Any Ideas?

Horsewright

Horsewright

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
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I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on cutting these guys up? I cut a lot of sheep and goat horn many years ago but I don't remember how I did it. I do remember wasting a lot before I got it down and that's what I'm trying to avoid this time.

I mostly would be looking for 3"x1"x 3/16 to 1/4" scales as I make mostly smaller knives.

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Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.
 
DevinT said:
Last time I cut some up, I matched where I cut the left and right horns. You can heat and straighten curved pieces.

I’m pretty sure you already know all of this.

Hoss
Click to expand...
I remember some old timer telling me he would use boiling water, it would make the horn almost rubbery. Then clamp them between a couple aluminum plates to set. Have always wanted to try that, but have not yet. If that does work, you could use a dremel to cut out what you need, without having to cut out the curves as waste.

ETA: report back what you do, I have a ram's horn I've been saving for someday.
 
DevinT said:
Last time I cut some up, I matched where I cut the left and right horns. You can heat and straighten curved pieces.

I’m pretty sure you already know all of this.

Hoss
Click to expand...
Thanks Hoss. I did actually forget about the heating and straightening as I've never done that. I had read about it later but it wasn't in the memory banks and heck I've slept once or twice in the last 25 odd years which is when I was cutting that stuff up. That was the waste I was talking about. Trying to cut straight pieces out of curves.

lukusamongus said:
I remember some old timer telling me he would use boiling water, it would make the horn almost rubbery. Then clamp them between a couple aluminum plates to set. Have always wanted to try that, but have not yet. If that does work, you could use a dremel to cut out what you need, without having to cut out the curves as waste.

ETA: report back what you do, I have a ram's horn I've been saving for someday.
Click to expand...
Will do.
 
Here's a video of a fellow making spoons from cow horns, start to finish. Among other things, he says to immerse the horn in hot oil because boiling water doesn't get hot enough to make the horn fully pliable.


I would assume all of this applies to ram's horn as well, but I don't have any personal experience with the materials.
 
I saw a video some time back where they were cutting and straightening large amounts of sheephorn. They boiled it in large vats and then pressed it in hydraulic presses. It worked remarkably well. I'm having a heck of a time trying to find the video but if I do I'll post it here.

Eric
 
Most horn will start to return to it's natural shape after forming. Normally this can be controlled with mechanical fasteners.
Sheep horn will shrink, causing it to crack-regardless of how it's formed. I suggest cutting the shapes you want from the horn with minimal heating and forming.
 
J. Keeton said:
I don't have any good suggestions Horsewright Horsewright ; but the voices inside me long to drink ale from those!
Click to expand...
I've got two massive Aoudad horns that I'm making into drinking horns...

1000002807.jpg

Coating them with food grade epoxy... The only problem is the huge difference in thickness from one side to the other. One side is two inches thick, the other is 1/16th-ish thick.
 
I work with water buffalo and bull horn regularly.

https://imgur.com/LPmNGT3

Cut off the very thin base and the tip. Split inn half lengthwise. Cut into roughly the lengths you need.

Heat up canola oil to about 320 F. Heat pieces for about three minutes in the oil, or until softened. Then press flat...... I usevises and clamps. The underside of horn is on a steel plate, the upper side is protected with thick soft leather and a wood board to cushion the horns surface so as not to loose the texture. Let cool. then sand the back flat. do most of the thinning from the back in order to keep as much surface texture as possible.

Experience will let you figure out the best way to break down the horn for best yields and quality.

These flat pieces have stayed flat for months now....... but I agree with Bill that mechanical fasteners are a must......the more the better.

see before and after below
Saludos
J

https://imgur.com/5ZCBRcg
 
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