treating antler

[Cormac]

what do ye use to make antler stand out more oils varnish,,,,,,,,,

 

[Toddy]

D'you mean to stand out as in looking white, or to get the different colours if you sand the top off the ridges?

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Cormac]

either/both


was more talkin bout outer surface of antler

 

[Toddy]

I wondered because the white can be bleached to bring out the colour.
I've got a friend who makes walking sticks, and Hugh just uses beeswax and almond oil on his antler handles. If you melt some grated beeswax, (a chunk about the size of a shelled half walnut will thicken/set two tablspoonsful of almond oil into a cream ) and add to some warmed oil (stand the mixing container in hot water) and then remove from the heat and stir gently until it begins to set, it'll make the cream.

I'm sure there are lots of other ways too, though. Most likely some of the knife makers will know a lot more about it that I do.

Cheers,
Mary

 

[Abbe Osram]

You can bleech the horn if you brush it with hydrogen superoxide (10 percent)
cheers
Abbe

 

[fred gordon]

I prefer to leave the antler as nature intended. At the very most a light rub with olive oil on a cloth.

 

[Singeblister]

I haven't used it much in knife making , but when i did I rubbed down to 1200grit wet , cleaned it off with a bit of meths on a cloth and just used libron furniture was , then buffed it came out very nice , as said above I also like it to be the natural colour so bleaching I wouldn't consider doing.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Wipe it down with glycerine, same for horn.


K.