Turning antler and horn

[Kermit]

Never done it. Don't own a metal lathe. DO have woodturning stuff galore.

How do you do this? Scrapers? Skews? Other? Fugedaboutit?

[Bigsmoke]

Antler does have a distinct aroma about it.  heh, heh, heh.  It isn't all that bad, but...
I have turned antler on a metal lathe and it came out pretty good.  Just keep your cutting speeds slow and it won't burn.

Horn isn't too bad at all, although some faint hearted folks might object.  To me, it smells like money.  I have turned horn on both metal and wood lathes.  Use your chisels just like you were turning hard wood.  Slowest speed is a good thing.

[BEAVERMAN]

and friggn sharp tools!!!!!!!!!! did I say sharp? I mean scary sharp and keep the rest as close to the work as possible!

[Three Hawks]

And the whole dang shooting match out in the yard.  Someone else's yard.  Three blocks over.

You guys have all got my respect.  Unless you just have no sense of smell.  

Three Hawks

[Uncle Russ]

And the whole dang shooting match out in the yard.  Someone else's yard.  Three blocks over.

You guys have all got my respect.  Unless you just have no sense of smell.  

Three Hawks

Speaking for myself,  I'll have to second that notion....that is one stink I simply can not handle for any length of time.

The very few times I do work on a horn, I thank God for Jerry Fisher scraping tools.

Like Three Hawks said, you guys that do use electric tools on horn and antler have my deepest respect.
 
Uncle Russ...

[Gambia]

Well, first thing, Bigsmoke, like all us horners have any smell factor in your nose burnt out completely. Thus the quote, "It don't smell that bad"  :shock:

[Kermit]

Okay. Outside. With a gale at my back. And really looooong arms and binoculars. And I'll wear my Aircap. That do it?

Oh. And someone said sharp tools. Are there any other kind?

Griz--do you use a live center in the tailstock with that setup, or just let it fly???

[BEAVERMAN]

Use the tail stock to rough it out, then switch to your 4jaw chuck to do the detail stuff

[Bigsmoke]

Regarding the aroma of antler and horn.  

It is my thought that as long as the dust cannot invade your nose, the aroma will not either.  Hence a good dust filter is required.
For health keeping reasons, anytime you are working with horn or antler, you should protect your lungs.

I always wear a good dust filter while I am in the shop, regardless of what I am doing.  When I turn on the power sanders, I also put on an Air Stream dust helmet which not only features a clear face shield, it also distributes a positive atmosphere of filtered air in front of my face.

So, I really do not smell anything while I am working, and I work in a rather small, enclosed space.

You really do not want any horn dust or antler dust to get into your lungs - it causes some not pleasant results.

[huntinguy]

I've done it in a small wood lathe.  Won't ever do it again without a gun to my head and even then I'll have to think about it.

The stench is un=****-ing=believable.  

I can and have cleaned a deer while eating a candy bar.  It was a Snickers.   The candy bar was a Snickers,  the deer was a Coast Blacktail doe, a dead one.

Your mileage may vary.

Not easily sickened, cast iron gut ol'

Three Hawks

I didn't know coastal blacktail doe's had horns???  :lol:

[Uncle Russ]

I believe he was talking about "cleaning" that Blacktail doe while eating a Snickers.
However, on the other hand, a doe with horns is not unheard of.

"Growth depends on nutrition and heredity. Antlers can also be found on female deer. Normally the doe has spikes that remain in velvet. The spiked doe remains fertile and can produce young. This occurs in one to every 20 thousand deer. In the Maryland deer kill, only two or three antlered doe are reported each year."
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/antlers.asp
 

Uncle Russ...

[R.M.]

Is that kinda like the missus having chin-whiskers??  

[Gambia]

?Griz--do you use a live center in the tailstock with that setup, or just let it fly???

Kermit. I keep the live center on the peice while I am turning, It helps stabilize it. When I am just about done I take it off and carefully turn the end to take away the dimple it made. It can sometimes be sanded off also.
Good advice from Bigsmoke, I have never gotten into wearing any kind of mask, I just can't stand the dang things and they steam my glasses up. I may be sorry someday, So if you can, train yourself to wear one from the start. If you need any more help, Just let me know.

[Bigsmoke]

A few years ago, I decided I wanted a new range rod with a horn handle.  I had a horn tip similar to the one shown and mounted it between centers on a wood lathe and roughed out the shape, then mounted it on my metal lathe and finished it and then made up the brass ends, then mounted the handle onto the brass rod. I thought it came out pretty nice.  Of course, it looked better new than it does now, many shots and shoots later.

[BEAVERMAN]

Smoke, I actually like the way it looks now, well done!