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I acquired a set of elk antlers that had the skull plate cut for shipping. It was cut into three pieces. (The two sides and a ‘V” notch) I never held a set of elk antlers and did not realize how much those suckers weigh! What would you recommend to put them back together so they will be strong enough to attach to a form without worrying about them breaking apart later?
Vic
It may not look like it in the photo but these pieces do fit together. I have put antlers up to the size of mule deer together with super glue successfully but they sure don’t weigh like these do and I don’t think there is enough grip to hold it.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Vic
April 7, 2013
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Yep, Fiberglass resin and fiberglass matt.
If you want to help hold them in place before you glass them, drill paired sets of holes on each side of the cut in several places, maybe 3/4″ between the two so you have decent amount of bone between the hole and the cut. Use annealed wire #11 would be a good size. Cut pieces long enough to bend it into a flat bottomed U with legs a couple inches long, flat bottom the same width as the distance between the holes. Put them in from the top then use good heavy pliers and twist the wires together in the brain cavity, it will pull the skull plate together and line it up perfect.
Used to do a lot of caribou that way and then just set them in bondo on the form, then two screws in each side and they held fine, but they were only two instead of three pieces and not as heavy as a big elk.
September 26, 2011
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We normally lag bolt them in place with stainless steel bolts. You may want to first bolt them in place and then glass them.
As D was saying, if you had to make one or both of them detachable, you could just use one of the detachable antler kits like McKenzie sells. They do run around $75, but they are heavy duty.
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June 3, 2013
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You can also put a screw up into the pedicle base from the bottom side and use bondo to attach them back together and this will make an anchor for the bondo to hold to.
July 22, 2011
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Keith Daniels said
Why do you dread detach D? How do you do it?
I just use the square channel and stock, drill my holes from the brain cavity before cutting the antlers off and anchor the stock pins into the antlers with casting plastic. Do the same with the channel into the pedicles, mark the burrs and pedicles with a sharpie and then cut as close as I can up to the burr.
You know any secrets?
DP
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I never used fiberglass but there is a first time for everything. I would imagine they should sell a fiberglass kit at most auto parts stores? Never really had a reason to investigate this. We will see how it goes!
Vic
I think you are doing it the same way, you are putting the tube in before you cut the antler off so you are cutting through them both at the same time, correct?
April 7, 2013
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pir^2h said
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I never used fiberglass but there is a first time for everything. I would imagine they should sell a fiberglass kit at most auto parts stores? Never really had a reason to investigate this. We will see how it goes!Vic
Easy peasy. I’m sure you can buy a kit or you can purchase the fiberglass resin, hardener and fiberglass mat. They come with instructions.
I assumed you did it that way D, but you’d be surprised (well maybe not), how many cut the antler off first then bondo the tube in and try to hold it in place until it kicks!
Try just using bondo but get a small can of fiberglass resin and add enough to the bondo that it’s thin enough to pour easily.
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