How to seal powderhorn

[rusticbob]

I picked up a nice, small powderhorn today at a yard sale. Very nice shape, but it leaks around the butt plug, which probably shrunk. What is the best way to seal it?

 

[garypl]

Beeswax or epoxy

 

[Eutycus]

Or make your own plug. That way you can brag about the horn you built (kind of)

 

[Tumbledown]

I would use beeswax, maybe using some DEP plastic wood putty/filler first if the gaps are big enough.

 

[Eutycus]

I'm assuming that by epoxy J B Weld was meant? Good stuff!

 

[rafterob]

Bees wax is the simplest of the above options. Making a new one is the best option.

 

[Dude]

Why not use clear silicone sealer?

If replacing with new, how would you remove the fasteners?

 

[rusticbob]

Sealed it with some softened beeswax. Seems to be ok, no air leakage.

 

[Ajgall]

Sealed it with some softened beeswax. Seems to be ok, no air leakage.

I seal with beeswax and have never noticed any ill effects.

 

[S.Kenton]

If you don’t feel like maki g another baseplug for it just seal the current base plug with beeswax. You can dirty the beeswax up or leave it as is and fill that gap right up… that’s the period correct method of sealing a powder horn.

 

[Wddeke]

How about hide glue? It will seep down into the gaps and you can wipe the excess off with a damp rag. Repeat until gaps are filled.

 

[Davey Boy]

Why not use clear silicone sealer?

If replacing with new, how would you remove the fasteners?

I would replace the wood plug. My thought would be to drill a hole in the center of the plug and whittle the plug from the hole toward the fasteners. Eventually you would reach the fasteners and be able to remove them without damaging the horn at the fastener entry points. Don't try to pull the fasteners out with any kind of tool or pliers.

No to epoxy, a high temperature wax would work, but it's messy.

 

[longcruise]

Beeswax. I used it on all the horns I've made (not all that many ).

I'd read that it's safer in the event of a horn blowing up. Makes the plug blow out easier.

 

[Whisper]

I’m still working on this one but I agree with Davey Boy. Make a new one.

 

[rusticbob]

I would replace the wood plug. My thought would be to drill a hole in the center of the plug and whittle the plug from the hole toward the fasteners. Eventually you would reach the fasteners and be able to remove them without damaging the horn at the fastener entry points. Don't try to pull the fasteners out with any kind of tool or pliers.

No to epoxy, a high temperature wax would work, but it's messy.

Never thought of that. The pins holding the plug are a bit “proud” of the base, so I was not considering trying to remove them, but from the inside might be possible. I just have to be real careful because the horn base is very thin.

 

[colimr]

Don't tell the wife but I've used her nail clippers to grab small nails and pins to remove them they bite in real well and do no damage well until I get caught and her emery boards make fine sanding easy also

 

[Pete G]

Bee’s wax and heat gun.

 

[colimr]

Will beeswax hold up to constant use or do you reapply periodically ?

 

[longcruise]

I've found it to be long-lasting. My own horn is on 18 years with no maintenance.

 

[nhmoose]

Beeswax will be your lifetime fix. Simple