Staining Horns

[EXODUS]

i have a few sets of horns from the 90's that are light colored i want to get them darker.

so all you taxidermists out there could you share some of your tricks on that any info would be greatly appreciated

[SunDevil]

last year someone on here suggested Minwax Golden Oak wood stain.

[Critter]

I used to stain antlers and wont ever do it again. The best way to duplicate real brown antler is using mud in my opinion. (If you think about it what makes an antler brown? deer/elk rub their antlers into dirt/trees/mud/etc.. this gives them much of their color) And I've now used mud on probably over 30 antlers. I learned the technique from another post on this forum... if you search for it you'll find it.

 

Get a bucket of black dirt and mix water and make some mud. Rub the mud all over the antlers going a little light with mud on the tips if you want the tips whiter. Wet mud and muddy water massaged into the antler is the key. Let that sit for a day or two then take a wire brush and brush off all the clumps of mud. Then repeat, massage mud and muddy water into the antler again and let sit til it dries out. Usually two times is enough if your thorough.

 

After doing this a few times the last step is key. Now they look brown like mud, sort of a dull mud color but still not natural. Make sure you get all the clumps and mud texture wire brushed off. Get yourself a pint of Tung Oil from home depot or Lowes. Use a cotton rag or old t shirt and rub some tung oil into the antler all over and it will give it that darkened fresh brown antler look. Go heavier with the tung oil at the bases of the antler and lighter on the tips. Let that oil melt in for ahwile and if still not dark enough rub some more tung oil into the antler all over or in spots that need it. dont pour oil over it, rather rub it in with cloth which is important.

 

It's a dirty process but turns out the best in terms of looking real. white tail deer antlers are a little tougher because they dont have the same texture as elk/mule deer antlers. WT are smoother so the mud doesnt get into the grooves as well but they still turn out nice. I've done elk antlers that were completely white for myself and others that now look like fresh brown sheds. I can post pics if you want to see what the result looks like. Many taxidermists will try to stain your antlers and you get them back way too dark and sometimes even black.... stain can work if used properly but you get a glossy look to it also. Mud gives that natural look and the tung oil just gives it a little gloss.

 

Good Luck.

[JLW]

I used to stain antlers and wont ever do it again. The best way to duplicate real brown antler is using mud in my opinion. (If you think about it what makes an antler brown? deer/elk rub their antlers into dirt/trees/mud/etc.. this gives them much of their color) And I've now used mud on probably over 30 antlers. I learned the technique from another post on this forum... if you search for it you'll find it.

 

Get a bucket of black dirt and mix water and make some mud. Rub the mud all over the antlers going a little light with mud on the tips if you want the tips whiter. Wet mud and muddy water massaged into the antler is the key. Let that sit for a day or two then take a wire brush and brush off all the clumps of mud. Then repeat, massage mud and muddy water into the antler again and let sit til it dries out. Usually two times is enough if your thorough.

 

After doing this a few times the last step is key. Now they look brown like mud, sort of a dull mud color but still not natural. Make sure you get all the clumps and mud texture wire brushed off. Get yourself a pint of Tung Oil from home depot or Lowes. Use a cotton rag or old t shirt and rub some tung oil into the antler all over and it will give it that darkened fresh brown antler look. Go heavier with the tung oil at the bases of the antler and lighter on the tips. Let that oil melt in for ahwile and if still not dark enough rub some more tung oil into the antler all over or in spots that need it. dont pour oil over it, rather rub it in with cloth which is important.

 

It's a dirty process but turns out the best in terms of looking real. white tail deer antlers are a little tougher because they dont have the same texture as elk/mule deer antlers. WT are smoother so the mud doesnt get into the grooves as well but they still turn out nice. I've done elk antlers that were completely white for myself and others that now look like fresh brown sheds. I can post pics if you want to see what the result looks like. Many taxidermists will try to stain your antlers and you get them back way too dark and sometimes even black.... stain can work if used properly but you get a glossy look to it also. Mud gives that natural look and the tung oil just gives it a little gloss.

 

Good Luck.

post em up!

we love to look at that kind of stuff!

I have a couple pair of coues sheds that I'm gonna try that on.

Have you use like the red clay type mud??? like from around stoneman lake or is the black mud the the it factor?

I thought it may give the antlers that manzanita rubbed look???

I saw the original post but haven't got around to it yet.......

Thanks for laying out the details

 

James

[apomeroy]

My bf put straight walnut on a very important set of antlers. I was able to brush some off with a wire brush. Is there anything I can do to remove some of the darkness?

[apomeroy]

They are 40-50 yrs old, chalky and soaked the stain up. He should have diluted it too.