I color ALL my antler with a propane torch. I usually shade the front, back, top edge etc. with flame. You actually burn for color. Afterwards I take to a cloth buff fixed to a drill and bring up (fast) to as much shine as I wish. It can polish so well as to appear dipped in glass. I also use this techique all the time on wood also, in so many variations I could write a book. Try color shading arrows aldo...I do. John Cianfarani Jr. [email protected]
Try a buffing compound called "brown tripoli" or sometimes just plain "tripoli" on your antlers. It's a type of bone polish and I've seen it at Sears and Lowes here in Ohio. It works great on untreated antler, but when applied to an area that has been finely sanded such as a carving, you can see your reflection in it! Try it you'll like it. Don Roberts--Ohio [email protected]
Good advice, Don. And along the same line... If your muslin buff has been used for polishing metal, it will carry fine metalic dust (black smudge) onto the antler, causing the little grain cracks to discolor. To avoid that, use a clean buff and reserve it for use only on non metalic materials. You can buy a type of tripoli called "White Diamond" that is white and will not discolor the antler. Tripoli is great stuff on antler, bone, plastic, even your scratched plastic watch crystals! But be careful not to overheat the plastics. Speaking of heat... a tripoli charged buff will heat up a bone or antler piece to the point of scorching it. Nice colors can be achieved by carefully watching how much heat is generated. Carl Bussell [email protected]
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Knappers Anonymous was prepared by Tim Rast and is being updated by Mike Melbourne