Powder horn advice

[S.Kenton]

Your horn looks very serviceable, just seal the base plug and enjoy. Who knows maybe someday you’ll be building your own. If you have trouble finding bees wax pm me and I’ll send ya enough to seal your base plug

 

[PathfinderNC]

So....you're going to soak the butt of the horn in water to try to loosen the bond. And to the wood this does what? If the maker did not even try to make it airtight, I doubt that the wood inside the horn is sealed at all either. Ide rather lift the pins with a blade, heat the horn and slide the butt out. No stress on the wood. Thats why I set them in wax. Its HC and works.

No you wouldn’t soak the horn on water. I suppose the process would be too difficult for you to figure out. But anyway, if you’re looking to be historically correct (I didn’t see that as a concern by the OP) then TB would be sinful indeed

 

[Ames]

Over 42 years a finish carpenter and cabinet builder. Yeah. Its too hard for me to figure out how to get a plug out.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Over 42 years a finish carpenter and cabinet builder. Yeah. Its too hard for me to figure out how to get a plug out.

Show us your horn work. An expert is always helpful!

 

[Rod Man]

^ Umm, Mr. Pathfinder NC, he does damn fine Horn work. I know because I have one and I am planning on getting another one soon. Now, on the other side of the coin, I have seen you post some examples of your work...very nice and well done as well. Lets all just stand down a bit. Both you fellas are fine craftsmen with different opinions... let it go at that.

Respectfully,

RM

 

[oldwood]

Where to get bee's wax ?? Log Cabin Shop might have bee's wax in their catalog , web site. Leather stores sell it for stitching lubrication.

 

[Belleville]

After 50 years experience with M/L I have learned a couple of things. Bees wax works great. Just warm and rub it in. A leaky horn has the potential of a bomb, esp. with a F/L. Do not recommend removing the butt, can cause a lot of damage. if you remove it or when making a new horn wax the butt plug and warm it, to assemble. Hold in place with a max, of 4 wooden pins (round tooth picks work great), If you should blow it up, is supposed to blow out the butt plug and not rupture the horn. Have not tried it, have seen the immediate the aftermath of one blowing up. Not recommended. Don't use glue for the same reason. My 2 cents,

 

[Andrewmtnman]

After 50 years experience with I have learned a couple of things. Bees wax works great. Just warm and rub it in. A leaky horn has the potential of a bomb, esp. with a F/L. Do not recommend removing the butt, can cause a lot of damage. if you remove it or when making a new horn wax the butt plug and warm it, to assemble. Hold in place with a max, of 4 wooden pins (round tooth picks work great), If you should blow it up, is supposed to blow out the butt plug and not rupture the horn. Have not tried it, have seen the immediate the aftermath of one blowing up. Not recommended. Don't use glue for the same reason. My 2 cents,

Interesting, never thought about the possibility of ember or flash getting in the gap. That would make for a bad day