Scrimshaw help needed

[Stonecove]

I am in the process of scrimming my horn and need some help. I am planning to trace some text and patterns using carbon paper, but as it is not very perminant, I need somethin to protect the tracing while I handle it to do the scrimshaw. What do you recommend to use. Is there a clear spray-on that I can scrim through and will come off easily and not damage the horn? What do you do in a similar situation.
Thanks for your help.
Stonecove

 

[Black Hand]

I have used a clear artists spray from the craft store.

 

[Stonecove]

Hey Black Hand, thanks for responding. I am not familiar with "artist spray". What is is? Is it called Artist Spray?
Thanks,
Stonecove

 

[pichou]

It is a spray used for chalk, charcoal, and pastel drawings. Artist's Fixative Spray. Pretty much the same as hair spray.

 

[StevePrice2]

One trick I use for carving Tiki sculptures out of cow leg bones is to pencil the image in and then coat it with a watered down Elmer's glue. Let it dry and go to town.

might work for ya. or try the hairspray or fixative spray. The elmers was already in the house.

Steve

 

[yeoldcraftsman]

I've heard that your wife's hairspray will be just the ticket to keep your tracings in place.
Gary

 

[paulvallandigham]

The hair sprays are thinned lacquer, for the most part. Read the labels on the spray cans. Alcohol will remove the dried lacquer when you complete the scrimming. ( HINT: if you can find spray lacquer in the paint department cheaper than hair spray, save the money and leave your wife's hair spray alone. You accomplish what you need to do, and keep peace on the home front! )

 

[Stonecove]

Hey Guys, thanks a lot for the ideas. I knew I could find the answer here.
Thanks.
Stonecove

 

[AeroncaTAL]

I basically just pencil my design on and don't worry about it. I do end up refreshing the design in places where I have handled it, but it is not too much of a bother. I did one time try the fixitive, but didn't like it much. The odor was pretty strong and I don't recall that it helped much. A trick that engravers use is to coat the horn with white artists gouche paint. This is a water soluable paint; you paint it on the horn, draw your design and engrave. I haven't used it on my horns but we did use it when I took a metal engraving class at the Oregon Gunmaker's Fair in May. It holds the penciled design pretty well. Once you do your scrim engraving you wash the paint off. Give it a try...
Scott

 

[longshot47]

There are some water-based hair sprays available that are pretty effective, without the need for solvent clean-up.

 

[omarick1948]

Take you time and draw your pattern freehand!

Don't trace someone else's art work! Tracing turns an art form into a craft thing. If it doesn't come out perfect it will show character, not copying! I usually draw the profile of the subject and then take my scriber and fill-in everything for detailing! Aint that hard! :2

Rick