How to Build a Deer Antler Lamp

Scrub the antlers thoroughly with a soft brush or sponge and soapy water to remove any dirt and debris. If you don’t get the antlers clean before you build the lamp, it will be difficult to clean them completely later. Remember that antlers are usually an off-white or cream color, not a bright white. If you try to scrub until the antlers are completely white, it will never work.

Spray the antlers with polyurethane, using two coats on each antler. Ensure that you allow the first coat of polyurethane to dry completely before spraying the second coat. Do not touch the antlers until the polyurethane is completely dry, or your fingerprints will show up. If you do touch them and leave a fingerprint, you have to sand the area and spray the polyurethane again.

Arrange the antlers until the combination suits you. Try different configurations, putting different antlers in other places, and changing where you put larger or smaller antlers. Place rubber bands around the antlers to hold them together when you are happy with your arrangement.

Put one antler on top of your stack with the horns pointing down. You have to drill two holes. Drill the first hole in the bottom of the antler (where it attaches to the deer’s head). This hole should be large enough for the cord of your premade light socket to fit through and should be 1 inch deep down into the antler. Drill the second hole 1 inch down, on the side of the antler, so that the two holes will intersect. Pull the light cord through the two holes, so that the premade light socket rests on the bottom of the inverted antler. Use a rubber band to attach this antler to the rest of your arrangement.

Find an antler that is slightly taller than most of the others and place it so that it rises up over the antler with the light socket. This taller antler will be used to hold the lamp shade. Secure it in place with a rubber band.

At each place where the antlers intersect with one another, use the hot glue gun to put a small amount of glue to hold them together. Hold the antlers together with your hands for about 30 seconds so the glue can form a good bond, and then move on to the next spot where the antlers touch one another. Add some glue under the light socket for extra stability. Let the glue dry completely. This should take about 1 hour.

Cut the rubber bands off of the antlers with a razor knife. Be very careful so that you do not nick the antlers and cause blemishes.

Put a light bulb in the socket, put your chosen lampshade over the tallest antler and plug in your lamp to complete your deer antler lamp.