Deer antlers

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Exabian

Exabian

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Joined
Oct 26, 2012
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266
Location
South Korea (Camp Humphrey)
I was offered a bucket of deer antlers from a co worker. He said he will sell me the lot for $35. I have t seen them in person yet but I have this pic for now. Is there anything I should be looking for or asking about before buying these? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
 

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I would make sure they are not old which these in the picture do not. Also I find it difficult to use the upper points for pens especially when they get flat. I have been told that you can boil them and straighten the curved sections out but I have never tried it. I am afraid the wife would not be smiling if she found me boiling deer antlers on the kitchen stove. So you should scan over them and try to picture just how much usable material there is. I have been limited to using the base sections for most of my pens. The larger the kits that you use the better the result in my opinion since you do not have to turn so much of the character of the piece away. I do use some of the points and smaller curved sections for key chains. In saying all of this though I must say I have never had to pay money for antlers. I have always had someone offer a few here and there. I normally will in turn make them a key chain or pen but no money has changed hands. If there is a hunting club in your area you can probably get hooked up with an adequate supply for free. Most hunters only keep the trophy racks and discard the rest. Not sure if any of this helps but I hope so.
 
Look for straight pieces to turn and cracks. Deer antlers are great to turn. I just bought a 55 gallon drum of horns. I have been thinking about cutting them up and selling blanks. Anyone interested?
 
If you are careful, it looks like there are 25-35 single blanks, so that's about a buck a blank. I shoot all of mine or collect sheds, but that looks like a good deal if you can't. The one looks old and those can be difficult. The rest look good. I say go for it.
 
I would be interested in the points of the antlers



JH Customs said:
Look for straight pieces to turn and cracks. Deer antlers are great to turn. I just bought a 55 gallon drum of horns. I have been thinking about cutting them up and selling blanks. Anyone interested?
Click to expand...
 
I was looking at the foot in the picture and comparing it the board widths. I would think the boards are 1x4's or so meaning they're 3.5 inches wide.

Taking this against the antlers, it would appear you have smaller antlers which result in the usable pieces being about 2-3 inches long for many of the straighter sections.

You'll get several pieces you can use for pens from these if the diameter holds up.

You should get at least 5-6 usable sierra style pens from these. You could sell them for $45-50 each meaning your $25 investment is worth it.
 
And please!!!!!! make sure you cover up. Deer antler particulate of ANY kind will cause Fibrotic Lung Disease, which is easily cured by a lung transplant. Respect yourself and your family and do the right thing!
 
Jim Burr said:
And please!!!!!! make sure you cover up. Deer antler particulate of ANY kind will cause Fibrotic Lung Disease, which is easily cured by a lung transplant. Respect yourself and your family and do the right thing!
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Thanks, Jim. Do you know whether that also applies to water buffalo horn? Russ
 
All bone, horn, and ivory as been pointed out by our RT in combat boots. you need at a minimum a N-95 mask, gloves and such. The Artist Beware materials suggest that if possible any animal materiel should be worked wet. Good ventilation is a must. It also should be cleaned in case it is carry any disease, and gloves at a minimum if you have cuts or scratches on your hands.

It also smells bad when heated. Remember if you are using bones that are sold as pet toys and are imported. You still need a N-95 mask
 
Just remember you can always sell what you don't use to people with dogs, the pet stores sell antler pieces around here for about $7 for a pice that is about 6in long.
 
Russknan said:
Jim Burr said:
And please!!!!!! make sure you cover up. Deer antler particulate of ANY kind will cause Fibrotic Lung Disease, which is easily cured by a lung transplant. Respect yourself and your family and do the right thing!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jim. Do you know whether that also applies to water buffalo horn? Russ
Click to expand...

It does Russ...any kind of horn...moose, cow and so on. If you suck down a lung full one time, it won't kill you. But repeated exposure over a brief time is going to catch up to you. I've treated people with fibrosis and it's not something I'd choose to do on a regular basis.
Remember to that the Trend or whatever you use is great "At that time", but the silicate settles and next time you head out to the shop it's stired up.
 
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I wouldn't hesitate or negotiate. I would simply say, here's your money when can I get them. In my opinion, the number of "Useable" blanks posted here are way off the mark.
 
Dan Masshardt said:
gimpy said:
I would be interested in the points of the antlers
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What would you use the points for? Just curious.
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I don't know what Gimpy is using the for, but I took a bunch of my points and drilled a hole through the cut end, ran the that end against a belt sander to lightly sand them and smooth the cuts, then strung them on a lanyard and sold them as pendants... kids and bikers ate them up.
 
I actually use mine for making bullet pen desk sets, I too, drill a hole in the end put over tranny, then the point makes awesome...... I also go to the hardware store and purchase the paint can openers, cut off the end that you use to open the paint can and drill a hole in the end of the end (cutside) insert the paint can opener and presto, you have a bottle opener
 
deer antler

Jim, could you direct me to the site where you found this info. I would like to read.
thanks Russ

Jim Burr said:
And please!!!!!! make sure you cover up. Deer antler particulate of ANY kind will cause Fibrotic Lung Disease, which is easily cured by a lung transplant. Respect yourself and your family and do the right thing!
Click to expand...
 
Can't speak to Jim's other than he is a respiratory therapist. Just google bone and antler dust. You will be reading for a long time.
First off antler is made up of the same chemical/materials, that bone is with the addition of a material that makes it harder than bone. Horn is made of keratin which is the same stuff that forms hair, claws and fingernails.
So any dust that you inhale over any period of time is cumulative as to it collection in the lungs and the impact on the reduction in the lung capacity gets greater.
It is called white lung, has the same effects as Black lung. Having a grand father that had black lung from being a coal miner in his youth. You don't even want to go there.
Any dust from using power tools or sanding that makes extremely fine dust. Will impact the lungs.



Are some of the better books on artist safety, The first two are used in college art courses.
The only other things I can add is look around at all the people one see walking around at wally world lugging either the oxy cylinders or the concentrators.
 
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