What do you guys recommend using on Moose antlers to preserve them.. Keep them from drying out and/or lightening up?
Thank you
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....Out of the weather and they'll never change.
Really? In 10-15 years they won't get dry or lighten up (they won't be in direct sun)?
.....That they might lighten up would be if they were cleaned. The color on antlers is from staining. Starting with the blood when the velvet is shed, and that doesn't last very long on most antlers. Most of the color on antlers is from the vegitation that the buck or in this case, bull, has been rubbing on. And from the dirt that gets embedded into the antler surface.
Bone(antlers are basicly bone) is pretty much impervious to most things when they are fresh so the color is mostly surface coloration. It doesn't take long after the antlers are shed for them to turn white and not much longer to start deterioration. Afterall, they are designed to last only for the breeding season and then go back into the earth to nourish future antler growth.
Gently clean your antlers, to get off the looses surface dirt. It will come off on its own eventually so why not take care of it now. There are several ways of establishing a sealed antler without coating it with something like varnish(eventually that will yellow).
One recommended here frequently is 50/50 linseed oil and turpentine.
I have used a light coat of a walnut oil stain, rubbed in and whiped off. I've also used Scott's Liquid Gold furniture polish but it will have to be put on at regular intervals.
If you are a smoker, I will guarantee that the antlers will turn yellow. And that yellow tar is one of the only things that will actually penetrate into the antler with time.
I personally would chose to do nothing to them and use the Scott's.