Thread: Smooth deer antler scales

I am doing something different from my last set of deer antler scales. I ban sawed off a 1/4 inch section from the outer bark, boiled it until soft, then clamped it between 2 pieces of 3/8 inch plexiglass. They came out pretty flat after 24 hours drying. I then cut templated out of masking tape and taped them to the outer section of the bark to make it easier to band saw out. I sanded the edges, drilled pin holes and started shaping them semi-smooth and rounded like normal scales. I am going to let them dry for another 24 hours and harden up a little better before I fine sand them and polish them. I have an original W&B lead wedge I will use. I will continue this thread after my next step.

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onimaru55 mod/team

This is a medium I have thought about working in. I will be very interested to see how they come out, along with the process you used!

Any progress?

Shake, you'll probably make fewer mistakes than I, but they'll still come out pleasing. Its a Duck Special #1 that the honorable Mrsell recommended as a good shaver. He was really right.

My first scale job:

Those look good pinklather. Anything special you did with them? I've only worked with wood (when I say that, I have only one set of scales I've done so far. will be posting pics soon), is there anything different when working with antler vs wood?
Thanks.

your backdrop could be in my kitchen....
In fact I think those scales on that razor would look good in my rotation!!!
Can't wait to see yours shake

They sure do look good and I am anxious to see how they turn out. Hopefully they will harden up, but my first thought was that antlers are bone and boiling bone until they are soft usually means that they are like any other bone that has been boiled to soft when you cook. More porous and sometimes crumbly.

Keep us in the loop, I have a pile of antlers here.

Will N.