Reworking an old horn

[JEB/Ms]

I am starting to rework a blowing horn that I picked up in about 1962 or 1963 I can't stand to jump right into things! This horn had numerous coats of terribly tenacious blue paint on it that took quite alot of elbow grease to scrape off. An unusual flaw appeared when I was cleaning the small end and when I finally got all that gawd awful paint off I found out that it was a wooden patch that had been glued in to hide a slip of the drill bit. My question is: should I go back with a wooden patch like the original craftsman used after I color the horn (I am going to use the method Mr. Knight describes in his "Mad Monk's Horn Dying" instructions)? The horn only dates to about the early 1900's but it has some sentimental value so I would like to make it look nice before it is hung up for good.
Thanks
JEB/Ms

 

[2172]

Jeb, I've had some luck using a patch of horn inserted in the hole...and sometimes, using some of the horn "dust" to mix with crazy glue to patch...I've also first filled a bad drill hole with a wooden match stick before patching. Since all of my mis-drills have occurred in the upper neck area, I've gotten in the habit of doing a little fancy carving below the hole, and then using black india ink to color the upper section including the hole...if the horn has worth to you, whatever works is OK ...I have a horn that I bought in a flea market about 30 years ago..with "souvenier of Switzerland" painted on it, and a hole caused by an eyelet being inserted...it converted well to a powder hown and the dust mix filling the eyelet hole is still in place...good luck, Hank

 

[omarick1948]

Jeb,
I did a repair similar to yours several years ago with some good results. Now this may sound a little "hokey", put I used some Bondo...the car body putty stuff! I got some fiber glass brown dye pigment (comes in a small tube)from a boat dealer parts department. Mixed it in with the Bondo to the color I needed and sanded when dry.

Worked for the repair and looked great!

 

[J.D.]

IMHO, I would recommend leaving the old patch in place unless it was poorly done. It sounds like the old patch has been remove, so another patch of wood or horn would be an appropriate period repair.

Glue residue on wood and horn won't take stain, so I suggest staining the patch and the neck of the horn prior to gluing in the patch.

 

[JEB/Ms]

Thank you guys for the prompt and helpful replies. Since it has taken me 45 years to scrape the paint off I don't know how long it will take me to dye and finish this project, but at least I am rolling now.
JEB/Ms

 

[dlpowell]

I drilled thru a neck recently with a 5/16" bit. I took a pencil and carpenters glue jammed it in and trimmed. Worked great. Small rough area on neck. But it ain't coming out.

 

[JEB/Ms]

Odd you should say that. The repair that I uncovered (I don't know if it was the original repair or not) seems to be a pencil as you can see a small part of what looks like a channel for the lead.
Thanks
JEB/Ms

 

[PaulN/KS]

Wrap it with some wet rawhide and sew it up. That was a common repair of old horns. It will shrink tight as it dries and works pretty well.

 

[JEB/Ms]

What was used to prevent a rainstorm from turning the patch into a slimey mess?
JEB/Ms