powder horn

[mudd turtle]

Saterday morning I went to a reenactment and to sutlers row. bought two ramrods and found a small horn at what I thought was a good price. The stopper was broken but I got it out easily. The horn appeared to be dyed and and was not scraped smooth in a couple places but after closer examination I think the horn was scorced and that is why it may have been dyed. After seeing this problem I decided to see if the plug was air tight. I ran some water in the sink and pluged it up. Put the horn in the waterwith the plug side down and blew into the horn and saw bubbles comeing out from around the plug. I am thinking about takeing the plug out of the horn and putting a new one in. How is the best way to get the pegs out to remove the wooden plug. Any help in redoing this horn would be appreciated. mudd turtle.

 

[AZ-Robert]

Drill with an itty bitty bit should take care of the pegs, but it might also be glued in place.

Maybe you can work some beeswax into the gaps to get it watertight without taking it apart.

 

[mudd turtle]

AZ Robert- I did try to work some bee's waxinto the base but didn't seal the horn. mudd turtle.

 

[Brasilikilt]

The air flow may be due to gaps caused by wood shrinkage caused by drying too much.......you might want to try soaking the base in linseed, or even vegetable oil.

 

[soggy]

:hmm: If your're not concerned about ruining the old plug, maybe a good way to remove it would be to drill it full of holes (larger the better)then ream out what wood is left, exposeing the pegs, which you could tap back out in the direction that they were put in. IMHO
Soggy

 

[boar]

Mudd I drill pegs out first then get plug out,you could screw a large screw in center to pull out the base plug.If it is worth saving you could fill screw hole.I make my base plug patterns by geting base of horn ready, then pressing base of horn on foam dinner plate,then cut around mark,fit this to horn,then use it on wood for patern. To check a horn all you have to do is blow in horn,you will hear the air coming out. Dilly

 

try filling the horn up with sodiun silacate and give it a blow, then drain it out and dry.

 

[MSzychulda]

Brewers Pitch works well to seal up horns as well, commonly used in rum horns. Jas townsend carries it or you can make your own.

 

[Griz]

Melt some beeswax, pour it in the tip end, swirl it around for a while and pour out the excess....sealed.