Turned Elk Antler

About a month ago I started messing with this project I just wanted to see how it would work out..

I took a section of the straightest Elk Antler I had, and locked it in the chuck and started turning it down S L O W L Y :D after I had the shape I wanted I drilled out the hole for the knot..

So now I had a very lightweight brush handle, as you know the center of Elk Antler is full of holes, so I decided to try the Vacuum Chamber on it, I have never had so many bubbles rise up, :(
It took 72 hours of gradually increasing the vacuum to finally get the bubbles to stop, when I took the handle out it had drastically increased in weight.. After 2 weeks the handle finally was fully dried..
I added the Turquoise to the bottom and proceeded to polish the brush out, the turned antler came out just beautiful almost like ivory so I was really happy with that ..

Just set the 22mm Overstuffed Silvertip knot at 52mm loft...

Brush Porn :)

Attachment 170463

Attachment 170462

Attachment 170461


Thanks for looking

The turquoise bottom makes it look like cut out of a water, beach and dunes scene. Nice.

It did turn out beautiful,,,,, but we've gotta get some Amber on that base,,,,,;)

Nicely done. I take it that you stabilized it??

Ray

Beautiful...and I'm with Razorfeld on the water, beach and dunes...and I know my beaches!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by walleyeman

Nicely done. I take it that you stabilized it??

Ray

---

Hmmm Yes and No I stop short of that claim, because a good Stabilization Company does Vacuum followed by Pressure treatment, but in essence yes, I run it down to about 27 inHg and leave whatever in the chamber until the bubbles stop plus 1 hour...
This does a pretty darn good job on on Razor related stuff since we work in "Thin and Small" material so you get pretty much 100% penetration..

That's a sweet looking brush. Love the turquoise on the bottom.

I like it! :tu

Did you happen to weigh the horn before and after and if not what does it weigh now? Just wondering :shrug:

Nice work! :bow:

I didn't Roy, and I should have, if I try this again I will though, because it really took in some product :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I didn't Roy, and I should have, if I try this again I will though, because it really took in some product :)

---

I'm thinking that there must be a link between this and before pics! :roflmao :rofl2: :roflmao :rofl2: :roflmao

Very nice work nevertheless :tu

Glen,Have never worked with Elk,Doe's it need to be aged or cured before being worked?

What did you use in the vacuum chamber? That looks gorgeous by the way I may have to get you to make me one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Glen,Have never worked with Elk,Doe's it need to be aged or cured before being worked?

---

Yes, but it isn't a crucial time period, Antlers drop every year anyway and they do so by the animal stopping the blood circulation to them and the antlers hardening and turning to bone.. Velvet covered or an early season kill you would need to pay more attention to.. But I mostly work with sheds or antlers that have been around for a few years so they are well dried..
Basically Bill if you didn't kill the Elk a month ago I wouldn't worry to much, they are probably well dried and turned to bone :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by guitstik

What did you use in the vacuum chamber? That looks gorgeous by the way I may have to get you to make me one.

---

I have been using Daly's Seafin in my Vacuum Chamber and getting good penetration and hardening

Wow very nice.:tu

Love it! What an interesting idea, to use antler. :whipped:

Very nice work gssixgun, that can out awesome!!! I've thought about doing stuff like this, I need to research it more.
Steve