Why use buckhorn?

ScottR

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For those cue builders that use buckhorn for ferrules, joints or buttcaps, what are the real or perceived advantages to the material? Thanks.
 
ScottR said:
For those cue builders that use buckhorn for ferrules, joints or buttcaps, what are the real or perceived advantages to the material? Thanks.
one advantage is, it is legal to ship outside usa
two, i think it plays like ivory, just not as purty
 
BHQ said:
one advantage is, it is legal to ship outside usa
two, i think it plays like ivory, just not as purty
Purty is in the eye of the beholder. ;)

Gene
 
If you get antler that is DROPPED rather than those from a killed deer you can get pretty white pieces. I only use them for ferrules. They play like Ivory, but are much tougher...JER
 
Cuedog said:
Purty is in the eye of the beholder. ;)

Gene

you like?

002.jpg

003.jpg
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
If you get antler that is DROPPED rather than those from a killed deer you can get pretty white pieces. I only use them for ferrules. They play like Ivory, but are much tougher...JER

I have been looking for sheds in the woods around here with no luck. There's an awful lot of deer in my area, hopefully some will turn up:(
 
I'm actually a big fan of buckhorn. I really like the way it looks and like the grain to it. I don't personally think it plays like ivory. It is definitely a tougher material and produces a nice hit though, IMO.

I haven't started building cues just yet since I don't have a permanent shop set up, but I do have a few different kinds of antlers that I've stockpiled....so who knows?
 
Dropped Horns

Rodney said:
I have been looking for sheds in the woods around here with no luck. There's an awful lot of deer in my area, hopefully some will turn up:(

There was an old guy around my hometown that would build some triangle shaped "things" out in the woods and put corn in the center. He would simply drive 3 wooden stakes in the ground and wrap wire around it. With the corn in the center, the deer would come by to eat the corn and while eating, their horns would continually catch/snag on the wire and eventually fall off right there.


This old guy would go by every few days to all of his many "horn catchers" and pick up the horns.
 
Bucks

I find them all the time in the woods down the block from my house. Haven't found any elephant tusk down there yet, but I keep looking;) I've only used them for ferrules.
 
Rodney said:
I have been looking for sheds in the woods around here with no luck. There's an awful lot of deer in my area, hopefully some will turn up:(

I think they drop them in February & March. Squirrels & mice eat them once they hit the ground...JER
 
ScottR said:
For those cue builders that use buckhorn for ferrules, joints or buttcaps, what are the real or perceived advantages to the material? Thanks.

There is certainly nothing perceived about it is great for decoration, it Machines well, and it finishes well. It also has the closest hit to Ivory there is, if you use stable material with Minimal Filigree.
 
manwon said:
There is certainly nothing perceived about it is great for decoration, it Machines well, and it finishes well. It also has the closest hit to Ivory there is, if you use stable material with Minimal Filigree.
craig craig craig
please quit using those big words!!! :D
i'm too lazy to look up " filigree"
what is that, the brown pithy stuff?????
 
manwon said:
Hey partner, is the material pictured Elk Antler?
the joint is deer
the buttcap came from jeff (HAWK)
i think he said it was schirra (spell check :D ) moose
 
BHQ said:
craig craig craig
please quit using those big words!!! :D
i'm too lazy to look up " filigree"
what is that, the brown pithy stuff?????

Filigree is the soft material in the center that looks more like bone. It is generally surrounded by th enamel.

Sorry about that!!:D
 
BHQ said:
you like?
Brent, it don't git much purtier than that! I love the stuff. It's not for all applications, but you used it perfect here. Great example of the aesthetic use.
Sorry for the big words by the way. :rolleyes:

Gene
 
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JoeyInCali said:
They smell good.

You forgot the :rolleyes: emoticon. Cutting the stuff nearly makes me gag .... of course I am a bit of a wimp.

Dave
 
manwon said:
Filigree is the soft material in the center that looks more like bone. It is generally surrounded by th enamel.

Sorry about that!!:D
ya learn something eveyday
i guess it's the enamel then that stinks to high heaven when turning with a router
reminds me of some painful moments at my dentist :eek:
 
I hate the dentist no matter what they say.... Same with ivory smells like getting teeth drilled.. yikes
 
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