Use weather checked antler or not

[Cody Hofsommer]

I was given this elk antler, but I looks like it was out side for a while. There are some checks in it, visually, it might just add to it. My question is it compromised structurally? Should it be finished with something? I was thinking it for a spacer on a hidden tang.

 

[TJ Smith]

Yeah I like the look of weathered antler. I finish mine by rubbing super glue on the antler with a vinyl glove on. use very light coats.
TJ

 

[VaughnT]

I've used it in the past and haven't had any problems. One thing that I do different is to gouge out as much of the pith as possible. Usually, the weathered antler has fairly rotted pith that's too weak and crumbly for my tastes, so I gouge it out and pack the cavity full of loctite 202 (?) stick epoxy. Ram the tang home and it pushes the epoxy into all the nooks and crannies, adding strength to the potentially weakened antler and giving you a perfectly-fitted mortise for your tang. You need to coat the tang with vaseline or the like so it doesn't stick to the epoxy.

Stronger handle and ready to finish however you like.

 

[A C Richards]

Use black super glue. It makes for great contrast.

 

[Cody Hofsommer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was thinking of superglueing them, never thought of using black ('cause I didn't know there was black superglue, lol) I'll look into that. Hopefully I have some pics to let you know how it went.

 

[kc custom]

Cody I've used dye on bone and antler and then done the super glue over it , Interesting
effects.Ken.

 

[Seals]

I bought a whole rack at the flea market that looked way whiter than yours and really cracked.I like the super glue finish,but i wiped it down with linseed oil and it brought back the color and shrunk up the cracking.The more coats i put on,the better it looked.I wish i had before pics,i brought it home on my motorcycle.Got some funny looks!

 

[A C Richards]

Here is one I did a long time ago using the black super glue and some very weather checked elk. You do need to monitor it for a few weeks to make sure it does not shrink again.

 

[Cody Hofsommer]

Great stuff guys. Ken, I thought about dyeing some, you convinced me to some at least. Chuck, that looks cool. Thanks again