Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 02:01:48 pm

Title: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 02:01:48 pm
Can I bend deer antler with heat and clamp pressure?  I need to get some antler tips to bend enough to conform to the bow tips. They only need to bend about 1/8".
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Auggie on August 29, 2014, 02:21:09 pm
Hmmm,ive flattened, bent and shaped cow horn with just the heat gun,but im not sure if antler will. Maybe if its not too thick and use a little oil
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: koan on August 29, 2014, 02:37:05 pm
Pat, auggie and i gots a bunch of antler. We might have some that would suit your needs better... Brian
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Blaflair2 on August 29, 2014, 02:53:40 pm
I always just flatten it at an angle and glue er on
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 03:13:13 pm
I've got plenty of antler but thanks anyway Brian.  I generally just sand the tips flat and the overlays to match it but the tips on this bow have a curvature to them I want to match.  I'll just do a test run and see. 
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Blaflair2 on August 29, 2014, 03:23:19 pm
I do t blame ya. Neo has had luck with putting sandpaper on the tips and sanding the antler to match. Like using the tip as a sanding block for the antler.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 03:26:17 pm
I'll try that first, Bruce. We don't want your bow to be too undressed when she gets to you!  ;)
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Blaflair2 on August 29, 2014, 03:36:19 pm
I'm sure anything u make, makes what I make, look like a turd  O:)lol. Thanks again pat.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: osage outlaw on August 29, 2014, 03:41:16 pm
Pat, if you don't mind, keep us updated with what you try and the results.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 03:49:45 pm
To a dung beetle turds are good. I guess it's all in how you look at things.    ;)   Heck, without turds, Clint would be out of a job.  ;D
  Will do, Clint.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 06:43:57 pm
Well it didn't work too good. Maybe if I boiled them for a while they would bend easier but I'm going to just shape the mating surfaces with sand paper, get them matched up good and glue them down 
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: nclonghunter on August 29, 2014, 07:01:25 pm
I have heard of boiling them for a long,long time and they can be bent....
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: james parker on August 29, 2014, 07:19:25 pm
take the antler you intend to use ,lay it on its side on a table-top or work bench, any way lay it on its side , then take your bow tip-end lay on top of the antler and use a pencil to scribe the top surface of the bow tip for how ever long you want the tip overlays to be..then cut the excess off the bottom of the antler to the line and final sand to fit,, it should fit perfectly if you show the line after sanding..did any of this make sense? don't know how else to put it without showing you.. jp
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 08:15:04 pm
Yeah, basically tracing the bow tip on the side of the antler overlay then cut or sand to the line. Thanks James.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Blaflair2 on August 29, 2014, 08:49:06 pm
Did u try the sand paper method I mentioned?
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: JonW on August 29, 2014, 09:37:19 pm
Boiling will work fine. It doesn't take long either.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2014, 09:59:25 pm
Bruce, I did a little just to see. I'll give it a better effort tomorrow and if that doesn't work I'll boil them.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: Blaflair2 on August 29, 2014, 10:25:47 pm
Well I'm sure ull get we done. I'm gonna try spining some dowels for arrows lol. Well see.
Title: Re: heat bending antler
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 30, 2014, 12:36:17 am
To a dung beetle turds are good. I guess it's all in how you look at things.    ;)   Heck, without turds, Clint would be out of a job.  ;D
  Will do, Clint.

Just never play poker with him, the man just naturally draws a flush every hand.