polishing horn

[armymedic.2]

i am looking to scrim a horn that i made a while back and i left it rough- it came off of one of my favorite bulls on my farm (he died when i was at basic so pop saved his horns for me) I see all of these scrimmed horns so i wanna try. my question is, why do you have to polish the horn first, and how is it done? i searched old posts but could not find explainations.

 

[blacksmithman64]

read the posts under "horn is[url] done.........In[/url] this forum.White buffalo gave a step by step demonstration. You have to have it real smooth so yer ink or whatever yer usin' fer color doesn't get in all them other scratches and make folks think "What the..." Scraping is the best and fastest way to work a horn other than a hoof rasp. :thumbsup:

 

[ricktwin]

my question is, why do you have to polish the horn first, and how is it done? i searched old posts but could not find explainations.

Polishing the horn helps seal the pores of the horn, as well as remove all of the obvious defects like scratches and small dents. My method is not "traditional", but I want to get it done, so I sand them through 80 grit all the way up to 320 grit, then give a good rub with 000 steel wool always with the "grain" of the fibers. I used to scrape and file, but decided it takes too long now. If I want a good high gloss that won't allow any, and I mean any, ink to stay where it isn't wanted, I then buff the horn on my buffing wheel to a high gloss finish. This finish will actuall have the ink bead up on the surface and you can then wipe it off with paint thinner or your wifes nail polish remover. Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[armymedic.2]

got it, thank you!

 

[rich pierce]

Everybody has their own preferences for polishing. To me, shaping is more important. I see a few horns now and then with dips and wallows and humps. Once you really get those out you can choose how high a polish to go. I don't use any sandpaper, preferring scraping and then burnishing with smooth antler. That's just to achieve a look like the originals, which were not buffed, though that has its own attractiveness.