Antler Ferro Rods

[Sloan]

Hello,

I was hoping someone could help and give me some guidance with regard to making my own antler ferro rods.

A good friend of mine works for the Forestry Commission and recently brought me back some antler. I would like to work this to create my own ferro rods as I think these look great and it is always nice to make your own equipment as opposed to buying machine made rods. I have watched several YouTube videos for tutorials, but wanted to ask on here what tools I would need to purchase to carry out the work from start to finish.

Would it be enough to use only a hacksaw, drill, belt sander and some expoy? Or should I be looking at buying a Dremel?

Thank you in advance for your help!

ATB

Calum

 

[The Cumbrian]

I used a hacksaw, file and a drill for mine, and glued the rod in with Araldite. When that was dry I filled the exposed marrow with superglue to seal it.

Cheers, Michael.

 

[Monikieman]

Hacksaw with nice blade will cut no bother at all. Drill will work fine. Files and sandpaper will do great just takes longer to get a shine, if you want, compared to a buff.

the bit to watch is:- the core can be exposed if you select too thick a bit then sand down. If you cut a section top and bottom the core will be exposed.

Now, you can cap the core on the top with a nice bit wood or a side cut slab of antler. I normally araldite and pin the top cap with 2mm silver wire but a nail or a bit brass welding rod would do.
Hope this helps. If you get it wrong, heat the araldite with hot air gun and it will pull out.

 

[laro13]

Watch out for the antler dust, it's nasty stuff!!!

 

[Monikieman]

here's what I mean about the top. This one's rams horn but anythin will do.

 

[Sloan]

Thank you all for the quick replies and advice. With regard to sandpaper, what grit would you tend to use and finish on?

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Depends how fancy you want it really. A hacksaw, bit & brace drill, some epoxy and sandpaper did this big boy:

 

[Klenchblaize]

I posted this by way of a question elsewhere but no response so when I find the time I’m going to attempt the following with a view to creating a reusable ferro rod holder:

1. Source a suitably sized dye and cut 20mm of thread into one end of the ferro rod if possible
2. Set (very carefully with Devcon) a correspondingly sized stainless steel nut into a piece of antler

If it works as I envisage I’ll put it on here.

K

 

[Monikieman]

Sandpaper. Well, erm, the first rough piece lying on the floor!!!! Okay, maybe 120 then 240. I usually buff at that point. File off raised bits to expose white if desired, then 120/240/600 should do. Nothing fancy.

 

[Corso]

I posted this by way of a question elsewhere but no response so when I find the time I’m going to attempt the following with a view to creating a reusable ferro rod holder:

1. Source a suitably sized dye and cut 20mm of thread into one end of the ferro rod if possible
2. Set (very carefully with Devcon) a correspondingly sized stainless steel nut into a piece of antler

If it works as I envisage I’ll put it on here.

K

you can buy ferro rods with a thread...

 

[finnmike]

Hi !

A little bit off topic but I dont have much experience with different firerods and would like to know how those cheap chinese rods differ from quolity ones ?
Have anyone good ideas where i could purchase quolity ones. You can send PM to me if it is not allowed to show shop name etc.

 

[MaddogMatt]

I had some 8x80mm and they are not really worth the bother, but then got a 13x130mm (1/2"x5") from the Philippines, works a treat. Search ebay for 'huge ferrocerium rod', should be around £3.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[finnmike]

Thanks ! I will look from there. Did they sent them normal airmail ?