Reshaping a horn handle...

[BruiseLeee]

I plan to reshape a horn handle to fit my "dainty" little hands. Should I treat it like a piece of wood and use some fine sandpaper? Is there anything special I should do or use?

 

[Yvsa]

Bruise, horn has grain very similar to wood in that it grows in layers, or rings if you will.
You can use wood working tools on it although it really helps of the tooling is super sharp, the same as with very hard
wood.
If you have a whole lot of material to take off a rasp can be used, just remember that you have to sand however deep the teeth of the rasp cuts too.
Smooth up any rasp cuts with a file. You can also make it easier if you use progressively finer files, ie, a coarse double cut before a smooth bastard.
Correspondingly finer grades of sand paper is used to get the final finish you want prior to polishing if you want it polished. If it was a khukuri I was planning on using I would sand to about 150 and then stop.
A 150 sanded finish gives an excellent grip that doesn't slip in the hand and yet is smooth enough not to chafe.

Be careful to not remove too much. There's no such thing as a "putting back" tool.

Go easy with a rasp at first to ensure that an exposed end grain doesn't "splinter" on you.
That should cover it.

 

[SamuraiDave]

GO SLOW!!!

You can see your mistakes early on and avoid them if you go slow enough.

 

[Bill Martino]

Good advice and just about all you need to know. Keep us posted.

 

[BruiseLeee]

Thanks for the tips, and yes I will go slow. Otherwise I might have a duct tape handle