I am very curious as to how to make powder horns from scratch. Also pan primers from horn.
Could someone do a build-a-long ? Please.
It is not that hard to do. Also depends on how "scratch" you want to get. I'd advice getting a cleaned up horn to start with. The following gives the basic steps. http://powderpatchandball.com/powderhorns/buildingpowderhorn.htm
The book "Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn" by Scott & Cathy Sibley also gives an excellent step by step procedure using drawings, pictures, and text. Easy to follow and duplicate. If I can do it, anybody can.
Thanks for the info. I'll have to check them out.
I have 3 cowhorns (in the rough) that I've had since 2004. It's about time that I tried to do something with them. Then again they may be to old and dried out to be of any use.
I sent one to Tom H that my FIL started on in Mid-80's that he turned into a masterpiece....so they might be ok.
Thanks David. May be all is not lost.
I bet they will be fine. You want them dry after all. With reasonable care, horns over 200 years old are still in pretty good shape. In a museum now or in hands of collectors but they lasted a long time in use.
Never had any problems being too old or dried out, the only real problems is them darn little beatles that chew holes in the horn if not looked after on a regular basis. Never know where or when they will show up to eat your favorite horn. Have left a horn fairly unprotected for a couple of years without any damage, on the other hand, had severe damage on one in a month or two that I thought was well protected. I have read somewhere that some of the treatments of the old horns tend to repell these little devils. I have horns that are more than 10 years old and still good as new. Some I have been saving for future projects.
Bull Frog... I was wondering what happened to a horn I have here. I was going to put it up for trade. However, on close examination I discovered several little holes into the horn. They weren't all the way through but pretty deep. So it's bugs, huh?
Can those beetle holes be repaired? Like with a little thick expoy or a mix of horn dust and super glue?
You know...that should be possible. Worth trying anyway.
Ned
Yep. Super glue will patch horn. It can be done but it's hard to match the original horn. I found with a split inside the tip as I was finishing it. Didn't want to waste the work, so figured I'd give it a try. It also works on fingernails. Same type of material. Thats where I got the idea.
If they are shallow, they can often be scraped out, if deep, I have an old horn that has been filled with wood filler. It stands out as a repair. tuff to match the color. But the horn is still useable. Have not tried the other methed mentioned. Could be it would not show as much.
I looked over the horns I have. One the core or bone came out pretty easily. The 2nd was a real mutha. The 3rd didn't have a core in it when I had gotten them. The 3rd is small and would probably be good for a primer horn. The other 2 will probably hold 1/2-3/4 of a pound of powder in each. They all will need quite a bit of cleaning up inside and out.
Linc, a fast easy way to clean those horns is to drop them in boiling water and boil for at least 30 mins, now take one out and slide it over a 1" dowel chucked up in your vice, while hot, take an old school paint scraper and start to scrape all the caley junk off the outside of the horn, you can use a brass wire brush on a drill for the inside, just go low and slow, to get deeper inside the horn, you can make a scraper out of an old speed bore bit ground down and heat and bend the shank to a 90, works well, hope this helps, LM
I scraped the outside with a cabinet scraper. I still need to do the inside.
I'm only working the horn the right for now.
I cut off the blunt end of the horn and spliced on the tip from another horn that I had cut up for horn tip overlays on some of the bows that I've made.I'll have to take a pic.
Here are a couple of pics of the spliced horn.
Looks pretty neat and clean. How did you splice them? What kind of a joint is it? Glue or epoxy? Details.
I glued them together with superglue. I know that I will need to come up with something stronger but this will suffice for now.
I shaped the horn some more. Then as usual I dropped it on the cement floor. The two pieces came apart. So I drilled and pegged them and glued back together. I was also able to get the butte plug (3/4" pine board) made and epoxied in place, tacked in with wire nails and rounded the edges. I also made a plug for the spout.
QuoteThen as usual I dropped it on the cement floor.
ROFL ROFL Sorry, couldn't help it since I seem to do that same thing all the time. I can never drop something before I put a lot of time on it. Always as I approach the final steps. hdslp
Tom, At least all was not lost. LOL. It was edu-macational. I found out that superglue wouldn't hold by itself. I think being pegged and glued back together that it should hold up under the next drop or two. hdslp. Usually my dropsies are when I just about have a knapped obsidian point finished.
Here are a coupla pics of the current state of the horn.
One more.
Been there and done that, any time I have a problem it is usually in the last stages. There are several good epoxies out there, but I have come to relie heavily on JB Weld. It will even epoxy wood handles on knife blades or files. I just mix it up, apply it, then let it cure overnight. It is hard as a rock and if mixed right, can be filed and even drilled. Also makes base plugs air and water tight.
I'll have to get some JB. I generally have a problem with epoxies not wanting to harden. I can't seem to get the ratios right.
Linc
I found that horn is too porous for regular super glue. I think on the bow I did for you has horn tips. I SG'd one and it came off during shaping. I even tried SG gel with the same results. JB weld is super stuff. If you have a problem with portions. I mix on a piece of tile with 2 circles (same size) drawn on. If you leave some on the tile you can remove it with a razor blade and you've got a clean surface to mix on again. wtt
Oh forgot too tell you "Great Job Buddy" dntn dntn
Thanks buddy. I used the sg thick. The second gluing seems to be better. With the first gluing acting as a sizing and using pegs, I think it will hold up this time
My first horn is basically done. I have posted this in the Powder Horn forum.