Old Mossy Project Shed

Ticks N Tines · Apr 20, 2011

I have been working on an old piece of crap shed that I really want to restore. I have got it sanded down and all the cracks are filled with Minwax wood putty. I sanded it again after the putty application. So now I have a nice smooth antler, but my problem is I can't get the greenish color out of the antler. I'm afraid the stain wont come out well at all with the two tone colors I have on the shed.
Here are the pics of the antler right after I found it.

I don't have any pics of the antler at the current stage. But just picture the cracks filled and sanded smooth. I still have the green and brown colors on it.

I would appreciate any advice on getting these colors out and the antler whitened up for staining. I was told to wash is with detergent and hot water, so maybe I'll try that tonight.

Thanks,
Matt

shedhead · Apr 20, 2011

you may not be able to restore it to its original color but it might look pretty cool just doing it how ever it will turn out

traf1er · Apr 20, 2011

Try using the stuff used for bleaching human hair,you can get it just about anywhere.I would try it on a small spot first just to see the reaction.Then you can use acrylic water base paint to stain/paint it.

Ticks N Tines · Apr 20, 2011

>Try using the stuff used for
>bleaching human hair,you can get
>it just about anywhere.I would
>try it on a small
>spot first just to see
>the reaction.Then you can use
>acrylic water base paint to
>stain/paint it.

I have used that on skulls and it actually eats away the bone. Not sure if I want to do that or not. But it may work, never tried it on antlers.
The stuff I have used is "Quick Blue". It's a powder you mix with developer into a paste. Works pretty good on old skulls.

travishunter3006 · Apr 20, 2011

Chrome up that b*tch! that would look cool as shat!

It was a big bodied 2 point.

Pines_N_Tines · Apr 20, 2011

Mass N Trash did a great job on a shed a while back. You might want to ask him how the van dykes wipe on/off paint would do on your antler.

Here's a link.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID18/4280.html

Be sure to post up some after photos. I've got a set I'd like to try to restore but don't want to mess it up trying.

You might want to google a product called WAM (wild antler magic) the guy that created the product is named Wes. He might be able to offer some advice.

bonepicker · Apr 20, 2011

I've used van dykes and it works great on hard white antlers that are still glossy. On chalky horns it just turns grey. you have to be sure you sand past the chalk to totally hard antler.

wheatja114 · Apr 20, 2011

Try a deluted solution of household & water? I know it will kill the green mole.

muleycrazy23 · Apr 20, 2011

Now that you have it all smooth just paint it a bone colored white and then paint the antler with different shades of brown til it looks good.

DakotaSage · Apr 20, 2011

This isn't an old mossy, but this is a white I stained a couple years ago.

Ticks N Tines · Apr 20, 2011

I let it soak in some hot water/bleach overnight. The hot water opened up all the cracks again and all the putty pretty much dissolved. So it looks like I'm back where I started.

I think it turned a little light in color, but it's still got the green.

I think I'll fill in all the cracks again and then paint the sucker white. Seems like there would be someone out there that could air brush some natural colors on a white antler making it look real. I may look into that.

Dr_Hunter · Apr 21, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Apr-21-11 AT 02:35PM (MST)[p]Sand it, use corn meal in the cracks, then boiling linseed oil, let it dry for a while, then rub mulch or peet moss all over it- this will darken it up. You can decide how dark you want it by how much peet moss you use. I then use a satin clear coat to seal it and keep it from decaying.

Painting would overall look better over time and would hold up better- that is if it is done well.

"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."

massNtrash · Apr 21, 2011

well thank you

Ticks N Tines · Apr 21, 2011

Filled the cracks again and sanded her down good. Starting to look like a hard white now. I may be getting somewhere afterall.

MtnMuley · Apr 22, 2011

Looking good! I've been following this post and can't wait to see the end result.

swbuckmaster · Apr 23, 2011

Finish it... looks great so far...

Ticks N Tines · Apr 24, 2011

Well... I screwed the pooch.
I got impatient and put some stain on it. It's looks pretty bad. So I'm going to bleach it out again and start over. I will post pics when I get her bleached out again. Sorry to ruin the good thing I had going. I thought it would turn out good. Those old moss backs are hard to deal with.