Repairing antlers, tines, and staining..

[donelan07]

I have a large amount of questions about fixing antlers. I shot a deer with a very busted up rack and drilled a hole in the middle of the beam. I then used 5 min epoxy to glue in a piece of 14 guage wire. I used fix it sculpt for the browtine and it worked very well. I then used apoxie sculpt for the broken main beam but it never got hard even after months.

Do you have to apply apoxie sculpt in layers?
Can you use water to smooth out apoxie sculpt as you are forming the horn?
I was also going to build a rack from scratch and was wondering if anyone uses a filler before using apoxie scult? fiberglass, bondo, critter clay?

I am also wondering what a good method of staining deer horns is. I have read alot of different ways. I have used saddle stain with some success in the past but it doesn't seem to stain natural color apoxie sculpt.
Minwax, Potassium P..., paints,???

Is there any magazines or videos out there on antler repair? Thanks for any help I am just wanting to work on some taxidermy on my summer break from college.

[Ravenson]

I can answer the first question.  No you do not have to apply apoxie sculpt in layers.  Make sure you mix it very well at the lest you should mix for two min. For larger amounts you are going to mix five or more in my experience.   Yes you can use water to smooth it out and as far as a filer or armature to put it over you can us just about anything.
   As for the rest of you questions  You might want to check out some of the antler repairing/staining tutorials  I know they have covered this I just can not remember it all right now LOL.

hope this helps
Jeff

[Uncle Harley]

when mixing apoxie sculpt in large batches I  mix several small batches and then combine them  and if you dunk the epoxie in water it will mix easier.  As far as staining, I haven't found one yet that will stain it the same as bone, so use paint, ALOT of coverage on this subject in the teutorial section. 

[JJPTAX]

i have had good luck with antler sculpt, white apoxie sculpt, or cream apoxie sculpt. it depends on the color of the origional antler you are trying to match. i use laquer paints and dirt to help me in the coloring.

hope this helps,
jerod