Powder Horn Plugs

[paco97]

I have a tuning peg for my powder horn I'm creating. How far should the tuning plug go in the neck. Right now it goes about halfway and stops. I would think this would be a disaster waiting to happen if it would break off in the neck. SHould I make it go all the way in.

 

[Ridge]

I make mine go in about 3/4's of the way. I don't think the depth is going to help much if you drop the horn. I did exactly that this year while squirrel hunting and, as luck would have it, the darn thing landed plug down right on a rock. It snapped it quick.

I used a bullet puller to get the wood out.

 

[Swampman]

Most original plugs seem to be tapered. Being thickest where they are most likely to break, makes them less likely to break. They also seem less likely to swell until they are stuck.

 

[Ridge]

With a tapered plug, it will push itself out as it swells. That's why they do it, so that it won't get stuck inside the horn.

 

[weeping wolf]

Hi Paco, If you want to get a proper fit to the horn you are using, I suggest that you go to a music shop or an instrument repair supply house and get yourself a tuning peg reamer. Its tapered to the very same taper on your peg. I use it whenever I'm making a horn and I'll usually fit the peg so its about an eigth of an inch from the stop ring on the peg to the end of the horn. When you place the peg into the horn's spout, it will be a friction fit which requires only a light slow twist to get a good seal with the horn. Try this, I think you'll like the end result. Good luck. Wolf

 

[J.D.]

Ream the horn spout with a #6 tapered reamer to match the taper on your tuning peg. I like my plug to go all the way in.

J.D.