Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: remington300mag on January 14, 2009, 10:20:30 AM

Title: C
Post by: remington300mag on January 14, 2009, 10:20:30 AM: S
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: wastickslinger on January 14, 2009, 09:49:49 PM: I use shoe polish and then rub them in the dirt. Not professional by any means but it helps.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 14, 2009, 11:53:10 PM: I use Min-Wax stain. I use a veriety of colors depending on the species.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: bow-n-head on January 19, 2009, 05:30:07 PM: I use Watco dark finishing wax. Depending on how dark you want them. I either rub it on with a paper towel for a lighter brown, or really slop it on with a paint brush for darker horns. Then I go over them lightly with a piece of sandpaper to bring out some highlights. Be careful with badly weatherchecked antlers they will soak up to much and turn almost black. But I expect that would happen with any type of liquid coloring on rough antlers. With these type I first sand them then seal them with a clear finishing wax then use the dark.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: PolarBear on January 19, 2009, 05:42:49 PM: I use saddle stain mixed with dirt. I am doing a set this weekend and will take pics of the process.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: bucklucky on January 19, 2009, 05:49:50 PM: For quick jobs I use stain, usually a dark or black walnut for elk. But for mounts I use either oil paints or sometimes antler stain from research for elk.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: alanger on January 31, 2009, 02:20:39 PM: i tried shoe polish and rubbed them in the dirt and it just looked like a muddy antler.

waht did i do wrong??
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 31, 2009, 09:34:15 PM: Use what the deer and elk use: Blood, tree barck/pitch and dirt. It's free and easy.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: huntnphool on February 01, 2009, 03:42:18 PM: Quote from: Elkstuffer on January 31, 2009, 09:34:15 PM
Use what the deer and elk use: Blood, tree barck/pitch and dirt. It's free and easy.

Its worked for me :twocents:
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: alanger on February 03, 2009, 03:45:11 PM: i will go try it.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on February 09, 2009, 05:44:01 PM: Looking Good everyone! It's always interesting to see what other folks do!

I've posted these pictures before so forgive me for reposting them..........................................

I've tried a variety of ways to color antlers and I'm and certainly no expert. What I've had the best luck with is KIWI Brown shoe Polish. I have a few steps that I use in the process..... but basically I wipe the antlers down with solvent, allow them to completely dry, I warm them up a bit, and then rub on several coats of shoe Polish to get the right color. Sometimes I end up starting over with solvent and repeating the process several times.

I have tried to use a few products from the taxidermy suppliers and I personally haven't been very successful or happy with the results. For example, McKenzie Taxidermy Supply has an antler stain product that comes in chocolate brown or reddish brown. I haven't particularly liked either one. It takes several coats to obtain what you want. I can never get it where I want it. Another thing I don't like is that it's an alcohol based product which means if for some reason you get water on your antlers, that the stain can wipe off or be damaged.

There is another product that requires you to paint the antlers with white latex paint first and then start building up the stain with successive coats over the top of that paint. I personally never liked painting my antlers.

Once I get the color I want using the "Shoe Polish" method, I have an antler conditioner I use over the top which is also what I treat all my antlers with a couple of times a year.

The sheds in my photos below were found bleached on the weather exposed sides but still retained the natural brown color on the under sides which helped as a guide to match the colors. In the photos below, the stained antlers are after just the first coat of shoe polish.
Title: Re: Coloring Antlers
Post by: huntnphool on February 09, 2009, 05:49:51 PM: Nice job HC, that looks natural :tup: