Displaying antlers, a question

Stuttgart

Hi gents,

Unusual one. I have been trying to track down nice antlers to mount as a present for my father and I reckon I have found the right ones. I picked them up today and, given they looked fairly filthy, I gave them a good clean this afternoon (just water and a brush, no chemicals). After that, they are looking fairly white and I wonder have I made a mistake in cleaning them to the extent I have, as the darker antler body with the white tip (worn clean from scratching, I presume) looks great to my eye. Would it be unusual to display antlers that were fully cleaned, or is there a means of darkening the body of the antlers (not the tips) to look more "natural". As you can tell, this isn't an area I'm familiar with, so go easy on me! Thanks.

landkeeper

brown boot polish does the job well, stay away from the points

Stuttgart

Thanks, landkeeper. Will that wash off again if it doesn't turn up right?

moby30

I have some sort of chemical I was given to darken a set I got mounted. They were snow white when I eventually got them mounted and the taxidermist gave it to me as they needed to be treated a few times. I will find out the name but Im sure someone here would know it. It is purple when you put it on but dries a natural brown colour.

Stuttgart

That would be great, Moby. So, would I be right in thinking that they would look a bit odd if displayed in their current white-ish state?

sikastag

AFAIK the chemical moby is talking about is Potassium Permanganate.
Paint it on with a brush in coats to your desired colour tone.
I have a 'white-set' ive been meaning to do for the longest time.
I got some advice here before about it and pot-perm seemed to do a good job.

I'll see if i can dig thread out.

Sika

moby30

Thats the very stuff Sikastag, probably not the easiest stuff to get your hands on either but does a great job.

sikastag

Here is the link,

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055918206

Sorry, I havent specific post but its not a huge thread. Poster named Shank done a nice job as far as I can remember. Think he posted pics too.

sikastag

moby30 wrote: »

Thats the very stuff Sikastag, probably not the easiest stuff to get your hands on either but does a great job.

I think it can be got in the chemists/pharmacy. I think.

As said, Ive a set ive been meaning to do for the longest time.
Never made it to the pharmacy to ask for it yet.....

Stuttgart

Cheers, lads. Potassium permanganate sounds like the right stuff for the job. Any advice of how dilute it should be? Will ask for it in my local chemist today.

moby30

To be honest unless the stuff I got was already diluted I just put it straight on. I would do it outdoors aswell as its pretty potent stuff. The advice i was given was to have the antlers pointing down when applying and not to be afraid to put a generous amount onto them until dry then with a very fine wet and dry sand paper rub the points down.

Stuttgart

Thanks again for the help, lads.

I've rang my chemist and they can have it for me tomorrow. Six or seven euro for 500g, that'll do. Would anyone be able to give me any sort of guide as to what chemical/water ratio to use?

Also, Moby, I gather from what you just said that you treated the entire antlers with the solution, then sanded back the tips? That makes more sense than my initial presumption of trying to delicately taper the solution as I got towards the tips for the desired effect! :-)

Finally, would you advise using any varnish after the desired colouration is acheived, considering that this mount will be displayed outdoors (unusual, I know)?

moby30

I really dont think you have to dilute it but I cannot say 100%. try a small piece on the back of the antlers and see.I had to put about three coats on but they really were "snow white" before hand. I wouldnt personally use a varnish on it as it will look unatural and all that might happen is they might fade slightly but if you've got 500 ml of the stuff you will never have to worry about running out. Ill stick up a few photos tomorrow which might help.

Stuttgart

Moby,
I am getting 500g of the crystallized potassium permanganate, rather than a dilute solution. I read on different websites that it should be mixed in a "half a teaspoon of pp to half a cup of water" and "half a teaspoon of pp and 1.5 cups of water", so I might go with half a teaspoon to one cup. Luckily, I managed to pick up a throwaway pair of small antlers this afternoon that I can experiment with.

I've also read about linseed oil finishes, but they might look a bit glossy to be natural?

Any pictures would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Deerspotter

The only advice I can offer is as per the previous thread.
Be careful with the potasium-pro. It is very corrosive and will stain anything it touches permanently. Add only a tiny amount of the crytals to a glass of water and then with a small paint-brush - paint on the antler any where you want to be brown. It will look purple till it dries. Then paint on some more in areas that then need to be darker. It does a great job and looks brilliant and totally natural if done well. Best of luck and put up a before and after photo of it after your done.

Deerspotter

Stuttgart wrote: »

Moby,
I am getting 500g of the crystallized potassium permanganate, rather than a dilute solution. I read on different websites that it should be mixed in a "half a teaspoon of pp to half a cup of water" and "half a teaspoon of pp and 1.5 cups of water", so I might go with half a teaspoon to one cup. Luckily, I managed to pick up a throwaway pair of small antlers this afternoon that I can experiment with.

I've also read about linseed oil finishes, but they might look a bit glossy to be natural?

Any pictures would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Linseed oil does a nice job and it is not shiny. If the PP is anything like what I have used, you will be sanding all day to get the tips back again.
Just go gentle with the brush near the tips and then stop when you reach the desired spot. This is not stuff you can play with all day, you've one shot at it.
DON'T use masking tape on the tips. Just trust me.

Stuttgart

Many thanks, Deerspotter. I will take a few pictures and will post the results.

Stuttgart

Gents,
Thanks again for all your help. I've had a mad busy week, but have been coming and going from the antlers, applying a total of four coats of potassium promanganate to them. As you can see from the pictures, what I started with was very light coloured. I am happy with the colour of the main antler, but have yet to put the finishing touches on the tips.

Feedback on how they look would be much appreciated, as I have next to no experience of antlers and how they should look, so please by all means tell me I've done a horrendous job and should start again if that is what you think. Should I stain a bit higher up the tines, or are they looking OK? Thanks again for the help.

Stuttgart

Don't think my pictures attached correctly. Hopefully they will this time:

Vegeta

Stuttgart wrote: »

Should I stain a bit higher up the tines, or are they looking OK? Thanks again for the help.

I'd go a little higher up alright yeah but that is a great improvement from what you started with. Nice work

landkeeper

how are you going to mount them, they look to have had the pedicles sawn off

Deerspotter

You're doing a great job. A little higher on the tines and a little darker around the base and job done, I'd say.

Stuttgart

Thanks for the words of encouragment, gents. I'll go back to work on them later today.

Landkeeper,
It is an unusual situation/mount, but I will reveal all once they are safely mounted etc...

J.R.

These may give you an idea of what finish can look like (photos from web)

moby30

Great job Stuttgart- well done. As the Lads said just go a little higher up the tines. Nice pic aswell JR.

Stuttgart

I went to work on them again yesterday and I think I'm close enough to being done. What do you think?

landkeeper

looks good now

sikastag

Good job stuttgart. Must get of my laurels and get to work on mine!

J.R.

Stuttgart wrote: »

I went to work on them again yesterday and I think I'm close enough to being done. What do you think?

They look very good - well done!

Deerspotter

Stuttgart wrote: »

I went to work on them again yesterday and I think I'm close enough to being done. What do you think?

Spot on. Good job.