Horn bending Question

[Supercracker]

I'm restoring an old original that had a horn BP. It looks like it was an approximately 3/16" thick slab of Buff horn bent 90deg on about a 1/4" radius to make the small tang.

I can get whole Buff horns to cut the slab from. I'm not a horner but am familiar with the bending process. Aside from "use hot oil" and "do it outside" are there any suggestions about bending a slab like this?

 

[crockett]

Sorry but I have NO IDEA what you are talking about? Buffalo is different than cow. Buffalo can often be boiled in water where cow requires a hotter temperature and needs oil.
Please describe what you are trying to do. Thanks.

 

[Supercracker]

I need to halve a buff horn, flatten one half, plane/sand/??? it to about a 3/16" thickness and then bend it 90deg with a roughly 1/4" radius bend.

I hadn't seen that about buff horn being ok with water. That simplifies things. Thanks

I need to make a BP, more or less, like this

Once I get the bent blank it's no problem, just trying to save some trial and error.

 

[jethro224]

First thing that comes to my mind is that it might be easier to use the solid "tip" and both sides of the horn. Kinda cut a slab that goes up one side, across the solid section, and back down the other side of the horn. Might hafta un-bend it a little but wouldn't be as drastic as a 90 degree bend. :idunno: Just a thought.

 

[Black Hand]

An oven works when heating horn. Less set-up but you need to keep a close eye on it. It may take several heat & bend cycles before you get to your 90 degrees - don't force it.

 

[FishDFly]

Contact horner75.

 

[MSW]

my water experience with Buff took me back to my FryDaddy. Your mileage may vary ... Mr. Froelich is the go- to expert in such matters, and I'd take whatever he suggests as a pretty dependable method.

 

[crockett]

Thanks. I know it sounds like a lot of work but if it were I, I would make a special form consisting of two sides. Heat/boil the buffalo and put between and then clamp the sides together.
In making this form, first I'd carve out a copy of the stock. The piece that fits over it will have to match. If there are curves, maybe cover the first piece with plastic wrap and then "butter" the other side with plastic steel epoxy and fit together- that produces the forms.
Buffalo. I was speaking of "Bison". Now a days some knife making supply outfits sell African Buffalo. Probably a completely different substance- might need the boil in oil treatment.
BTW- really nice looking butt plate!

 

[omarick1948]

Over many years, I have tried many different methods for flattening many different animal horns and the only one that I use today and highly recommend is Hot lard or cooking oil.

Just hot boiling water will soften a THIN cow or buffalo horn, but the 212 degree temperature of that boiling water is not hot enough to SHOCK or break-down the fibers of the horn for shaping and over time, the horn will want to spring back towards it's original shape to some extent.

Using hot lard or cooking oil with a temperature in the 325-350 degree area and only leaving the horn or horn pieces in the hot liquid for only a few seconds at a time (dip 10 seconds in and 10 seconds out till pliable), will soften the horn slab enough so you can clamp it between two pieces of board and then press it slowly in a heavy bench vise until flattened and let cool over night. I have flatten cow horn and buffalo horn up to 1/4" thick using this method, but keep the horn hot and move quickly! __ BE SURE TO WEAR SAFETY GOOGLES AND HEAVY GLOVES WHEN USING HOT LIQUIDS!


Hope this helped,
Rick

 

[Supercracker]

thanks guys. I'll be sure to take pics when I get started.

I have a hydraulic press to use for the initial flattening. For the bending form I was thinking of a form for the bottom side and then a pressurized tube on the other side. Like a form for laminating Bow limbs. That way I could, theoretically, get even pressure as it changes shape.

 

[MSW]

FWIW, I have to crank my fry-daddy to 375 or better to get decent results.

(Having said that, I will concede that the thermostat on my fry- daddy might or might not have very much to do with accuracy or even reality) ...

anyway, with both buffalo and cow horn, all I got when I boiled them was a nice clean horn (and a smelly kitchen)

 

[Longhornramer]

Can longhorns be bent to resemble rams curved horns?