We have antlers that were placed in a rusty container. Take Care TJ Raymond Richard Joined Naaman Forest High School Schedule, Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. 2 years ago, Hello recently I have purchased some taxidermy for collection and for a hobby. This step is important for removing dangerous bacteria from the antlers. I probably did not do it correctly. Take the razor blade or knife and scrape the antlers to clean it. This can ruin the antlers and take away the natural look. However, with a little maintenance using common household products, you can keep your mount looking as good as the day you got it back from the taxidermist. It dies on its own as the extra oxygen atom bleaches the bone. You don't need a large amount, just enough to surround the eyes and cover the nose. Elk antlers for dogs are usually large in size, and can often be available in a split form. However the end would leave a bad taste in your mouth. This will keep these areas from drying out and cracking in the future. If I capture those three factors in each knife I build, I am assured the knife will become a piece that is used and treasured by its owner! Only remove what will readily come off, as scrubbing may cause damage to the antlers. In there statement on the whitening of the skulls. I learned about this from a guy at the Buckarama that sold antler chandeliers and lamps..The dark oak or light walnut will get you in business. How do you sanitize antlers? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. A word of caution if you do this you may need to enclose them in cage of some sort as the little critters love to knaw on them and squirrels and birds will do damage to them! I cut what I needed and set on a mason jar with the lid on but not tight, you will get foaning and expansion. After the antlers are clean, they can be used for a variety of purposes including crafts, decoration, and even jewelry. Thanks Dave - most useful. Thanks for the great advice, Spinner. I'm picking up a bandsaw this week so cutting won't be a problem either. It will darken the antlers with each application. They bring it home and hang it in their living room, den, or someplace where they can always, bug proofing taxidermy mounts Clear editor. Cleaning a new set of deer antlers that you picked up on a hunt can seem a bit labor-intensive, but the entire process shouldnt take more than an hour. the riddle of steel. Use wood filler to fill in chips or chew marks on the antler. Thank you for sharing. Sign up for a new account in our community. Alan,any advice as to why it seemed to cook the bone of the wingbone calls I was making. Time to ask around! keeping clean taxidermy mounts You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Using a wingbone call to produce sound like a hen clucking is accomplished by doing almost like a reverse kiss or light sucking motion on the call is what produces that sound. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. What is the best way to clean them to get off the rust? Sand or wipe just enough to take away the chalky feel. This being said I also know some old mounts used pretty bad chemicals to prevent bugs ie: arsenic and mercury, so check around eyes for a white microcrystalline substance that could be there. They can be sold to merchants and are considered very high-value items. Keep the antlers in a room that is smoke free. All you need to bring the lustre back to the antlers is a bit of polish. Wolves in the Midwest hunt deer, moose, and beavers. It's easy! It will pull off little strands, and they are just annoying to hand pick from the antlers. Maybe the rinse wasn't enough and a soak may have helped. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. Apply several layers of wood filler to build a new tip around the nail. maintenance on african horns Make sure the antlers are dried 60 days first, or the Linseed oil will turn them yellow before your eyes. The 20% hydrogen peroxide form a beauty supply store might be worth a shot since it works a lot faster. Mist the tips lightly with paint. So I guess what I am trying to figure out is what went wrong????????? I used Peroxide like you would buy from the drug store. Dry them off and remove any remaining velvet. Bleach and bleach-based cleaners can damage the antlers. I recently made a video in which I take a look at the phenomenon of deer species growing and shedding their antlers each year, as well as how to restore an old shed antler back to its former beauty. Furniture polish or any wood polish also works well for providing a rich colour, especially after applying a stain or polyurethane coat. Unsatisfied once again I tossed them aside and after a few days the dyed color began to flake away leaving the a chalky apperance to the bone! go to hobby lobby or Michaels, go to the paint section and get tubes of paint (acrylic) in the colors burnt umber, raw umber, burnt sienna, and raw sienna. If you want to try again how about rinsing them, then leaving in a bowl of fresh water for several hours to get rid of all the peroxide? 1. i have never used this process to actually whiten antler but if I decide to I want to know what is wrong with my proceess, before I do a knife handle and end up with a mess! Also why did they become chalky after about a month? They should clean up nicely very quickly. I don't know how relevant this is but I cleaned some turkey wing bones to make turkey calls from them. Allow stain to dry completely. ELK FACTS. Step 2 Bring the antlers inside. I have never used a finish on stag. Whether you are using antlers to make crafts or to simply hang on your wall, the knowledge that you were able to work with this age-old material is deeply self-satisfying. Be sure to follow the direction of the hair when cleaning. Do not use abrasive products or coarse sandpaper on the antlers. I rinsed with water and let dry for a 24 or so. restoring antlers Both lose potency over time. The size of the prey animal determines the size of the pack. Then, using an artist brush, apply the antler paint to the area. So you really just used a 15-minute dip in 3% peroxide and that did it? I have the first knife I ever made, and it has an India stag handle. WP-Cumulus by Roy Tanck requires Flash Player 9 or better. Your link has been automatically embedded. UKRay, October 11, 2010 in How Do I Do That? I want that knife to look so good you just have to pick it up, feel so good in your hand you can't wait to try it, and once you use it, you never want to put it down ! Got it on antlers from elk to deer and everything in between. Many hunters not only enjoy the pursuit of wild game animals for food, but also for sport. Apply a thin coat of the polishing product that you chose onto the antlers. Custom needs? To learn how to perform regular maintenance on your deer antlers, keep reading! Turkey bone is pretty delicate as well. If you have time to wait you can hang the antlers outside inthe most direct sunlight available and they will eventually whiten up. Hold the hand saw firmly, and guide it down through the antler as you are cutting. You may notice I already have some cracking around my eyes on this particular mount. Just be aware of any parts of antlers that can "catch" the material. I work with varsity scouts, and as part of a Mountain Man activity we are making knives. Spray some WD-40 on your rag and wipe down the antlers thoroughly. Once it boils, submerge the entire antler in the cooking pot and allow to boil for 30 minutes. You cannot paste images directly. How to Remove Scuff Marks From Figure Skates, How to Take the Shininess Out of Faux Leather, How to Remove Scratches From Patent Leather, Oregon Shed Hunters: Preserving Elk Antlers. Turkey wing bones are small and fragile anyway. This article has been viewed 103,614 times. I do not advise using deer antlers as dog chews. However, working with deer antlers can also be extremely gratifying. Keep prongs on hand that you can use to remove the antlers without burning yourself. Potassium permanganate seems to be the preferred method. Blue masking tape where the bolster and cover meet if I polish the bolsters. Brown shoe polish will help to darken and shine up the colour. Cigarette smoke will tarnish the antlers and turn them a dingy yellow colour. By Brooke Baitinger. Just make sure to coat the entire bead as the glue will cause slight discoloration. Display as a link instead, That is from many years of doing no maintenance on this mount. its not easy at first and would highly recommend practicing on an unwanted set. I'm ordering some this weekend. you have a bigger issue than your antlers with that stuff in the house . As said otherwise dusting will work. our youth 6.For the final polish, turn the leather over, and rub the surface on the grain (smooth) side of the leather. Avoid staining tips and ridges where natural rubbing would leave the ivory exposed. February 28, 2013 in Beginners Place, I have some stag antlers of which I would like to bleach white and I have tried bleach in the past without much success except to make the finish rther gummy looking. I think this was a direct result from the peroxide mix. Apply a thin coat of the polishing product that you chose onto the antlers. Adresse:Calea Grivitei, 2-2A, 1st District, Bucharest, 2020 FABIZ - Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Master in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration (MEBA), Master en Entrepreneuriat et Gestion des Affaires (MEGA), Master in Entrepreneurship und Betriebswirtschaft (MEBW), Master in Digital Business and Innovation (MDBI), International Master in Business Administration (IMBA), Master of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration in Energy (Energy MBA). Furniture polish or any wood polish also works well for providing a rich colour, especially after applying a stain or polyurethane coat. When alarmed, elk raise their heads high, open their eyes wide, move stiffly and rotate their ears to listen If a harem cow wanders, a bull stretches his neck out low, tips up his nose, tilts his antlers back and circles her Elk threaten each other by curling back their upper lip, grinding their teeth and hissing softly Antlers are obtained from deer, roe deer, elk, or reindeer (zoologically cervids), either from shedding poles (antlers grow back annually and are shed in late autumn) or as a by-product of killed animals. Para enviarnos tus inquietudes, ideas o simplemente saber ms acerca de Cuida Tu Dinero, escrbenos. I'm betting what you do will be a huge improvement and he will be thrilled. Maybe it is the first deer he harvested or the biggest turkey he has taken. I am really trying to figure this one out, so anyone that can shed some light I would appreciate it! http://deerhuntingfield.com/efficiently-clean-deer-antlers/, http://goneoutdoors.com/clean-deer-antlers-4881647.html. Dan Schmidt walks you . If your project showcases the bases of the antlers, like cabinet pulls, measure from the base toward the tip. http://www.purelivingperoxide.com/food-grade-peroxide/35-food-grade-peroxide. This is part 3 of of Van Dyke's Antler Repair series; we hope that you have enjoyed and found this series informative and helpful. Measure the antler and mark it with a pencil at the location of the cut. Polish the handle with 100% carnauba wax. 18 TH century leather work- Buckskinning - SASS- Leather Repair. Then the use some kind of a solution to get the white. Wipe away the excess, allowing some of the ivory color to show through. 4 years ago Use a hacksaw to saw both antlers off where they meet the skull. 2. Powered by Invision Community, Cutting, Drilling And Polishing Antler And Bone, hand tooled artwork, Harley tank bibs, rear fender bibs, custom tool bags and acrylic painting/custom dying. As far as shaping the beads,alot depends on the hole size.For drilling I would cut two pieces of 10 oz leather and use them as soft jaws for your vise then drill with a drill press or hand drill.If you can find a small enough screw and nut to fit the bead ,you can then chuck the screw in your drill press and hand file/sand the bead to shape, a Sierra Gameking 270 140 Grain, Rinse them clean, and let them dry. Once dry they were not as white at the ones I tried using bleach but they weren't brittle either, unlike the ones soaked in diluted bleach. "Found out that you could put them in fish tank.". 9 years ago I would buff polish it, and let it go at that. Allow the paint to dry and repeat if necessary. (Large - 8" to 9" 10 Antlers): Amazon.com.au: Pet Supplies Allow the paint to dry and repeat if necessary. Spread it thinly so as not to show lines. Dangers of Insect Infestation in Taxidermy. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Match up veining and texture with a toothpick. can you vaccum taxidermy mounts The only other thing you need to do is wash the antlers well in bleach water. while graceful in flight they seem to just crash into the tree when they go to land! Answer You need to remove all biological material, ensuring that you dont bring disease into your home. How To Clean Deer Antlers- Steps to Follow Step 1: Separating From The Skull Cap. I only tried the peroxide one time with the wing bone calls I made and it may have been to strong of a mix! Pasted as rich text. Often hunters wait months or years to get their mounts back from the taxidermist. caring for sheep horns Work with it. Species: Elk Length: 2-4 inches Specifications- Antler Tines Special Notes- Slightly faded color, very solid and would be great for crafting and knife work. I tend to be heavy-handed with bleach, but it won't dissolve the bone. You can clean most antlers with just a wet towel or cloth and a drop of soap. 4 comments, Almost every outdoorsman has some type of animal hanging on their wall. Furniture polish or any wood polish also works well for providing a rich colour, especially after applying a stain or polyurethane coat. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shared video Wednesday of the rescue. How Taxidermy Got Its Start Do that about 2 to 3 times. Fill the spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish detergent to clean dirt or dust off the antlers, or if you dont have hydrogen peroxide, as soapy water will also remove blood. The yearly shedding of elk antlers makes them a handy natural and renewable resource for rustic home decor. Seriously this is a task most people don't think about until the need arises. I have a few euro skulls that the horns have faded. In a way it does directly relate to the antler/bone for knife handles because if I can figure out what when wrong with that process when I get ready to do antler/bone I will know that "I am good to go" so to speak", with the process. I do euro mounts and this is what I use there is no substitute. Maybe it's the monster buck that was chased for years and finally tagged. I know this is somewhat off the knife subject and I appreciate the fact that you have let me ramble on this. taxidermy eyes Thanks for the info I will need to do this to all my mounts. All you need to bring the lustre back to the antlers is a bit of polish. I've heard of using shoe polish and wood stain, but I'm looking for tips on putting a little color back in them from anyone who has actually done it sucessfully- before and after pics would be cool. a Wild boar and a 67 Elk (and another boar waiting in my freezer). Step 3: Cleaning the Antlers. Then reapply until the antlers only are at a darkness that you like. Often times some of the biggest deer antlers or deer racks are found like this due to predation, a misplaced shot, or disease. Mimwax type wood stains are ok at best. // 9 years ago I wonder if anyone know how to whitening stag horn which has been darkened probably by age? Hang your antlers out of the way of sunlight. Outdoors in general, hunting fishing. The antlers will feel soft when you pull them out of the cooking pot, but they will harden up after a few minutes. look at some and see for your self, Search my user name on youtube for my video's. Step 3: Cleaning the Antlers. Make him look like he swallowed a squirrel. All of the antlers should be submerged during boiling. This will leave a nice shine and bring a life-like, colorful look back into them. With Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene. How To Clean Deer Antlers- Steps to Follow Step 1: Separating From The Skull Cap. preventing damage to taxidermy mounts Antlers image by Charles Kaye from Fotolia.com. From boiling to borax, and pressure washing to beetles, effective skull cap cleaning can be accomplished by anyone with a desire to learn. Antlers: Be sure to dust them well. you will have to trial and error your colors til you hit a groove with it. just be careful. all work fine on antler. I got mine from a Knife maker that used it on handles. A clean deer antler is simply an antler that has been cleaned of all the tissue and blood. 1- Buy a light wood stain and apply it very lightly with a rag. keeping the shine on antlers. Before I would use any product, I would try a wood polish called "Briwax". Okay guys, somebody must have cut, drilled and polished antler and bone here. This new, improved antler and horn stain is pre-mixed and ready to use. Once you get the desired color stop applying and your done. Cervids of old would use these tusks to battle during the rut and defend themselves against predators, but as evolution selected for bigger antlers, those canines started to recede. Any idea whether the furniture polish would work on feathers? Mark the centerline using masking tape along the antler's top, bottom and ends. Craft, hydrogen peroxide will eat bone. Carved in wood, on business logos, even advertising soft drinks on the window of the local . Does it seem to affect the integerity of the antler? https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/ How do you get velvet off of antlers that are already hard when you shoot a buck that's in velvet? Its absolutely amazing. Allow them to boil for 30 minutes to remove any bacteria. Used V40 (hyrdoen peroxide) from well know beauty supply chain available in most cities. Fact #8: During the annual rut (breeding season), males use antlers to display dominance.Females tend to mate with males that have . Polish Fill the spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish detergent to clean dirt or dust off the antlers, or if you dont have hydrogen peroxide, as soapy water will also remove blood. It's far gentler about it than bleach, but it's definitely happening. Rub the polish in and apply additional coats until the desired colour richness is achieved. Does boiling antlers take away from the aesthetics?. Fill a bucket or bowl with as much of the mixture as you need to cover your antlers. I guess the good point here is the calls sounded OK. Feb 4, 2021 - Invisible Wall Mount for Whitetail Deer Sheds Antler hooks into the mount and hangs on its own No drilling into the antler necessary! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 103,614 times. Antlers, hooves, nose and claws can be cleaned using a moist cloth, but always avoid using any oily substance. Aword of caution if you do this you may need to enclose them in cage ofsome sort as the little critters love to knaw on them and squirrels andbirds will do damage to them!". I have the ruined skulls to prove it. What machines to use, polishing techniques, compounds, whatever you can share would be great. Share it with us! I thought it was a success. Touch. caring for antelope horns preventing bug infestation Grab that wire and start wrapping it around the antler wherever you want. It can be waxed with a good paste wax. an antler for a handle needs to be two inches long). For some reason every Christmas/New Year's Day it just comes to my mind. No experience. Those who perform sport hunting often like to mount the antlers from deer, elk or even moose. how to clean rug mounts I"ve tried using 2 or 3 applications of thin cyanoacrylate which hardens the surface well, but still leaves it dimpled after sanding (see pic), Would a couple of applications of thick be better? Touch up reconstructed or dirty tips with a small amount of ivory spray paint. While you are still outside, use a cloth to gently clean the dirt and debris off the antlers. It will not leave a glossy finsish but still seal it against moisture and anything that would stain it. It's less dense than most exotic hardwoods and cuts, sands and polishes rather easily. JavaScript is disabled. Spray some WD-40 on your rag and wipe down the antlers thoroughly. Remove the antlers with tongs. Furniture polish or any wood polish also works well for providing a rich colour, especially after applying a stain or polyurethane coat. Sand or wipe just enough to take away the chalky feel. taxidermy tips and tricks Ray, I work with antler, horn and born several times a week as a knifemaker, and I probably have more machinery for that task than you do but it is still workable without all that.You will probably at least want to have a Dremel,as you can cut, drill, and polish with one.The Super Glue trick is a good one and works well.You'll want to sand your pieces down to at least 400 grit before polishing and I use a soft flannel wheel with white rouge to bring out the luster. I know when they do work like the European mounts, they let the flesh eating beetles clean the skulls first. H2O2 becomes plain old H2O, no by-products left over. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Spray some glass cleaner on a paper towel and clean off the eyes. Powered by Invision Community. http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/peroxide-bleaching-skulls.html, I am using hydrogen peroxide 3%worked great I have used my wifes 40, Volume or 12% and it is a thick paste but I am not convinced that it is any, better. Measuring methods for the antler will vary and depend upon the project you have chosen. Insect Infestation in Taxidermy JavaScript is disabled. Linseed oil Turpentine Furniture polish (optional) Step 1 Clean the antlers. Another scenario is to let the antler dry completely, seal and just re-stain. Made with a Single Slice of Highly Polished Elk Antler with a Unique Shape and Subtle Color. restoring horns how to care for your mounts I like the 20% hydrogen pyroxide maybe oxalic acid. If boiling alone does not work to your satisfaction, soak the antlers in water with added bleach. Please no spam and please keep it family friendly. Then take a soft-bristled brush and gently scrub away the debris. Whether you gather the antlers for your personal projects or purchase real antler dcor for your home, knowing how to restore old or damaged antlers and how to preserve the natural color will keep your antler dcor looking great for years to come. It's gentle, but takes a few months to work. Buff the antlers with a dry cloth until your desired level of shine is achieved. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Your previous content has been restored. Thanks, Question the gray areas of some antler will never become white. June 25, 2013 preventing damage to animal mounts {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Clean-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Clean-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg\/aid8613370-v4-728px-Clean-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"