How to Cut Horn Handles?

Peter Atwood

Peter Atwood

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
2,468
I'm having a pretty hard time dealing with these odd shapes. How are folks holding these small pieces next to nasty bandsaw blades without getting amputations? Are there any tricks I should know about? Bruce Bump sent me some great Mammoth chunks but a couple of them are pretty convoluted in shape and I'd like to get some flat scales out of them.

Also, I'm really liking the looks of sheep's horn on handles. Does anyone know of a source for this material?
 
peter this sounds like a call for mr taylor. bill buxton just posted some great horn, i think it was about goat horn. not me i can,t take the smell:barf: sure does look great thou.fouler
 
Use a guide fence and a push stick....Otherwise let the finger nails grow long and trim them as you go:D :eek: :D
Peter are you just wanting to try a piece of sheep horn or what,I might have a piece to spare..
Bruce
 
Yes Bruce, I'm just looking to try a piece, not planning on making it my life's work or anything.....:D I'm hoping Santa Claus might bring me that Harbor Freight band saw, otherwise the cheapy saw that I have doesn't have the cajones to cut it.
 
Peter, one thing that's always worked for me is to hot glue it to a small piece of wood. Make it has flat square faces and you can use a fence to get flat square slabs from the horn.
 
Pad it, stick it in your bench vise, and cut it with a hacksaw. Then use your belt grinder to square up the ends to you guard, bolster and pommel or what ever.

For scales just rip with a hack saw and grind flat, since it's hollow you can grind the scales fairly easy and quick. This is the way I do it and theres no worry about having to pick your nose with your elbow when your finished cutting. :D

As for the goat horn, locate a your local goat raiser and ask him if he has any horn laying around, he probably does.

Have fun and enjoy the smell, it gets rid of pesky neighbors. :)

Bill????
 
I guess a chunk in your package with your knife when I get it done wouldn't bother you none then...Be glad to send you enough for a handle ..
Bruce:D
 
Excellent tips! Thanks very much. I'll definitely try out both suggestions.....COOOLLL Bruce! :D How's that Dragon coming BTW? ;)
 
Peter
I am green so this may not make sence .I had some wood I wanted to get flat and i did it by hand, it is pretty easy.
I took a peace of square marble i got from Lowe"s for about 2 dollars
I good some sand paper and pulled it snug over the marble
and took a marker and drew line on it and then hand sanded it
and you can see the high and low spots I think Ivory would heat up fast if your were using your grinder.
It sounds to simple but it works.:)
 
Speaking of goat horn, and goatish things...Anybody ever use Kudu horn?

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While we're at it, how does Pronghorn hold up?

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D.A ,I sure wish I had that pair of horns drying in my shop.Kudu looks a lot like angora horn, should make great handles. I haven't tried pronghorn but would like to, I have a bles bok horn I wanting to use but just haven't had time.

Bill ????
 
The only problem I have is that all of the Kudu horn I've seen cut into scales is only about 1/8" thick...it seems a little thin.
 
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