Cutting Decorative Deer Antler Slices — Polished Rounds for Display and Jewelry

Choose the thickest part of the main beam for the largest slices — the lower beam near the coronet (the bumpy ring at the base) can be 50-70 mm in diameter on a mature white-tailed deer. For pendants, thinner tine sections (15-25 mm) work well. Avoid cracked or sun-bleached antler.

Clamp in a bench vise and cut slices 6-10 mm thick with a fine-toothed hacksaw. Thicker slices (8-10 mm) work for coasters and ornaments; thinner ones (6 mm) for pendants. Saw slowly and evenly to keep both faces parallel. Mark cut lines with a pencil for uniform thickness.

Sand flat on sandpaper laid on a hard surface. Start at 120 grit to flatten saw marks, then 220, 400, and finally 800 grit for a high polish. Wet-sand at 400+ grit — water keeps the dust down and produces a smoother finish. The cortex ring polishes to a glassy sheen; the spongy centre shows an intricate bone-grain pattern.

For pendants or ornaments, drill a 2 mm hole near the edge of the cortex ring. Position it in the thickest part of the cortex so it does not crack through to the spongy centre. Drill at low speed on a scrap board backing. Skip this step for coasters or display pieces.

Apply boiled linseed oil to both faces with a cloth, let it soak in for 10 minutes, then wipe dry. Once the oil dries (24 hours), buff with a thin layer of beeswax for a protective sheen. The oil deepens the natural colour contrast between cortex and core; the wax prevents the spongy centre from absorbing moisture or staining.