boiling a horn ??????

[bowfish]

Hello, was wondering can someone tell me the temp and how long you are to boil a horn or deer antler. And do you add anything to the water or just use water. And can you also boil a deer antler to work into a straighter shape? Thanks bowfish

 

[albert]

First off, if you are married and your wife is very understanding, you still might want to reconsider doing this. Just kidding, I have boild a couple of horns to soften them and I used plain ole water. I have read somewhere that you can use viniger also. If you do boil, I would do it out doors it does produce a good oder,and it doesn't smell like roses.

 

[gordy]

As far as how long it takes to soften a horn,it varies! I have a set of tapered round forms I turned down on my lathe.when the horn becomes pliable I shove the tapered plug solidly in the horn and put a stainless steel hose clamp around the horn and let it cool in place.than I can turn the plug on the lathe,to fit the now round end.I think the vinager is more to kill the oder,than anything.I've never tried it ,but some people heat the horn on a hotplate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Gordy

 

[TwoShadows]

I also just use plain old water Bowfish...and do it outside. One thing you might consider...I use a big kettle to do the boiling...plenty of water, and make sure to put something under the horn so it doesnt lay against the bottom of the kettle....did that once and scorched the side of the horn and made it brittle....ruined it. Even a brick is a good thing to keep the horn from the hot bottom of the kettle.
Dont know of anything that can be used to straighten antler....been around the buckskinning scene close to 40 years, and sure I have never heard of a way to do it.

 

[Slowpoke]

Bowfin,
I tried to boil antler one time and it didn't work. You'll have to simmer your horn for at least 6 hours if you want to flatten it. I do mine on a Coleman stove. Don't treally need to have the water boiling just simmering a little.

Slowpoke

 

[blckhrn]

I've boiled some buff horns and cow horns to get them closer to a plug I can turn instead of carve. Buff horn splits easy so be careful.

It had occurred to me to add vinegar, not for odor but because I remember a scinece class experiment where we softened a hen's egg into a leathery one. Have yet to try it but would bet it helps.

 

[gordy]

blckhrn: You may be right about the vinegar working to soften the horn fibres better than just water,The next time I do horns I'll give it a try! It may work best with undistilled vinegar(with mother).I've got one to build for a guy next week,will let You know if the vinegar helps! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[cayugad]

When I made my last powder horn, I added one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. Make sure the horn never touches the sides or bottom of the kettle because if you do, it will burn that spot and it makes it brittle there. The length of cooking time will depend on the thickness of the horn. Don't try and force the plug too much, the horn will stretch when it is ready. If you force it, they can sometimes split...

 

[Griz]

I have been making powder horns for 9 years now and probably made at least 50 of them. I use plain water in a old pan on a hot plate (in my shop not the house) wife, not understanding. I do "boil" them on the average of 1 hour before I form it. I stand it on end in the pan with the drilled tip up out of the water so that the heat will escape and stick a piece of wood under the tip so the entire end stands on the bottom of the pan and the water gets inside the horn also. I heard of people using a deep fryer but you gotta be darn good, it will fry it (in a matter of seconds)and then they will break like glass. After you boil it in water stick it in the fridge to cool it and it will retain the shape. As for the antler, never heard of it. Never heard of the vinegar either, Sorry

 

[blckhrn]

If I remember that science lesson it had to do w/ the acid That interacted with the calcium if memory serves (40 yrs? or so if memory serves).

Horn smells kinda like hair when worked, hair is protein with little calcium. still, I, for one, am trying it next time I make a horn. That should be soon, I found a near matching pair on ebay that would be perfect for a long rife.

Any scrimshanders out there? Now I gotta figger out how tha is done.

 

[blckhrn]

As for temp, boiling water stays at 212 deg farenheit at sea level. Won't get any hotter. Death Valley is below sea level, water boils hotter there. From my experience, duration only matters when you leave it so long the pot boils dry. Boy, does that make a stink.

Been busy with work, then got sicker than hell w/ the flu. I haven't been out to my shop in two weeks but I finally found a doc who fixed me up (today). I will be working on a couple horns soon. These horns are pretty close to round so don't need a lot in this area. When I get to work on the 20 buff horns cluttering up the shop I plan on using a pressure cooker to get the heat up to 250 or so. IMO as long as they are wet no harm will come to them (and off the bottom of the pot). I think that two factors are in effect here, first heat, second the softening of the material with h2o or other solutions such as acid. The heat probably aids the second.

 

[blckhrn]

Gordy, let me know how it works