:lol::eusa_danc:eusa_dancOh man, I'm jealous of your rack!! Very nice...ok...so I've turned a couple antler pens now, so I'm the expert...lucky you, one stop shopping on antler advice because I'm part of this board :roll::roll::roll: OK...so Eagle or someone with experience will hopefully chime in, but here's what I have learned in my amateur status.
1) My most difficult part is not drilling blanks like most people. It is actually getting antlers.
2) I tried to find straight parts to cut out of the antler. I had one given to me that was basically circular. I couldn't get a single blank out of it. Your picture looks great....lots of straight pieces.
3) The middle of the antler is marrow (I guess) You probably want to minimize the amount of marrow that show. But then, you may want more to show as it could add character to the pen. The bone will turn nice and white and look/feel and turn like plastic. The marrow will show as splotchy and gray/black. It can be a nice look, but depends on what you are looking for.
4) I like the lower part of the antler where it has the 'bark' on it. Ideally, in my mind, I would drill it and turn it in such a way that as much bark would remain on the blank as possible.
5) I have read...that you should use CA glue as a sanding sealer after you get the pen to the size you want and before you start sanding. Apparently, the bone is very porous and will fill with dark sanding grit, changing the appearance of your antler/pen.
6) Use sharp tools and sharpen often. It takes the edge off of mine fairly quickly.
7) back to drilling....take the extra time to line the antler up with the bit. Be patient as your standard blank drilling vice is not going to necessarily help you here...if the antler is crooked, you will need to get creative with the way you hold it in place to keep the bit from driving out of the side of the antler....
8) I have read that 1 year is the majic number for aging antler...I don't know first hand, though. If it is less than 1, it will smell real bad.
9) Be safe and wear a mask/respirator. I don't know that antler is all that bad, but why take the chance.
OK...that's all I can think of for now...good luck and post pix!!
Cheers!
Chris
PS the following pix...the first one shows the bark...the second one shows the marrow coming through on the opposite side....