Need help from experienced Horn Makers!!

[dbiggers]

I started making my own powder horns and i'm now on my 4th one and i ran into a problem that i didn't think would happen to me, although i hear its a pretty common mistake. While carefully drilling out the neck, i guess my eyes crossed, or something, but my drill bit poked a small hole out of the side of the neck :cursing:. Now this is a really awsome horn with a lot of characteristics and i'm making it for myself and really want it to work out. Is their some type of filler, or apoxy, or anything that i can use that will fill this hole, seal it and can be buffed down smooth and still be air thight?? I hope ya'll can help me out with this one.

Thank's... :hatsoff:

 

[Woodsman1752]

A rawhide patch, will last forever and will not leak

 

[2172]

I make a paste of the horn dust (from the drilling) and an epoxy glue..I first plug the hole with either a toothpick or a match stick, and then apply the paste..it seems to seal well, and can be sanded.I once cut a patch from some horn and used it..worked, but didn't hide well.
drilling out at this stage is about as common as loading a dry ball..during a match..Hank

 

[omarick1948]

All of the above will work to some extent! .. Everyone who has made a few or many powder horns has had a drill-out, and there's many ways to repair these. A picture would help here. Your welcome to send me a PM and I'll help you through it, if you want!

Rick

 

[dbiggers]

Thank's Rick, you have a PM.

 

[ohio ramrod]

As was already posted I also use a mix of fine horn dust from sanding and epoxy to fill"oops" or natural holes. Another and historically correct method is to "wrap the area with a thin sheet of brass (brass shim stock is available at most hardware stores), or wet rawhide and allow the rawhide to dry. It will shrink as it dries. I have seen horns with a rawhide wrap extended to make a anchor point for the strap.

 

[Brasilikilt]

Another, yet more advanced remedy is to cut the spout off at the hole, and then carve a new spout from antler, bone or good hardwood.
You can also purchase a powder flask mechanism for the spout and simply size the horn to fit.

If you have a lathe,or know a pro-powder horn person who does, you can turn a big *WHOOPS*, a chunk of horn/antler, 1/2" tap & die into a screw tip powder horn.


I realize my suggestions require more tooling and technique, but I had to open my mouth....I've seen mistakes made into great horns.

Anyways, good luck and let us know how it went.

 

[dbiggers]

Thank's fella's for all the great suggestions. Believe it or not, i was actually able to seal the small hole with some JB Weld putty and super glue and it's smoother than a baby's bottom and air tight. The JB Weld didn't work so well on a cracked horn I tried to repair, but as mentioned, worked great for the accidental drill out. The best solution of all is to go slower and be more careful with the drilling.... :thumbsup:

 

[Pete G]

The best solution of all is to go slower and be more careful with the drilling.... :thumbsup:

Get yourself one of the hand cranked "eggbeater" style drills.

 

[rafterob]

At least you didn't seize the bit in the neck like I did :shocked2: Then I snapped the bit off trying to crank it out :shake: So I had to cut the neck back farther to get a good grip on part of the remaining bit, heated it up and pulled it out. A member of our club turned a nice wooden spout and plug to make up for my mistakes :bow: making a nice horn is deceptively difficult. :surrender:

 

[swamp.fox]

a small squeeze tube of auto body filler,its a thick paste, just press into the hole, let harden and sand smooth, end of prblem.

 

[omarick1948]

How does that body putty take engraving for ya?.. :rotf:

Sorry Swampfox!....... :wink:

Rick