Elk Antler bottle stoppers

[Doug B]

I'm always trying to figure out what to do with the Elk antlers that are too big to use for pens, so every once in a while I make some bottle stoppers. These 2 use the Ruth Niles stainless steel stoppers.

Bloodwood, Walnut, and black/white/black pick guard are the accents used on this one (first time I've tried pick guard on a stopper). I also put a burn line on this one between the Walnut and Bloodwood at the top.



Bloodwood, Walnut, and Boxelder Burl (with some pink in it) are the accents used on this one.



And here is a picture of the two of them together.

[boodrow]

Doug those look great , Ive never turned any antlers , I hear the stink whilst turnin. U should move those fast.
Boodrow

[sachbvn]

Very cool Doug - I've never had antler big enough for a BS.... nice - and the layered wood looks great!

Boodrow - I couldn't tell you what antler smells like cuz I also got my mask on. Supposedly that stuff is super bad for you to breath. ?? Who knows.


Zac

[Ruffnek]

Doug, that antler stopper with the round top may be the best one I've ever seen...IMHO of course. I really, really like it.

Boo,

Antler that is fully dry doesn't stink. It has an odor but it's not offensive. If it's not dry, it smells like hair burning when it's turned.

I've got some beam chunks of deer antler that might be big enough for a bottle stopper if you want to try it. They are really too big for pens.

[maverick31]

I like both of them. I have a small piece of elk antler but never thought of trying a bottle stopper. great job

[sdb777]

Very different, then again....you never seem to do the same thing!! I like the idea and the final product!!!!!





Scott (lots of ideas, just need an elk hunt) B

[Doug B]

Apr 2, 2010 4:22:17 GMT -6 boodrow said:

Doug those look great , Ive never turned any antlers , I hear the stink whilst turnin. U should move those fast.
Boodrow

Thanks Boodrow. The antlers don't stink so much while turning, but when I cut them on the Band Saw they stink a little, and if I cut them using the miter saw they really do stink. I think it is the speed of the miter saw blade that makes them smell worse when cutting with it.

They really do dull your turning tools though.

Also, I mostly use shed antlers which are going to be very dry and don't stink so bad. But even antlers I have used from harvested animals are not that stinky but they were not from recent kills. Maybe the ones that stink are from recent hunts.

[Doug B]

Apr 2, 2010 6:08:01 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

Very cool Doug - I've never had antler big enough for a BS.... nice - and the layered wood looks great!

Boodrow - I couldn't tell you what antler smells like cuz I also got my mask on. Supposedly that stuff is super bad for you to breath. ?? Who knows.

Zac

Thanks Zac! I have heard that about antler being bad for you too so I make sure I have good dust collection going when cutting and turning it, but I don't wear a mask or respirator for it though I probably should

[Doug B]

Apr 2, 2010 7:34:11 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

Doug, that antler stopper with the round top may be the best one I've ever seen...IMHO of course. I really, really like it.

Thanks Cody! That one was my favorite too, and LOML says it is the best antler stopper I've ever made - she really likes the Elk antler stoppers.

[Doug B]

Apr 2, 2010 7:35:32 GMT -6 maverick31 said:

I like both of them. I have a small piece of elk antler but never thought of trying a bottle stopper. great job

Thanks Mav! They are fun to make - I think you should try making a stopper out of that antler that is too big for a pen. FYI - it is easy to make Elk antler stoppers too tall in my opinion - I have decided that about 1.75" is about right when combined with the laminated wood accents.

[Doug B]

Apr 2, 2010 8:34:27 GMT -6 sdb777 said:

Very different, then again....you never seem to do the same thing!! I like the idea and the final product!!!!!

Scott (lots of ideas, just need an elk hunt) B

Thanks Scott! I seem to get the most enjoyment from trying new things.

I wish I could draw an Elk hunt too! Man it is getting hard to draw those tags these days. All of the Elk antlers I have used are from shed antlers - I have a cousin who lives in Elk country and I traded him a few antler pens for several Deer and Elk antlers. I hope he finds some more this year.

[Joe Lyddon]

Looks COOL!

Nice stopper...