Horn Finish

[DanC]

I'm repairing a couple of horns and was wondering if I should put a protective finish on them. Is it necessary or benificial? They are being sanded clean and bare. I was thinking about oiling them, but I figure I maybe better check first how the "pros" do it. :grin: Thanks.

 

[mspowderhorns]

repairing ??? old horns ??? sanding them...no,no,no,no

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use carnuba wax on my horns. Just remember to get pure wax and not an automotive wax with a cleaner added. :idunno:

 

[jeffdrown]

I have been using Minwax .. Looks good.

 

[fatboy]

Renascence wax is suppose to be very good never used it cant say it is ok to use on horn or not but its suppose to give a very good protective finish. I plan to try it, also boiled linseed oil or tung oil could be used depending what you like try some on a scrap pc of horn

 

[DanC]

Mike, they're not "old horns." Couple of cheap store bought horns that are dammaged and I am repairing them. Sanding is to take off the laquer finish on one of them; and the other has just a veeerrrrry small *whispers- (epoxy)* patch with a corresponding verrry small mess that needs to be removed. What would you suggest other than sanding?

 

[ohio ramrod]

I would suggest the origional method. Scraping with a piece of broken glass. Many old time gunsmith's estates listed "pieces of broken glass" amoung the "tools of the trade". Back when I was on the farm and showing cattle in 4 H (1950's) our neighbor who was an old time gunsmith taught me to "polish" my cows horns with broken coke bottle pieces.It works and you can break a few bottles and get the "curve" you need to fit the contours of the horns. :idunno:

 

[omarick1948]

Sand down to at least 400 grit sand paper and then hand buff the heck out of the horns with #0000 steel wool and then use bee's wax or Johnson's paste wax!

Rick

 

[DanC]

Thanks Rick. That's sort of what I was planing to do with one of them. I'll probably try one of the other finishes suggested here on the other. Like I say, they are cheap, dammaged horns any way, so I can afford to play around with them.

Thanks to everyone else for the replys too!

Dan

 

[jeffdrown]

..One more Idea. Take a old, thick,"shot glass" and rub down the horn with it. It burnishes it. I do it on the wood too. ( I learned this in my selbow making) It puts a nice smooth surface on it !

 

[DanC]

Thanks, I'll give it a try!

 

[gjr902]

I use the Minwax too.