I have a half dozen Wisconsin harvested bucks that I would like to make an antler lamp with. I have looked at the archives and can't seem to find information. The article in Breakthrough was never printed. Need to know how to hide the wire. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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most lamp cords are run through a hollow brass tube, which the fixture is attached.
the base has a hole in the center bottom and a horizontal hole out the back of the base or just out the center and rubber feet lift it enough the cord can be worked out the back. or you could depending on if you didn't want a base at all run the tube short and weave the cord through the back side.
I've never seen a lamp as you describe, but some of the scroll saw catalogs have the parts, but so does the hardware store.
Some artifical leaves worked in between the base and horns would look natural and hide the brass tube.
Did you check the novelty supplies in the WASCO and Van Dykes catalogs? or do a search on the web?
Hope this helps, and the project works.
First, you lay out your antlers to the design you intend. Mark the contact points with a heavy lead pencil. These are your glue joints to hold the entire assembly together. Once established, figure where your fixtures are going to be set and mark them. You will need a LONG thin bit and my best guess is that a homemade drill made out of 6 gage wire, spaded, and sharpened, would work better in following the corky interior of the antler core better than a hardened machine bit. Either way, holes must be drilled and WHEN they blow out the sides, you have to start a new hole at that exact point to continue the drilling. Once you've drilled and possibley Dremeled out the antler, you run fine wire (available at Radio Shack and electrical supplies sections in most hardware supply stores) up to the connection for your fixtures. When all your wiring is completed, you patch your blowout holes with epoxy putty (I recommend the Epo-Grip Antler Repair as it dries to a natural color that can be stained and it hardens in less than 10 minutes). Then you align your antlers as you laid them out and epoxy the attach points together. Any misaligned areas or imperfections can be filled with the Antler repair and textured so as not to be noticeable on your lamp.
You need to use either all lefts or all rights to create it.
Besides that if you did check try the search I did write about it a long time ago.
I make a lot of lights and chandeliers, I use a 3/8" flat wood bit to drill the antlers, when the antler turns I blow out and go from that hole until the antler bends again. Once you get over the fear of making holes in the sides of the antlers, it goes pretty fast. However, I would not trust epoxy to connect your antlers , I drill pilot holes where they connect and counter sink the outsihe antler and use a drywall screw to attatch the 2 antlers being carefull not to go through a wire channel.Then wire up your light and fill all holes and screw heads, with any 2 part filler, I use All Game , be sure to follow detail on antler, lines and grooves , then I use borax to texture the all game so when you stain it, it looks and feels just like the rest of the antlers. Hope this helps.
You can see some of my lights at www.mclaganstaxidermy.com
Good Luck, Tim McLagan
I am as well making my wife a antler lamp, what is the best way to stain your antlers. Can i use regular stain at home depo.