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ricktwin said:
Here's a horn I got at the DayLilly Wine Festival this summer. Here is the horn's process so far. Thanks for looking.
Ron

To continue along, here is the horn I'm making with the spout completed and the base plug in place. I wanted to try the oversized base plug instead of the exact fit type. I've decided not to do engrailing at the throat separation, but instead, put some nice scimmed banners at the divide. I'll keep you all posted as the progress goes along. Now I have to decide what pattern I want on it. I'll "antique" it when I get the scrimming done, along with a simple leather strap.

Ron

PowderHorn30.jpg


PowderHorn31.jpg
 
Ron, I like that! Excellent turning on the butt plug and spout plug. Are you going to dye the throat darker than the body, or dye all one color?
Scott
 
41Aeronca said:
Ron, I like that! Excellent turning on the butt plug and spout plug. Are you going to dye the throat darker than the body, or dye all one color?
Scott

I'll use "Old Bones" to antique the entire horn. My wife asked me to leave the throat area unstained to allow the "chocolate" color to show through. The antiqueing will still allow that. I like turning my own plugs. It gives me a lot of opportunity for different horns with changing woods.

Ron
 
oreclan said:
Ron, what is the best way to polish the horn once it is filed to shape?
Ron M.

There are folks that like to be "traditionalists" and scrape the horn smooth with a knife edge or a piece of glass. This works fine and gives you a feeling of accomplishment. I personally use finer grained sand paper to smooth any nicks or cuts, starting with 150 grit and then to 220 grit. I use the 220 grit with the grain and finish it off with 000 steel wool. I keep looking at it under bright light to see where I need to continue to get the sanding marks out. When finished, I apply a light coat of mineral oil. This cleans the horn and helps me when I get ready to scrimshand it. I draw my design and if I don't like it, it wipes off fairly easily. If you want to really get a nice finish, I've finished some on a buffing wheel starting with red rouge and ending with white. Now that will show you any sanding marks! You have to use a light touch, since the wheel can burn the horn in seconds if you don't keep it moving. When you're done, it looks like glass.

Ron
 
Ron,
I use bees wax to fill any gaps between the plug and horn, and then to polish the horn. It doesn't give it a real "glassy" shine, but it does give it a shine, and so far I like the results...
'Old bones'? Could you expand a bit on that? I like the RIT dye, easy to use, but want to try other techniques.
Scott
 
41Aeronca said:
Ron,
I use bees wax to fill any gaps between the plug and horn, and then to polish the horn. It doesn't give it a real "glassy" shine, but it does give it a shine, and so far I like the results...
'Old bones'? Could you expand a bit on that? I like the RIT dye, easy to use, but want to try other techniques.
Scott
Scott and Rick, "OLD BONES" is no more than POTASSIUM PERMANANATE. You can go to a Soft Water chemical supplier and purchase a large container of the stuff for about the same price as that little 4 ounce bottle. Also makes an excellent wood dye!
 
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