Antler & Steel

[colu41]

I'm going to try a full tang with some antler, kind of for the butt end, with some burl. What I was wondering, now that I have cut the antler into small scales, how does antler hold up with epoxy on steel? I am going to pin it still, but am just worried it might not hold. Any tips?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

If you peen the pins, it will hold just fine-even without epoxy.

 

[Maelstrom78]

Rough up the backs of the scales and the mating surfaces of the tang, maybe drill holes through the tang and it'll hold.

Careful peening pins though to avoid cracking the scales. Teensy taps

 

[Frederiek]

Probably the antler is porous, use more epoxy than usual as it might take up some. What kind of antler is it?

 

[colu41]

Most likely just white tail. I know its not the best stuff to use but, living in a hot hunting area in Michigan its easy getting a ton of this stuff.