Antler straightening ?

JDW

Well-Known Member
I have read on other forums and maybe on this one as well, about boiling deer antler and putting it in a vice to straighten it. My question is, how long after boiling it do you need to let it dry? It would seem like it would take along time to get it dry enough to use. Has anyone done this? And does it stay in the shape that you bend it to after it is dried? Been wanting to try this for sometime, and now I need to do it. I have a friend who wants some steak knives with antler handles, and all that we have are to curved.
Thanks in advance for any tips and help.
Dale
 
Jdw , this may be a better way of doing this. I use a bench vise and 3 - 1/2 bolts. Put 2 of the bolts in the jaws of the vise, and place the antler against it,make sure the bolts are on each end of the antler . Now place the last bolt on the opposite side of the antler in the middle . Tighten the vise so that there is slight pressure against the bone. Now take a heat gun and gently heat the antler, continue until just slightly past being straight. Let them cool and leave it in the vise until completly cool. Remove and check them . This is the way i do this , and you do not have to boil them . Hope this will help you ,Scott
 
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