Step 1

Difficulty – Intermediate, may need a couple of attempts with low cost wire/stone before mastered.

• Deer antler (1 ½  to  2 ins. long)
• 6 inches of 20 G Sq dead soft wire
• 1 jump ring
• 1 neck chain
• Future floor finish or paste wax
• Jewelry glue
• Optional extras, round nose pliers, files

Tools Required

• safety glasses
• filter mask
• multi speed Dremel type tool with cutting wheel and carving attachments
• wire cutter
• jewelers’ pliers

 
Shed deer antler

tip of antler with sprial line drwan aroundf it

Safety Warning:
Cutting and grinding antler and bone creates a fine dust that can be a hazard to your health always use mask and work in well ventilated area … Always use safety glasses when using power tools.

I started with a shed deer antler that I picked up in the woods last spring (they can be bought online). I cut around 2 inches off 1 of the tines (always use safety glasses and a dust mask when cutting) and used a pencil to draw a spiral around the antler from top to bottom keeping around ¼ inch between rounds (the ones at the tip are a little closer together and the ones at the base are a little farther apart).

Use the cut off blade for your dremel tool to cut a groove around your antler following the line you drew earlier, be careful it’s easy to cut to deep or to cut your fingers, take your time and go slow.

  slow and easy wins this race you barely have to touch the blade to the antler to cut the groove around it.

Step 3

Using the groove you cut as a guide start rounding the edges of the spiral. Take your time
It’s easer to do it right the first time than to try to fix mistakes.

I use the dremel at low speed to ruff it out then used hand files to finish smoothing it out. Once you’re happy with the shape you can use the dremel tool to buff the antler. You can use paste wax to seal the pores and get a good shine or you can dip your horn in Future floor finish or use a combat ion of both products for an even higher shine. (I’m sure you could use any number of products to make your horn shine I use the ones I do because I have them around from working with Sculpey clay .)

Leave a ¼ inch tail on a wrapped loop and wrap the wire 3 or 4 times around the base of the loop to form a cap for your horn. The tail will go into the hole in the base of your horn to help hold the loop in place.

Holding the looped cap in place guide the wire around the horn pulling it tightly into the groove all the way to the tip.

Trim the wire at an angle at the tip and file it smooth so it won’t catch on clothing.

File out any marks left in the wire by your pliers buff and polish. Hang your Unicorn Horn on a chain and your done.

This one has a double wire wrap of half round silver wire.