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Antler button details

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Brokennock

Cannon
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Here are several pics of two of the antler buttons I've made lately. These two and a couple more can be seen in use in my shot/hunting pouch topics.
This 1st one was used as the button to attach and adjust the strap on my Bag #4 design #3 which I haven't posted yet.

GL9OKDp.jpg


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lofW8TN.jpg


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Any ideas on a good way to hold these small rough shaped pieces of antler while filing and sanding to final shape and finish?

Thanks for looking.
-Dave
 
This is in use to close the back pocket on Bag #3 Design #2

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I did resize these on IMGUR to 800, but it automatically fills in the second number, so I apologize if they are too big.
 
Try using hot glue on a dowel to hold the button. Then turn the button lightly against a sanding belt. I like the way you shaped the thread holes on the back side. Very clever. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
The Top Button style is interesting, but I have to wonder where you got the inspiration for the design? Did you try doing something like a period cast pewter button and make it with two holes instead of one?

The Second Button is a hum dinger and is in keeping with how bone buttons were made in the period. It has the advantage of the hardened outside of the antler on one surface, so stress on the holes won't allow the thread to saw/break through the holes.

Gus
 
You're pretty much on the money with the 1st one. Not sure what I was thinking with the 2 holes. Didn't realize it was a mistake until I tried to use it for the application I made it for. Made another one for that use. It is made from a very flat section, palm?, of antler that has almost no porous material in the middle, so this is entirely made of the more solid "bone like" antler. I'd have to say part of the inspiration was the old pewter button, and part the newer "stud" buttons, combined with wanting some space for a leather strap to live between the flat back of a button and the object to which the button is being attached. Not sure if I esplained that right.
 
The second one was from a beautiful piece of material to work with. The pictures fail to do it justice. It's really solid and has nice little swirls of color in some places.

As stated in another topic, I learned the construction of these, using the holes through the side instead of through the pithy center from someone here. May have been you or B.B. but could have been any one of several others.

I do enjoy making them. I'd like to turn out a couple that more closely represent a snapping turtle shell. And, I did use some of that flat antler to rough out a tiny fish for a project for a fishing buddy.
 
Not to rain on your parade, but period buttons made from antler would have looked like a 2/4-hole bone button with no evidence of the rough antler texture. Antler buttons like you show are unlikely to have been used any time before the 1960-70's...
 
Thanks. Not taken as "rain." I was mostly refering to not using the weak modern (lazy?) method of slicing off a piece and drilling the holes through the more porous and weak center. At some point I'll try a few with the outer surface filed away. Would they have ever been dyed or stained?
 
That jewler's tool/method you mention has crossed my mind. I'll explore it more this week.
Not sure about the hot glue idea either. The glue it to a dowel idea crossed my mind as well. I'm working with files and sand paper once the small pieces are rough cut from the antler. It can be kind of vigorous. And I'm often moving the piece as I work it in my fingers.
 
Brokennock said:
Thanks. Not taken as "rain." I was mostly refering to not using the weak modern (lazy?) method of slicing off a piece and drilling the holes through the more porous and weak center. At some point I'll try a few with the outer surface filed away. Would they have ever been dyed or stained?
The slice method is overused and makes modern buttons that don't work well. Slices of the solid tip do make buttons as there is no pith. As to dying - all I have seen were natural (white/off-white/cream/aged yellow).
 
Jewelers use shellac to hold jewelery while setting stones. I don't know about cutting and polishing. Opticians use 2 sided tape to stick a lens to the block when edging lenses. It is similar to the 3m tape for automotive emblems.
 
horner75 said:
...and nothing about HC/PC.
As a reminder (from the caption of this sub-forum):
The Craftsman
Muzzleloading related things you've made or have questions about making - Knives, Tomahawks, Horns, Clothing, Bags, etc. Traditional Only - no modern designs. Do not post items unrelated to Muzzleloading. This is not a "general craft" category.


A plate with HC/PC button maker's tools from Diderot's Encyclopedia


https://imgbb.com/
 
Pretty......and, pretty cool !

I like the upper button design for securing a bag flap much better than the rawhide loop I've been using.

Nice work ! :bow:
 
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