I'm making a chandelier out of antlers

[EddieWalker]

Over the years, I've found a small collection of Deer Antler sheds. As you know, deer drop their antlers every year, usually late winter, then grow new ones in the spring and summer. This is the main differences between an antler and a horn.

Some of them are fairly old and bleeched out by the sun. Others are so fresh they may have only been on the ground a few days before I found them.

Here they are on a table all spread out.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I picked out the largest ones for the bottom. There is one large five point antler shed and several realy good 4 point sheds.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I scratched my head for a bit on how to connect them. Bolts didn't seem very practical and screws seemed like they wouldn't work either. I looked around and saw a roll of rebar wire that I never use for anything.

Easy to cut, it twists tight and it wont cost me anything to use it.

I just lined up the anlters and drilled a hole through them. Cut a piece of wire, then fed it through the hole and twisted it tight. As I move along, I cut off the excess wire, but only after the next row of antlers is on. I've found a few line up with the previous holes.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's the basic look of the chadelier. I wanted it to be bigger at the bottom and get smaller as it got taller.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

This is a hook off of a nylon ratchet tie down that got cut and ruined. I saved the hook for an unknown reason that turned out to be this.

I also wrapped the ends over and over again to get a certain look I wanted. Then I did the same with the hook. I'm hoping it all ties together and looks good when I'm done.

Eddie

 

[woodlot]

That is a great project. Its one that I'm wanting to do sometime in the future but I need a lot more antlers. I've seen good ones sell for well over 1,000 dollars for the medium size like your making.

If you go to some of the taxidermy sites you can find techniques for adding the color back onto "bleached" antlers. BTW, all antlers are bone and pure white. The darkness of "fresh" ones is prmarily dried blood and stains left from the velvet, also from dirt, grit, tree bark, etc.

This year we had some bucks hold thier antlers till late march, weird. It was strange seeing that "bleached" clean look while still a-top a deers head!

 

[gsganzer]

Eddie,
You need to make some "redneck" candle holders (that's what my wife calls mine) to go along with your chandelier and dress up your dining room table. Here's a photo of the two different ones I have.

The set of sheep horn candle holders I bought at a gun show from a guy that needed money. The deer antler pair I made. I clumped them all together for the photo, there are 4 separate holders (a pair of sheep and a pair of deer).

BTW: Rub the antlers down with "Old English" to get the color back in them.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Eddie,
You could make something out of nothing without even trying I always enjoy your seat of the pants projects

Im thinking you might get a string of white Christmas lights strung on there for effect

 

[3RRL]

Man Eddie,
There's a lot of antler shedding at your place. You must have a ton of deer there? Those appear to be Mule Deer, some nice ones too...I thought you guys had Whitetail out there? Or do you have both spieces? I've only found a few pairs over the last 2 years so I'm jealous.

 

[gsganzer]

I've only found a few pairs over the last 2 years so I'm jealous.

If they sit on the ground for any length of time, the squirrels and mice will usually eat them up for the minerals.