Horn Building ?

[TLanoy]

Well, here is my horn so far and it's not a great job. My first so, I wasn't expecting a beauty. Can Minwax stain be used to stain the tip of the horn? I need to sand it up some but, wanted to darken the tip.

 

[sean30ber]

Good start. Plug looks tight. Id round out the plug and maybe file or carve a sundial design in it. You dont need much wood sticking out past the horn for a plain horn like this. It will knock off some weight also and smooth out the riding under your arm. The tip still has a lot to be filed off unless you drilled a huge hole. Also taper the tip to the hole for easy pouring into a measure or barrel. My first couple horns, I was timid about taking to much off. now I like em paper thin and sexy sleek. Ive used standard WB stains to Aqua fortis for coloring. I like the AF my self but other will chime in with other options. Looking good for a first. I chipped the hell out the bezel on my first. Keep at it. Sean

 

[sean30ber]

Another thing you can do is drill 1/16 holes in the horn around the plug and wood glue some tooth picks in to make it look like the plug had been pinned with hardwood or thorns. Make sure the picks go into the wood, cut and sand smooth with the horn and hit with a dark stain on a q-tip and wipe immediately so only the wood takes the stain. Neat look for a first.

 

[TLanoy]

Thanks for the tips Sean. I got this as a kit so, the base plug was already installed. I don't have a belt sander so, how would you recommend taking off some of the wood on the base? I have a dremel but, that seems like it would take a lot of time.

 

[hawkthrower]

You should be able to use an oil.base stain but the best dye would be regular old RIT fabric dye. Get the color of your choice and mix a little in some water in a pot big enough to to get as much of the horn as you want into the dye. Bring the dye to a boil and then turn the heat off. Start dipping the horn for short periods of time until you have the color you want. You might go a little darker to start with then buff it back to your color with some 0000 steel wool.

 

[S.Kenton]

Thanks for the tips Sean. I got this as a kit so, the base plug was already installed. I don't have a belt sander so, how would you recommend taking off some of the wood on the base? I have a dremel but, that seems like it would take a lot of time.

I use a file to form the shape I want.. I also use toothpicks and/shiskabob sticks..or just plain old thorns from Locust tree. Whatever you use to pin the base plug in make sure you epoxy them in. The epoxy seals whatever you choose to use, so that air and moisture won't get in..also helps to secure the pins/thorns/toothpicks in place so they won't fall out.

 

[TLanoy]

I got in a little bit of a hurry to finish but, here is the end result. I did rub the horn down with a good coat of Johnson's Paste wax and then buffed lightly. I feel ok with my first horn and will definitely go slower on my next one. Planning a horn for my 13yr old son.

 

[sean30ber]

Like Kenton said. I just use files and rasps to shape the wood out. Then sand at the end.

 

[Mercian]

First let me say I've never made a powder horn, but all my life I've earned my living shaping metals and wood almost entirely with muscle powered hand tools, so I'm going to say don't assume that all tools have to be electrically powered to get the job done, of course that's so long as you're physically able. As the motto of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths says, "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Looking at what you've achieved with that horn so far, I'd say you are very much heading in the right direction.

 

[S.Kenton]

Looks good from where I sit! Looks alot like my fist horn...simple and to the point! Good job.

 

[TLanoy]

Thanks everyone! It is definitely a horn to be used instead of looked at. When I do my sons horn, I think I'll try and scratch his name on it or something. :grin:

 

[kaintuck]

Horns are way fun, I make a lot, sell some, gifts are others~
I still want to get better at the carving designs in the wood....as for the spout end.....any time it starts snowing and you get bored....grab a rasp, and a corse file.....put some flats on it to make the end a octagon.....couple of rings, etc....then re-dye it....

The attachment parts can come from lots of places....I like furniture catalogs.....the knobs and stuff in them gives me ideas! :stir:
Marc

 

[omarick1948]

Nothing wrong with that!...The first horn is the one to always keep! I have made a powder horn or two and here's a book that I recommend from a good friend. Well worth the investment.

Rick
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/76/1/BOOK-R18CPH

 

[TLanoy]

Thank you Rick! I will definitely be keeping this one as it will be my go to horn. Thanks for the book suggestion also. I'm gonna try and order it before my next build. :thumbsup:

 

[MSW]

Horner75 is right- this book is well worth the money!

Since you already have your wallet-debit-card-hard-earned,overtaxed,God-entrusted dollars in a ready to spend configuration, you may want to look at really nice tool, about thirty bucks, which seems a lot until you realize that it's a really well made (in USA, too) tool which will provide you with a lifetime of good use ... for scrimshaw, it works so much better than the usual collection of sharpened needles and bits of Exacto blade ...

the Coulter Precision scribing tool, here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/27033...ry&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

(hope that's legal to post) ... couldn't find a website for Coulter Precision, but they're located at 4227 Woodlawn Ave., Gurnee IL 600313, phone 847-244-7318 [email protected]

anyway, a world of difference in the quality and ease of my scrim work ... money very well spent...

by the way, once you're completely hooked on working with horn, you'll be in the market for a small wood lathe

there- can't say he wasn't warned ...