Thread: cutting scales from antler

I have some deer antlers I want to make scales from. Here are my tool choices:

Dremel
JigSaw
SkilSaw
hacksaw
router
drill

I probably don't have alot of room for error, so any suggestions will be appreciated. Of course deer antlers are plentiful and cheap, but I still don't want to waste them.

Given that choice of tools, you may want to have someone else cut some slices. I think that the best accuracy for cutting the scale slices will be using a band saw. Once the slices are cut, you could fashion your desisn with a jigsaw or maybe even a file and use your dril to put the pivot pin hole in.

Well Ditch Doc, I understand. Antler may be plentiful but having just the right piece for scales might be hard to come by.

I have had pretty good luck cutting horn and antler and bone with a Zsaw, "beading saw" but since you don't have one- cost about 30 bucks....

I think I'd go for the dremel with either the large cut-off wheel or the circular saw. The one I have has a remote motor w/ flex shaft and foot pedal variable speed control, there is less vibration in the handpiece, powerful, and very adjustable rpm- a regular dremel might be harder to control. variable speed at least would be a huge plus imo

Hacksaws? I always mess up with them, but I have seen some use them with effortless grace.

With either of these I'd cut from all sides and need some fair amount of extra thickness to clean up any gnarliness of cut and flatten

Thanks for the idea. I really wish I had a band saw or scroll saw, but I'm going to use the hack saw, cut big and sand down. I'll let you guys know what happens for others future reference.

Is this the zsaw?
zsaw

This one: Mini Dozuki Panel Saw - Rockler Woodworking Tools

Originally Posted by kevint

This one: Mini Dozuki Panel Saw - Rockler Woodworking Tools

Ooh, thanks Kevin. I wonder if that saw would also work well for ripping small blocks of buffalo horn in half for scales. My scroll saw was a joke in trying to do that with some buffalo I have.

Chris L

When I did the Antelope and the Elk scales I used a band saw, and never came so close to losing a finger tip

Originally Posted by Chris L

Ooh, thanks Kevin. I wonder if that saw would also work well for ripping small blocks of buffalo horn in half for scales. My scroll saw was a joke in trying to do that with some buffalo I have.

Chris L

the only deficiency is the short blade when cutting straight down the full length. Once you're started good pull way back to clear the teeth and work from both sides at least

a knife edge sharpened soapstone works good for marking buffalo but white ink is more exact