Deer Antler Tips

[bigcountry]

I was playing around tonight with the scroll saw and some deer antlers.  Trying to figure out if one can use them to make tips and file in nocks.  They are pourous in the middle.  

Is deer antler a good material for bow tip overlays?  Mostly what i see people do is just use a slice and then put something else over it.  I figured if I filed down too much, I would hit the pourous inside.

[horatio1226]

I think that most people put something under it. I am working on some now that are elk antler over purpleheart. I can file my string nock right through the antler so that the purpleheart shows,
Brian

[tradrick]

I'll try posting a few pics of some deer antler overlays that I done on a osage selfbow.
 

[tradrick]

one more
 

[tippit]

If you apply thin CA glue to the porous area, it impregnates it.  Thus making it very hard.  It can be polished up like marble after words...Doc

[bigcountry]

Thanks guys.  I didn't know if it was used alot because of the pourous section.  I see most use horn or hoof.  Tradrick, thats for the pics.  Looks like it came out nice.

[Dave2old]

At least with elk antler, and I'd think larger deer antler, the tine tips and exterior of the antlers is solid with no porosity. The outside is what you want anyhow, due to the beauty of the "grain" there. Even then, antler is relatively soft, but certainly no softer than osage. I finish my bows with spray-on spar-urethane and this seems to seal and harden the tips sufficiently. It's worth the effort! dave

[Flinttim]

I'm just finishing up an elb with deer antler nocks. Most  of the porous part of the antler went away when I drilled the tapered hole. But I do intend to use super glue down in the string grooves. If you are using B50 on the bow I doubt it would matter anyway.

[dragon slayer]

my friend Arnold (v archery) maid me a great bow with horn tips looks bloody brilliant, shoots nice too
 
 

[Walt Francis]

I saturate all of my tip overlays with super glue, especially when using horn or antler.  Like Jeff said, it strengthens them and polishes up real nice.  Also, I have found that a thin coat of super glue allows my finish to adhere better.