preserving shed antlers

[willymc]

About 3 - 4 years ago I found a pair of elk sheds.  I'm finally getting around to trying to mount them.  I brought them out of the garage and into the sunlight.  I noticed a number of small hairline cracks in them.  Is there something I can put on them to keep these cracks small and to prevent further cracking?  Also, they have gotten pretty dusty in the garage.  Can I safely wash them and with what?

[buckmaster14]

Wash them off with a wet rag... it will clean the dust off..

  Not sure about the cracking, but i have heard of people putting a sealent (spellin?) on them.... but I don't know how well it works.

[willymc]

Thanks for the reply.  Was hoping for a bit more info.  Maybe I should have posted my question in the Beginners section.

[Rael]

Hi Willy

I have had good luck with using Mod-Podge on the antlers.  I cover the entire antler with a couple coats of mod-podge and allow it to fill the cracks and seal them.  I then use the airbrush to paint the entire rack a uniform color and then stain and paint to get the required rack color.  I have only done this with weathered deer antlers but would assume it would work equally as well with any antler.

[buckslayer]

the cracks wont get any bigger so you dont have to worry about them

[willymc]

Thanks much for the input!