How To...

[Horner75]

Scott, I have no reason to lie! ..... 

I like to call it artistic expression!...

[Leathermonger]

I use both a blade and scribe.  Go slow, take your time.  Don't fret too much about your scrimshaw engraving.  You will make mistakes.  I've done it, Rick's done it (don't lie Rick ), everyone makes mistakes engraving.  Look at originals and you will see many a mistake in scrimshaw.  The first time I was leafing through Dressler's book The Engraved Powder Horn, I recognized cutting mistakes because I had made the same thing.
Scott

The trick is learning how to fix em or cover em up!

[Oregon Horner]

The first map horn I did, I was engraving the Northern Willamette Valley in Oregon where I live.  The xacto knife slipped when I was scribing the Willamette River.  There is now a river emptying into the Willamette where none exist.
Scott

[hank-aye]

OK, Don't worry about mistakes, they happen, knife (exact #3 blade [break it ,re-grind it]), stick extra streams in to confuse the enemy, got that much. how, what do ya use ta color them, why that an not sumtin ( ), else? How do ya get rid of the excess? What else can ya use?
See, I gots lots a questions, PLEASE keep the answers rollin in.....
Thanks much,
hank-aye

[Oregon Horner]

I use RIT brand powdered fabric dye to color my horns.  There are other methods that also work, such as onion skins, aqua fortis, walnut husks.  Experiment! See what works for you...
Scott

[hank-aye]

Have ya read about that AQUA FORTIS stuff?

<http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/nitric+acid>

My lungs are bad enough without suckin that stuff in'em.
Think I'll stick to walnuts an rit dye. Not meanin any offense to anyone.
h-a

[beowulf]

interesting ! I`ve been using aqua fortis for years on curly maple .had no idea it could be used on horn , guess you can teach an old dog new tricks   

[Rev]

Rit golden yellow dye for the body, Fiebing mahogany leather dye for the tip, followed by a wash of Minwax dark walnut stain overall will get you this...



Vary what you use & get any number of different finishes...