Elk Antler

[NickWheeler]

Here's a link to a tutorial Dan Koster put together on posting pics here. MUCH better than I can do. He shows it all in clear detail with the images/windows you'll see as you go.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219367

 

[Bill Burke]

I guess I have my head up my @$$ because i did it just like you said and it still comes up little red xs

or not

this is a blade that our own Nick Wheeler forged at the first spokane hammer in. Then Jerry Fisk started the grinds. I took it home and finished it and then donated it back to the ABS Reno show. It has dyed antler also. Thanks Nick.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Another post to say that I'm happy to eat crow when I need to.

Ray, you've got me on the fence with that one. I think you are one of the handful of makers around here that REALLY "gets" the idea of flow and line. I love your style and work in general (you already know that) but I'm not sure about the dye. I'd like to see that knife before you dyed the antler just to see. It's definitely a great knife though.

I won't show you guys any of the stag I've dyed, cuz it really does look like $hit

Nick, You belong on a fence..... I've dyed just about every piece of stag I have used over the years except for when I first got the bug. Some of the earlier ones weren't all that great. I do feel this is something I have got somewhat of a handle on. I won't show you the pink ones. Are you going to make it to Blade West? Hope to see you there!

Bill, Was the stag dyed before you stated shaping? I always color mine after there pretty much finished. Do you do much with ram horn anymore?

 

[Bill Burke]

Bill, Was the stag dyed before you stated shaping? I always color mine after there pretty much finished. Do you do much with ram horn anymore?

Hi Ray, I first take the piece of horn ans soak it in hot water for a few minutes then tak it out and dry with a paper towell. I then put on the first coat of pp,and let it dry then maybee one more coat depending on the color I started with. I then fit and shape the handle and do one or more coats to achieve the color I want sanding and steel wooling between coats. I use cotton applicators so that I can kind of feather the color sanding fills large cracks with colored hornso that it blends in better and super glue then steel wool the glue so it dosen't shine.

I still use ram's horn on alot of my knives.