Bullwinkle

Something a little different this time.
This is the base of a small moose shed I found up in Alaska. this shed was laying in the moss and was likely a year old when I found it. The tines had been chewed down to nubs by porcupine and other rodents and had some moss growing on it which gave some green patina to the antler.
Attachment 250815

The bases are very dense and are rock solid, towards the center there is a small porous section which I stayed away from.

Attachment 250816




Machines and turns very nicely.

Attachment 250819

Attachment 250821


Attachment 250823

Over the years I have made a bunch of knife handles and pistol grips from this material. It is very dense with a warm feel like ivory. Something unique for sure.

Very nice & thank you for the progression photos.

Holy Cow! Looks excellent! Love the soft glow it has on the finish, and yes, it does look very much like ivory. I think I can see a bit of the moss staining too, which makes it have even more character. Nothing wrong with a little Moss, if you know what I mean!

Love the shape you chose also. Great work.

"Hey Rocky...wanna see me pull a rabbit out of my hat?"

I'd much rather see a beautiful brush..that's awesome!
Congratulations and enjoy!

Pete <:-}

That is an awesome brush. WOW! I have some old antler at home. I am wanting to get a brushed turned in part from the antler. Perhaps it will be just antler.

Beautiful brush, and loved the photos. Well done.

Thanks Gentleman !
It is really cool material to work with , feels and works just like a nice hunk of ivory and of course has its natural defects that add character. I was shooting for removal of all the outer natural edge on this one , but decided not to push it and left a little of the outside edge on one side. One of those know when to say when deals.

Attachment 250850

Thanks Harrywally, the shape is a variation of my usual. I tried to look at what other brush makers were turning , and have attempted to do something a little different so I am not copying others work...as much as possible anyway. On such a small work piece there are likely similar designs out there, but tried for something different anyway. A design/shape that is very similar to the calls I am use to turning, and hopefully unique to my work.
In honor of forum rules Ill leave it at that hahaa

I take inspiration from others, as well as shapes I see in everyday life. I also outright copy, because some shapes are just perfect for brush handles, but I usually give credit where credit is due.

Wow that is an amazing brush and fine job on it!
Thanks for posting it

Wonderful brush, thanks for sharing the pics!

Thanks again for the kind words folks.
Im glad people enjoy the pics.

Heres a good trick for anyone who wants to work with antler or odd shaped stock, also works like a charm for doing stacked blanks where cutting thin stock comes up. If you have seen my maple/walnut brushes I do the same with square stock to be cut on the chop saw.

Hot glue gun will save your fingers here. Sometimes the band saw wants to grab irregular shapes, so a piece of scrap to run along the fence really helps. Run a thick bead of glue on the scrap, lay both on a flat surface and press them together.

Attachment 250900

Attachment 250868

Attachment 250901


I just cut up a couple more blanks to turn today so figured I share this here.

When I was 16 I worked in a cabinet shop after school and out of the five of us I was the only one with 10 complete fingers. I learned a lot from those guys but I don't do any stunt cutting. The one thing I remember from the foreman was your fingers should never be within 3" of any blade or cutter.
I did get a chip of formica in my eye the first week, so self taught lesson on eye protection as well lol

* sorry for the sideways pics. Im better in the shop than on the computer

Such a nice brush, love the look of that material, fine work there! Thanks for the pictures and making me want a lathe even more than I already do.

DO IT!!
Hahaa!

Get one man, lots of fun turning. The problem I am having is I have a knife shop full of tools, and 40 something blades on the bench...but Im obsessed right now with the lathe.

Love the brush and moose material.
Thanks for the band saw tip.

Great tip re: using hot glue to help hold irregular objects on the band saw. I bleed enough already with the SRs. I have been on the lookout for some old sun-bleached cow bones laying about the countryside with which to shape up a brush handle. So, the hot glue tip will come in handy. Thanks!

Spot on Mik!
Stopped just about where you should to save some of the natural edge and yet gave it a great overall symmetry.
Superb looking brush sir..
:chapeau

Got to make use of the new chuck today. I ended up turning a second brush off that hunk of antler, this piece was closer to the crown and very solid.
Attachment 250949Attachment 250951