Anyone working with horn?

Jens Nordlunde · 10th September 2006, 10:38 PM

If any of you are working with horn when restoring a weapon, here may be a trick.

I found it in 'Indian Art at Delhi 1903' where George Watt on page 196 writes.
‘A portion of horn is kept moist with coconut-oil and heated before a fire until it becomes almost as soft as wax. This may take an hour or more. It is then worked or pressed, into the required form, either with the hands or by means of moulds made of hard wood, and finished with scraping tools and a small lathe, and then polished.

Rich · 10th September 2006, 11:23 PM

I've used a little cow/ox horn in simple shapes, mostly just circular
x-sections. I just use a grinder and/or files to shape, then put it on
a buffing wheel for polish. Careful with the buffer as it can 'burn" and
distort the horn if it gets too hot.

Rich

Battara · 11th September 2006, 07:13 PM

Also must be careful with oil - it can make the horn translucent to near transparant.

tom hyle · 18th September 2006, 09:47 PM

My concern with heating horn in oil is that it mightn't leave it as strong when it rehardens? I have heard of similar methods to temporarily soften bone and anlter. I pretty much stick to carving horn to the shapes I need.

10th September 2006, 10:38 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Anyone working with horn? If any of you are working with horn when restoring a weapon, here may be a trick. I found it in 'Indian Art at Delhi 1903' where George Watt on page 196 writes. ‘A portion of horn is kept moist with coconut-oil and heated before a fire until it becomes almost as soft as wax. This may take an hour or more. It is then worked or pressed, into the required form, either with the hands or by means of moulds made of hard wood, and finished with scraping tools and a small lathe, and then polished.

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10th September 2006, 11:23 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I've used a little cow/ox horn in simple shapes, mostly just circular x-sections. I just use a grinder and/or files to shape, then put it on a buffing wheel for polish. Careful with the buffer as it can 'burn" and distort the horn if it gets too hot. Rich

11th September 2006, 07:13 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Also must be careful with oil - it can make the horn translucent to near transparant.

18th September 2006, 09:47 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	My concern with heating horn in oil is that it mightn't leave it as strong when it rehardens? I have heard of similar methods to temporarily soften bone and anlter. I pretty much stick to carving horn to the shapes I need.