through ever how much you will have to remove to straighten it up. I hope that description makes sense. I made 3 pictures - the 1st one is of two curvy pieces of antler that I drilled thru to make a pen out of. The next two is an end shot of the two pieces showing how far off center they wound up on end with me drilling straight thru the center.

[Oso]

The holes didnt look that bad. Where they still useable? That was my reasoning behind using a slighly bigger antler, so if the hole is off center, I will still have plenty to turn.

One of my concerns is maybe being to big and removing ALL the outside area of the antler and not have a nice finish. Maybe it would look like ivory?


Oso

[TimD]

The holes didnt look that bad. Where they still useable? Yes, still very usuable, now I'm only turning slimline or traditional style pens/pencils so you don't need too much anyway.

One of my concerns is maybe being to big and removing ALL the outside area of the antler and not have a nice finish. Maybe it would look like ivory? Depending on the age of the antlers and where they have been stored they will look more like ivory. Most people who see one of these pens that I make out of the antler turned down think it is ivory.
Oso
I added a pic of one of the antler pens that I made. The lighting was too dark so the pen is a little darker than it should be even with photo enhancement. I'll try to get a better one of one this afternoon and post it for you. **Be sure that when you do work with this stuff that you wear a good mask or respirator as it might annoy your sinuses.