Scroll sawing antler

[garryatpa]

Quite a few years ago I used my scroll saw to saw antler using the same blades I use for wood.  I cut maybe a dozen pieces.   I found antler to have a strong smell and  dust is very fine so you need a mask, air filter, and exhaust fans to to protect yourself. I first cut the deer antler into slices about an 1/8 inch thick and at an angle of 45 degrees to the line of the antler. I ended up with pieces about 2 to 4 inches long by 1 1/2 to 3 inches wide oval shaped. These were sawn from the lower area of the antler next to the head where the centre part is more solid material and the  resulting piece is big enough for the pattern.  The centre in other areas is quite porous and does not hold together well.  I recently acquired some antler and am looking at sawing it.  The Judy Gale Roberts pattern of the Great Blue Heron caught my eye as perfect for this.  I plan on reducing the size of the pattern to approximately 1 1/2 x 1 inch (centre part of pattern).  I will then glue the cutout to a black backing and frame in a shadowbox frame .  Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures uploaded as I go through the process.   Will be using a Hegner 22 variable speed saw that I have used for the last 30+ years (bought new in 1993).  I would be interested in comments, suggestions, etc from those who have sawn antler , or not.

 

Garry 

[Dan]

Welcome to the Village, Garry! 

If you have pictures of what you did in the past I'd love to see them. I've turned a lot of antlers so I know what you mean by the smell. But I've never scrolled them.

[Scrappile]

Welcome to the forum.  I am anxious to see some of your antler scrolling.  I have done one, this is from many years ago.  I have turned a lot of antler on the lathe to make pens.  It does have a smell.   Sorta reminds me of burning hair.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Scrappile

[TAIrving]

Sounds interesting Garry.  Please do post pictures as you go.  

[garryatpa]

Sorry for the clarity of the pics as they are taken from 35mm prints that were a little fuzzy. 

The eagle pattern is from Southwest Scroll Saw Patterns by Patrick Spielman and Dan Kihl 1994.  The canoe scene is from a leather tooling book by Stohlman.  

The top two photos are sawn from slices of birch at the original size of the patterns ( about 8 x 5)  while the bottom two are sawn from slices of deer antler; the same patterns reduced to about 1 1/2 x 1 inch.  The canoe scene in birch is finished with satin waterbase varathane; the eagle is also finished with varathane but in I believe an oil base which changes the color of the wood. These were sawn probably 20+ years ago.  The shadowbox frames are painted first with a black stain, then sprayed with speckle stone paint.   

Will add some more pics as I get started on the Heron.

 

 

Garry 

 

 

[Scrappile]

Impressive!  That is some tiny scrolling.  Well done.  The smallest piece I have scrolled was 3"X 5".  It was in basswood.