Powder horn reamers?

[bowjock]

Would any one know where to purchase a reamer that would match the taper to use fiddle keys for the plug on a horn? :hmm:

 

[musketman]

Please try Brownell's, they specialize in gun smithing tools...

Brownell's

 

[Claude Mathis]

Here ya go...

http://www.violins.ca/tools2.html

http://www.langstaffeviolins.com/violin_making_tools.htm

 

[bowjock]

Thanks Claude, Musketman. I am going to have to stop asking questions here. You guys are just too good :master: or you just love spending my money :redthumb:.....trying to figure this out...lol

 

[Claude Mathis]

Thanks Claude, Musketman. I am going to have to stop asking questions here. You guys are just too good :master: or you just love spending my money :redthumb:.....trying to figure this out...lol

Musketman and I get a small commission for every tuning peg reamer you purchase. :crackup:

 

[Musketeer]

Claude, could it be that ye are a fiddle player? How else would ye know about such things as peg hole reamers? I am an amateur (RANK amateur) cellist, myself. Okay, I suck! But I still give it a go every so often. That durn cello is just too beautiful to let sit in the corner! :thumbsup:

 

[doverdog]

According to the info on Ron Ehlert's video tape on making powder horns, which I have tried and can agree with, a #6 taper pin reamer works for a full sized violin tuning peg. They can be found at most industrial supply stores if you don't want to order through the mail. As I recall, he suggests drilling a 1/4" hole first and then redrilling with a 5/16". I suggest that the hole be drilled first before you put a lot of time in scraping the horn. It would be a shame to put all the effort into preparing the horn and then drill out through the side. I just checked the prices on the links provided by Claude and I think you would be well advised to go the industrial route. I only paid about $10 for mine. Some of the official violin ones have prices that almost curled my remaining few hairs.

 

[Zonie]

"...Some of the official violin ones have prices that almost curled my remaining few hairs."

I bet if you bought one from the official violin tool place and told them you wanted to ream out a cows horn, you would curl their hair too! ::

:crackup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Claude, could it be that ye are a fiddle player? How else would ye know about such things as peg hole reamers?

Never played a fiddle, but I've made a few powder horns. :winking:

 

[Musketeer]

It's never too late to learn! With all those violin pegs and luthier's tools you must have laying around, you could probably make yourself a 12 string fiddle! :shocking: :crackup: :thumbsup:

 

[RussB]

Claude, could it be that ye are a fiddle player? How else would ye know about such things as peg hole reamers?

Never played a fiddle, but I've made a few powder horns. :winking:

Perhaps I should have read this thread before I jumped into making a powder horn..Well, too late now! I just finished the granddady of all powder horns, the thing must have a capacity of 2+ pound........
I had "one-heck-of-a-time" getting that hole punched through and through.....Picked up the horn back in late spring / early summer, boiled it out, cleaned it up a bit, and started making the top. Which is all hand carved to sit inside the horn about 3/4".
The dispenser fitting is 1/2" in dia. so that is where I cut the horn to match up the fitting. The end of the horn was SOLID for just a bit over 3"...and I do mean solid!
I just finished it this morning and started buffing using white rouge...I hope that is the right color.

I have black, (hard metal, steel) brown, (brass / copper) blue, (non-porus-hard wood) and white...the white was a new stick and I couldn't locate the instructions.

I have noticed some rather "thin" spots on the horn when I put a light inside and look at it. I would hate to polish a hole in the thing at this stage....
Any thoughts on using, or not using, the white rouge on a 8" felt wheel at 2200 rpm??? (The motor on my 16" wheel is shocking the crap out of me...can't use that.)
Any thoughts appreciated.
I will get a couple of pictures up later.
Russ

 

[crockett]

Using a high speed buffer could heat up the horn. I don't know if that is or isn't dangerous. You can always double over 1000 grit sandpaper(auto shops) and then finish with tooth paste. Works pretty good. I use the flashlight in the horn technique. Horn is pretty strong, you should be okay.

 

[RussB]

Using a high speed buffer could heat up the horn. I don't know if that is or isn't dangerous. You can always double over 1000 grit sandpaper(auto shops) and then finish with tooth paste. Works pretty good. I use the flashlight in the horn technique. Horn is pretty strong, you should be okay.

Thanks Crocket. That tooth paste thing sound pretty good to me.

I will try a picture. The horn is over 12" long, and 7.5" in circumferance...heck of a horn! A pound of powder will probably get lost in there... :crackup:

Anyway, my concern is the dark ring up toward the cap. Believe it or not, thats the "thin" spot!!

The horn is otherwise a beautiful white color. If I could buff that dark "circle" out I think it would make an exceptional horn. I always liked the lighter colored horns and the ones that have the yellow "aged" look to them.
I might have to try "Old Bonz" on this puppy.

Roundball...do you recognize that Hawken with the vernier sight?.... :crackup: :crackup:

Russ

 

[olgreenhead]

Did i read there is a powder horn video ? How do i get my hands on it for a week or so?

 

[iainofulva]

It would be a shame to put all the effort into preparing the horn and then drill out through the side.

I did just that with my latest horn. I blame a dull bit and a bad battery on my DeWalt. I'm going to just cut off the tip of the horn where the bit came through and make a tip out of wood. Now I just need to find a lathe. And the time.

Jon

 

[Dave K]

Anytime I cut the tip off of the horn for the pour plug, I save the tip. If I mess up and drill through the side, I make a plug from the cut off tip and glue it in the mistake. When finished, you can't find it back. Voice of experience.

 

[jrdavis]

if your into archery you can use the taper cuter that you use to put field points on wooden arrows for the peg end and a reqular taper hand reamer for the horn