How to preserve antler color

[4fletch]

What type of oil can I use to retain the natural color on antlers thanks for the fyi

[huntnphool]

 Are you looking to preserve the natural color, or add color to bleached antlers?

 To preserve them, just keep them out of the weather and sun.

[huntnfmly]

If you want to add I have used oil paints that come in a tube and apply it with a rag
Turned out really good they were about 50 yr old elk antlers my great grandma gave me

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Brown shoe polish and a rag.

[MIKEXRAY]

I brought some deer antlers in from years out on the front of the shed , cleaned off the green and used Old English scratch cover in Walnut . Two light coats.  They look like the day I shot it for the last year.

Mine was more of a repair obviously than a preservation.  Good luck. 

[4fletch]

I saw a thread some one else started so I wanted for him and myself what is recommended for both retain ing color and bleached for those that needed info . I appreciate the feed back  thankyou

[MtnMuley]

I would never use an oil or stain. Gather some dirts of your choice for color and some natural clay. Mix with water really well and apply to the horns and really work it in. Repeat until you get the color you want. When you're finished let your mixture sit out and settle and dry. Reuse it at a later date. Polishing with ceanothus leaves shines em up and will be the most time consuming part.

[paguy]

To retain the natural color of antlers that are kept indoors, A light coat of mop and glow will seal and protect the color without making them shiny. It's an old taxidermy trick. We used to shoot a light coat on with an air brush. For old bleached antlers we would use the desired color shoe shine that came in a plastic bottle with a sponge applicator.