
Originally Posted by
c-ne-elk
The best way I have found to darken antlers is using Pine Tar. You can buy it in small cans at a animal feed store or off the Internet and a small can goes a L-O-N-G way. It is at feed stores because it is used to treat horses. (I am not sure what it is treating)
The pine tar will be REALLY, REALLY thick, the consistancy of peanut butter or thicker. Thin a small amount of it down using turpentine (from any lumber yard or paint supplier) but keep it thick, wipe it on the antler and wipe down to get a good coat on it. It will take several coats and will take a while for it to completely dry to where it is not tacky but when you are done it is the perfect color. You can even fade it out toward the end of an elk antler to give it ivory points. It works great and will not fade out. Moose antler are typically very light or white inside the palms and I have used this same method to darken them up. Besides, most animals rub their velvet off on their antlers on what? Pine trees and the pine sap gives them their color.