how to straighten out a curly horn

[marekz]

is there a technigue that can be used to help straighten out a rams horn- or whatever horn. it just seems to cut out scales from one of those horns would leave you with a half circle scale slab. thank you--marekz

 

[Frank Niro]

What I learned was to cut the thickness you can following the arc that is there then placing it in very hot water or using a heat gun on it which worked better, placing it bettween two pieces of plywood or steel and trying to flatten it. It will get much softer than it is and sort of reacts like some plastics.This meathod means you must have both horns to get a set that will work for scales. Frank

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Clamp it and heat it for 30 minutes at 225 degrees. Let it cool to room temperature while clamped. Toaster ovens work great for this. Just don't go over 225!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Years ago, Ed Fowler connected me with his neighbor, who straightens a lot of horn.
The gentleman said he uses a pre-heated box of sand in the oven set at 225F to heat the horn for 30 minutes, then tries to clamp between two boards. If it isn't moving, he heats another 30 minutes. If it still won't move, he raises the temperature a little. Leave clamped for several days. It may take repeated straightening, and even over bending to get the sheep horn to where it can be sanded flat. Let sit for several weeks to allow any stress to show up ( warping) before flat sanding the backs of the scales.
He said boiling has two problems. It isn't hot enough, and it makes the horn wet, which can cause warping as it drys.....which can take weeks to months.
Stacy

 

[marekz]

thanks for the info everyone. i have ( ofcourse) one more question: how would you cut the horn.--would you cut it so that you would end up with a circle ( vertically)-then cut the ends- then proceed with the flatening , or would you cut a scale out of the horn horizontally on each side? If any of that makes sense--thanks marekz

 

[oldwolf]

Thanks for asking the question Marekz. For me, cutting the horn correctly is the toughest part without wasting too much horn. I can get the pieces flat by heating and clamping fairly easily. Does take a few tries though.
Now I see why they get $30.00 for a set of slabs.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Here is a big secret-
saw the horn in a spiral, so that you have one long piece. This works with thinner horns like cow horns. Not sure how it would work with sheep horn.

 

[oldwolf]

Great Secret. Thanks Bill.That makes sense. What do you cut it with? Bandsaw or does it need to be cut one side at a time? Rams horn is pretty curly.

 

[marekz]

cut it in a spiral? like a candy cane stripe?--marekz--sorry if my question is stupid i just want to understand--marekz

 

[oldwolf]

I'm sure that's what Bill means. Cut along the spine which would be like the line in a candy cane as you mentioned, but not easy to do with an ordinary saw. Maybe a hand Jigsaw cause you'ld probably need to cut one side at a time.
I'm going to give that a try.

 

[marekz]

I'm sure that's what Bill means. Cut along the spine which would be like the line in a candy cane as you mentioned, but not easy to do with an ordinary saw. Maybe a hand Jigsaw cause you need to cut one side at a time.
I'm going to give that a try.

please take pictures and let me know how it turns out. if you dont want to post here pm me or email me, but im sure alot of folks would like to see a step by step performance--thanks-marekz

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I think sheep horn is too thick to spiral cut. I would just cut it lengthwise to get the largest pieces I could, but I have never worked with a complete sheep horn.
Cow horns can be spun on a bandsaw to get the spiral. Draw a line spiraling up the horn and cut it. You may have to remove the curved end first.

 

[oldwolf]

One of the problems with the Rams Horn is that it usually has a very tight curls and twists also, so is difficult to cut both sides at the same time. I'll post a couple pics to show the challenges.

 

[oldwolf]

OK, here's a pic of a horn and my bandsaw. Sawing it is sort of like pushing a corkscrew into the saw.

 

[marekz]

great more pictures- that first one kinda shows a straight cut as if you were gonna go right through the entire piece straight through!! but i know there is a twist in there somewhere. please keep the photos coming. i need it taught to me as if i am a bit cuckoo. and yes thats where my horn is.lol--marekz--thanks