This evening result: Deer antler and polymer clay.

Following the hints you gave me, about the right way to work with polymer clay, I tried to form a cane, slice it, and stick it directly to the tube.
I also wanted to try something that I had in mind from last year: use a streamline/fancy kit to turn a mini european style pen.
This is only a experiment, but i like the outcome. Will go in my collection for future reference:


Detail of the pattern (the green clay have glitter inside)


Since I had some deer antler sections growing dust on the shelf, and they were too small to use in a knife handle, i tried to turn a pen out of them but I'm not sure if I like the result or not:


Detail:


I will never do something so stupid again, because it soaked up half a bottle of CA glue for filling all the grain and the result looks like Corian.......
I must admit that it look better in the hand, but not quite the result I had in mind.
Now it's not deer antler anymore, its acrylic with some deer antler inside .

Ok mates, this is all for today, 3 pens (the other one is in the Acrylic section) are enough for a lazy (and sodding cold) sunday .

Thanks for following me and sorry for this 2 low level pens.
Francesco

Francesco, i wouldn't call these pens low level my friend, far from it .. You will find that the forum members love to see people working out of their comfort zone and trying new levels of pen making, these being no exception .. You have joined a very small number of members in here to try making your own canes with the Polymer Clay, this first attempt is a very good effort and the pen does look good ..


The Deer antler also looks well made for a first attempt .. Well done indeed ..

Thats an excellent first attempt with the Polymer Clay

The antler also looks good, nice grain pattern

I think both are a good result. The shapes in the polymer clay are great, and the grain of the antler shows beautifully. Time well spent i say

Nothing wrong with that first attempt with Polymer Clay ! Ask Woody ? His first attempt nearly caused the Fire Service to rush out to him.

Vic

Vic Perrin said:

Ask Woody ? His first attempt nearly caused the Fire Service to rush out to him.

Vic

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Now you've got to tell me the wole story!!!

No matter what people think about polymer clay that is a lovely pen, well made and finished and the antler, well they are full of emptiness and will cost you a fortune in ca but you've made a great job of that one as well

I think your clay experiment turned out very well. It's quite nice. I wonder if stabilizing the antler would be the solution?

Terry Q said:

I wonder if stabilizing the antler would be the solution?

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Terry,
when I make handgun cheeks or knife handles, I usualy soak it with epoxy resin usin heat to increase the capillarity, but it will never work in something so small, I haven't ever tried stabilizing antlers.
What would do you suggest, using paraloyd or normal wood stabilizer?
Have some paraloyd laying arround in the shop, I have just to find where is it

Thanks for the hint, mate
Francesco

Bloody well done like your experiments and you done well with the pollymer clay Vic will never let me live my first attempt down I got my Fahrenheit and centigrade mixed up and me first lot come out of the oven like charcoal vic wears them around his neck now they are like two black turds LOL

Woody said:

Vic will never let me live my first attempt down I got my Fahrenheit and centigrade mixed up and me first lot come out of the oven like charcoal vic wears them around his neck now they are like two black turds LOL

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This just had me rolling on the floor, mate.

Looking good Francesco.

I like the Antler pen keeping the colour a good choice Francesco..

Peter.

Two nice pens. They have both worked out well & have been a learning curve for you.

Looks very nicely done from here.

Les

Can't fault either pen and the antler grain is coming through. Good effort my friend.