How to Carve Antlers

Carving antlers can be a very good hobby and can earn you a lot of money as well. If you want to start this hobby or maybe get into the business of carved antlers, you need to know a few things that will help you before you get started.

A Few Things You Need to Know

• You also have to understand that the antlers you will be using are not taken from live deer or moose, but you have to find the ones that they have already shed. If you’re doing this as a hobby, you might find it even an enjoying task to look for shed antlers in nearby woods. You can also find some small suppliers out there where you can buy from if you do not have time to go on a shed antler hunt. Remember, use shed antlers; do not harm the animals.
• If you have no background about carving yet, it is best for you to get a good book that will teach you the standard procedure in carving or sculpture. If you are a sculptor or a carver already and is interested to use antlers as a new medium, you should be already fairly equipped to start carving antlers.
• You should choose which type of antler you want to work on. Moose antlers provide wider areas for carving, while deer antlers have cylindrical shapes. It really depends on what kind of design and result you want to achieve. If you don’t want to waste your antlers, you can practice some carving on soft wood first.
• Before starting on your new project, do try to acquire the most basic antler carving tools as these will help you greatly to get good results as a beginner. It is always good to do things the proper or standard way. It is when you get more experience and have warmed up to the hobby that you can start to do some experimentation. Remember, do things by the book first before going on “adventures.”

The basic tools needed in antler carving are:

• Power tools like high speed grinder like Dremel
• Dust collector
• Protective clothing, dust mask
• Cutter package
• Carving knives
• Chisels
• Files
• Pencils

Basic Steps of Carving Antlers

Remember, you have to be very interested in the hobby as the process is very detailed and time consuming.

1. First is preparing the antler. You have to decide what position the antler will have as a finished result. Will it be lying prone, upright, or slanting? One of the best ways to help you decide on this is to base it on the design that you have. For example, if you plan to carve out a panoramic landscape, then it is best to have the antler in a horizontal position.
2. Next, imprint your design on the antler. You have to visualize the design and maybe use a pencil to do a sketch. A good idea would be to work with the grooves of the antler using them as an advantage to get the 3-d effect you want. For example, if you are making a small face of a lion or bear, you can probably look for some round, protruding spot on the antler where you can carve the lion or bear face on.
3. After doing the sketch, draw the design using your power tools and carving knives. Remember that once you cut out a piece of the antler, you cannot put it back again, so be very gentle and accurate when carving. Here’s a tip: It is best to take out the bigger chunks first before working on the details. As a beginner, start with simpler designs.
4. After you’ve finished drawing out your design, do the final touches. If you are going for a smooth effect, sand the areas that need sanding and then polish the carved antler. You can finally seal it with acrylic coating.