Horn know how wanted

[Don]

OK, I finally got around to boiling a few raw cow horns a gent gave me last spring. I now have three decent horns to work with but I don't know how to clean and polish them inside and out. Whats the best way to do it with stuff around the house or from the local hardware store?

Thanks,

Don

 

[skunkskinner]

Sand paper, steel wool, and brasso worked for me.

 

[LRB]

It would be wise to let them cure a few months before doing anything with them.

 

[Black Hand]

A "4 in hand" rasp and files will go a long way in cleaning up the out- and inside of the horns. Then scrape with a sharp knife to get rid of the rasp/file marks. If you feel it necessary you can smooth it with various grades of sandpaper (following the grain of the horn, tip to base or vice versa), though I prefer a good hand-rubbed finish with a little fine steel wool (not really necessary) and then an application of beeswax applied with heat and vigorous rubbing.

 

[soggy]

Don't know how fancy you want to get, but maybe you should consider getting the book "Recreating the 18th Century Powderhorn" by Scott Silby. It's available from TOW and a few other suppliers. I did and can say it's well worth the price ( approx. $ 20.00) Lot's of great pictures and clear instructions. IMO
Soggy

 

[Legionair]

Polishing or cleaning the inside can be done with fine gravel and then sand. Pour some in, cover with your hand, and shake away.

The outside I just sand smooth down to steel wool (I don't polish them too much - I think it looks kind of plastic that way).

And beeswax and olive oil will protect them good when you're done...

After you've done a few, you'll find "your way".

Hope this helps...

Legion

 

[freeonthree]

If you go to the muzzleloading links there is a link to Powder Horns by Ron Vail .
I found link this very helpfull.

Keepem Smokin

Freeonthree

 

[Henry]

I use scrapers instead of sand paper , it is both
cheaper and more PC :winking:

It is also fun to look at people 's reaction
if you ask " when was the sand paper invented ?

[url] http://www.woodworking.org/WC/Channels/scraper.html[/url]
[url] http://www.woodzone.com/articles/scrapers/index.htm[/url]
[url] http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/scraping/scraper.htm[/url]

The invention of sandpaper ?

Isaac Fisher, Jr., of Springfield, Vt. 1830

 

[LRB]

Sandpaper was offered for sale in an add in the Pennsylvania Gazette, Dec.11, 1755!

 

[mspowderhorns]

if you want to clean the insides,just prop the horn up and fill with clorox[no off brands...]..the clorox will desolve all the crud and scale in about 1/2 hour..don't forget it and leave it over night..may eat a hole thru the horn...easiest way to get the inside 'squeeky' clean
mike small

 

[shmrck1]

It would be wise to let them cure a few months before doing anything with them.

I think most would agree with Wick on that
piece of advise :hmm:
snake-eyes :v

 

[Gemoke]

I agree with Soggy, SIBLEYS book is worth the money.
I just finished my first horn and could not have done it with out his book. I will post pic when I can.

 

[LRB]

Adding to my previous post, sand paper was also advertised for sale in the Boston Gazette, in the early to mid 1760's. The reason it was not popular, seems to have been the cost. There is also a roll of it left from around 1819, I think it was, that the famous engraver Lynton McKenzie described as looking like modern paper, but with irregular edges.

 

[Seamus]

Hydrogen peroxide will work well for cleaning the inside with less danger of eating away the horn.
I've also used it to whitten skulls and other bone for diplays.

S~

 

[TAC2]

Don ,
I have been making horns for quite sometime,
after boiling them let them set untell they
harden back up ( a day or 2 ). I ues a
scraper to take the horn down , after that
I ues linseed oil and steelwool that is
more pc I think. Good luck with your
horns.
TAC :thumbsup: