flat priming horn

[bowcrazy]

this is my first attempt at flattening a horn.

[bowcrazy]

sorry I don't know how to get both pics on same post

[old salt]

Dainty  little horn and good looking to boot.

[bmtshooter]

That is a really nice job.  How did you accomplish it ?

[bowcrazy]

Thanks. it took a lot of guesswork but I made a type of press from some lumber scraps that would not allow the horn to be flattened so far that it would no longer be hollow, and then i put the horn in an oil filled fry daddy that i had salvaged, and heated till it was flexible and put in in my press till it was cool then i did the sanding and smoothing and made and installed the plug and stopper.

[Patocazador]

Good job!
I have heard of putting a horn in boiling water to soften it but I guess hot oil works too.

Would you post a photo showing the base with a short explanation of how you fitted it?
Thanks

[bowcrazy]

Yes sir. I cut a wedge that is tapered width wise, then sanded it some so it has a taper height wise, then rounded out all the corners, as I was pressing the horn flat
I had this inserted in the horn and just held it snug in there after the horn cooled it held its shape, once I had the horn sanded down close I cut off all the excess from that wedge and sanded around it time and time again till it was about 3/8 of an inch or so in the horn but snug and there was enough of the wood left to cover the edges of the horn I had a little gap there that I never got worked out then I epoxied it in there. the plug and stopper are both from a piece of wild cherry.

Good job!
I have heard of putting a horn in boiling water to soften it but I guess hot oil works too.

Would you post a photo showing the base with a short explanation of how you fitted it?
Thanks

[Patocazador]

Thanks a bunch.
I was wondering if a base plug could be rough-shaped and then forced into the horn while the horn was hot and then braced in place while it cooled.

It might be able to eliminate small gaps that way???