Detachable Elk Antlers

I did this on an Elk but can be done on any antlered animal. This can be done many ways but this worked for me so I am going to share.

The skull plate was split for shipping to the shop from Wyoming.

First I drilled a pilot hole into the antler from underneath the skull plate. Be sure to mark your bits so you don't go all the way through and out the other side.

Then I drilled a 1" hole using a paddle bit. Again, mark your bit with tape.

 

I then cut key ways into the walls of the holes using a reciprocating saw.

Then I taped the end of the tube that will be placed into the hole. Make sure it is taped well.

Fill the hole 3/4 of the way with bondo/resin.

 

Ensure that the tube is seated all the way down.

Place the pin down into the stock to ensure no bondo leaked into the tube.

I used a magnet to pull the pin out.

 

I let the bondo cure overnight before I cut the antlers from the skull plate.

I used a metal cutting blade to do that. Cut as close to the base of the antler as you can without cutting into the antler.

I inserted the pin and trimmed all excess bone and metal.

Install skull plate onto the manikin and secure as you normally would.

 

The finished product. This was fairly simple to do once it is planned out. everything fit well and there is almost no play at all with the antlers. I hope this helps someone.

 

I charge a minimum of $200.00 for this.

 

This is posted in the TUTORIALS section. If you want to make a buck off someone or have a better way to do it, post you own tutorial. This is posted here to help people not to prove who has a better way to do it!

 

Personally, I don't think it makes a difference.