Southern Ringed Horn's

[Pete42]

I was wondering if someone in the Forum would tell me how to do the ring's on a Southern ringed horn.
Thank's
Pete

 

[ricktwin]

I was wondering if someone in the Forum would tell me how to do the ring's on a Southern ringed horn.
Thank's
Pete

Pete,

I've been making horns for 35 years and I've only done two of these type horns, and on both of them, here's how I did mine ...

1. I took another old horn about the same size that I wasn't going to finish out and smoothed it.

2. I smoothed the new horn I was going to put the rings on.

3. I determined where on the horn I was going to put the rings and drew lines.

4. I used calipers at these lines to determine the rings sizes I would need.

5. I determined the width I wanted to make the rings.

6. I carefully cut a series of rings from the "old" horn and smoothed the insides of the rings that will be against the horn. This needs to be smooth as possible.

7. I then boiled the rings to make them pliable, then I very carefully worked them onto the "new" horn, from the pointed end and snugged them, by tapping them further onto the wider part of the horn, to where I wanted them. I remember I had to do this a couple of times to get the rings to fit like I wanted.

8. As the rings cooled, they snugged down onto the horn. I then secured them in place with small wooden pegs (toothpicks). To finish, I filed some grooves into the rings on one and scrimshanded the others.

I apologize, but I don't have any pictures of them to show you. I sold them before I could get any and, alas, it was before digital cameras and I didn't document the process. I'll need to do that now. I hope this helped you some.

Ron Smith

 

[rice1817]

I am a good friend of a professional horner and he does it just as described. One thing that he does is heat the horn with a heat gun..he tells me that boiling does not get the horn hot enough to achieve the plastic state that you are looking for. I supposed if the Missus permits it you could also put in in the oven. Horn becomes very soft and pliable at about 300 degrees and can be flattend and shaped just like plastic.

 

[ricktwin]

One thing that he does is heat the horn with a heat gun..he tells me that boiling does not get the horn hot enough to achieve the plastic state that you are looking for.

I agree, a heat gun works well and is what I mainly use when flattening or shaping horns. I didn't have one when I made the two horns mentioned, but use one alot now. I also use an old asparagus cooker (my wife couldn't get me to eat them, so she gave it to me) and use oil for my boiling. It's the perfect shape and size for boiling horns on a hot plate in the shop. The oil gets the horn much hotter than water would, but you have to be careful not to over heat it. You don't need the rings to be too soft because you want them a little firm to tap into position. The horn does come out extremely pliable. There are many methods to be used to heat your horn, so you may want to try different ones and see what works best for you. That's part of the fun. No one way is the "best" ... you'll find one you like sooner or later, or like me, use a combination. I'm always open to ideas and suggestions!

Ron

 

[omarick1948]

I was wondering if someone in the Forum would tell me how to do the ring's on a Southern ringed horn.
Thank's
Pete

Most of the 'Ol Honers that were making the ringed horns made their rings from cut horn sheets or extra sections of horn from other projects. Here's how I've done it over the years.

Cut a section from a cow horn about three to four inches long. Then with a hack saw make one horizonal/lengthwise cutalong the section.

Using a HEAT GUN, heat the horn section slowly. Be sure to wear thick gloves and be careful as that "Puppy" do get hot quick. As it heats. slowly spread the horn section until it can be put between two piece's of wood board and clamped into a vise until cool....You now have a nice flat sheet of horn to work with. You now can cut any length or width of strips from the horn sheet to make the rings. After cutting the strip,
Locate where you want to put the rings and mark with a pencil. Measure around the horn with a string or cloth measuring tape to determine the length of the strip and trim your strip(s) so the ends will butt together on the back side. Drill a small peg hole at the very end of each measured strip.

Now heat strip with your HEAT GUN again until very pliable and wrap around marked area of powder horn. When you have the ring where you want it and it butts up tight. Wrap a length of Duct Tape :redface: over and around your ring and let cool. When cool, drll wood peg holes in powder horn and wittle wood pegs for securing ring. Put a drop of glue on pegs after tapping in holes and file or sand off excess wood. Now you can file or saw cut rings or ring band!

This is not as time consuming as it sounds, but gives your horn that added "Real Deal" look!

If you have Scott Sibley's Book. He shows an original ring horn using this method.

Anywho,...That's the way I've made 'em over many season's!

Rick

 

[soggy]

:grin: I gotta go along with Ricktwin, I've made a couple of ringed horns in the past, and Ricks step by step almost mirrors what I did (maybe we are twins ) Only have pictures of one that I did last year:

Soggy

 

[Pete42]

Thank's Guy's for the great information I will give it a try in the morning.If I get it I will try to post the out come.
Thank's Again
Pete

 

Nice horn and great tips!

Billy

 

[mazo kid]

What area(s) are these horns from? Time period? Thanks. Emery

 

[mckutzy]

could that be usefull in shaping the end for a butcap? and does it smell the house up if u were to put it in the oven :cursing: :cursing:

 

[omarick1948]

A Heat Gun works good for shaping the large end of a horn for a base cap! Doesn't smell all that bad and if it does, just blame it on the dog! :rotf: