Scratchin on a black horn

[paulvallandigham]

Excellent artwork. How does one clean the artwork after it fills with dirt (black powder residue) or is it just a wall hanger? I admit, it looks great when it's new.

Carl: Since no one seems to have tried to answer your question, let me take a shot at it: Washing the horn's outer surface with a soft cloth and water and soap should take out most of any dirt that has worked into the lines of any scrimshaw on the horn. If you have a clump of mud fixed to the horn, you might want to soak it for awhile, and then use a toothbrush, with nylon bristles to remove the dirt.

I have used the handle of a toothbrush I retired to my range box, to knock of dried mud that got splatter onto my horn( and me!) one day. As long as your " Scraper " is softer or at least as soft as the Horn itself, you should not see any damage done.

In a lot of original horns( I have one) the lines have filled in with soot and who knows what?!! If you clean them with soap and water, you may find that you have removed all the soot in the lines! That is not fatal. You just need to decide how you want to put soot back in the lines.

Cheap Solution: Take a dab of cold cream, and mix lampblack in it, about 1 part cold cream to 10 parts lampblack, and then dip a piece of tissue into the mix and rub that over the scrimshaw. That should put enough soot in it to stay. The grease of the cold cream will dry and help glue the soot to the horn. Rubbing a tissue or rag over the horn will clean off any of the stuff outside the lines.

A slightly less solution: Others use India ink, and carefully fill in the lines. Let the ink dry, and rub off any spills outside the lines.

To protect the horn from more dirt, and whatever have you, I like to coat the horn with a spray lacquer, or acrylic. Not all of these leave that " plastic " look, so ask at the art supply store for one that leaves a "matte" finish. I put wax on top of any finish I use to fix the lines and colors. I wax the horns annually, or whenever I remember it. I check the horns before going hunting, or to the range, to make sure I filled them after the last outing. I check the feel of the horn, and wood plug, and will give it another coat of wax if it feels like it could use it.

 

[GreyWhiskers]

I found that using clear paste floor wax kinda shined up the horn and left a nice contrast in the scrim.

It's a cheap, made in India horn but I wanted to give it to a 9 year old that has been shooting at the rendezvous with his granddad. I put a pour valve on it to make it easier for him to use. Not PC and kinda amateurish but now he's got a horn with his name on it.

 

[shooyer_250]

you did very well GW, i'm proud for you,,,paste wax,,, what a concept...as far as the young man is concerned, i'll bet a dollar to a donut, he will consider this horn the most beautiful in the world,,,you've a kind heart GW,,it is my great pleasure to call you friend,,,Matayue Oyasin...

 

[Tinker2]

I like it. good job.

I like it a lot.



Tinker2

 

[rkmeyer]

I'll bet he is real proud of His Own Horn. :grin:
Great job. :thumbsup:
Dusty :wink:

 

[buripity]

Grey Whiskers made me my first horn and I was extremely impressed with what he had done! :thumbsup: Not to mention, he was the one responsible for getting me involved in shooting smoke poles to begin with. You could say, "He spread the sickness on to me." :rotf: And for that, I will always be grateful! :hatsoff: My horn will always have sentimental value to me and I'm sure Ethan will feel the same about his. Mentors for the the young (like Ethan) and old (like me), are hard to come by. I will always be thankful to Grey Whiskers and my horn is a reminder of his commitment to pass the sport on to the next generation, like Ethan.

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Buripity,

If you really want to show yer gratitude, stop beating me at shooting competitions. :rotf:

GW

 

[buripity]

I try but you're just so darn bad! :rotf:

 

[blacksmithman64]

Thats probably the best India horn I have seen!
Heres how an old timer told me to do a black horn...I aint tried it yet, just sayin'! You engrave your image like a film negative, leave the main parts unscratched and just scratch the background. Totally backwards as to how you'd do it regular.

And a clarification FWIW-scrimshaw in a historical sense means whale teeth and ivory...engraving is whats done to horn, bone, and antler. However, engraved horns have been referred to as scrimshawed for so long that the term will probably stick. :thumbsup:

 

[MSW]

the young man may well own many fine things in the course of his life, but i'm sure he will remember your work above all the store bought stuff, however elegant or fancy.

thanks for helping to pass on the sport!