Removing Stain and Varnish from Antlers

[rab19]

Hi All,

Got my hands on a small 10 pointer set, but someone --- just to be clear not me has used a stain varnish on them and looks bloody awful.
Are they a lost cause, would varnish soak into the antlers pores??? is it worth using a varnish stripper but same again, would stripper bugger up the antler??
Photos to follow.

 

[rab19]

Pics

 

[Dunwaters]

What are you going to do with them?
If they’re going for stick making or knife handles I’d leave them as is and if you’re trying to restore them for personal reasons I might just let them be.
I’ve seen lots worse.

 

[VSS]

I don't think you've got anything to lose by trying paint stripper on them. They do like pretty awful as they are. Have they been sanded before the varnish was applied, do you think? They look rather smooth. If so, I'd say the only thing worth doing is to chop them up for craft purposes (key rings, napkin rings, stick handles etc.)

 

[rab19]

Don't know if they have been sanded or had anything done to them before varnished, but think stripped and chopped is the way to go. Never stripped antlers so could be interesting to see if it has a reaction.

 

[Sol]

Looks like woodstain I fixed up antlers in the heed thread It came off pretty easy (I only spend 20 minutes with steel wool) and then applied briwax to it.

If you have a drill you could just order a wire wheel it should rub off in no time.