Straingthening Ram Horn

Possum

Possum

Joined
Jan 27, 2000
Messages
266
Howdy There....!
got a problem wiht some ram horn that I could use some help. Some of the last shipment of ram horn I received, has some pieces that are crooked. How is the best way to strainghten them for use? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...!
Thomas "Possum" Clegg

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Thomas Clegg
 
Boiling water works good so does steam . Boil or steam till soft and clamp it /them to a flat board and let air dry for days and days or weeks and weeks or till really dry cause it will curl again if not completely dry.Some guys just bake them clamped to a stiff board if there not too warped . baking at a low heat also toughens them up a bit .
Aloha!!! Ken Onion
 
I boil them with the clamps on and tighten the clamps every once in a while. I forgot about them once and came back about an hour later, they were just fine., maybe even softer. Boiling also cleans them and makes them translucient. Rams are not the cleanest animals but have nice horns. I like them with red liners. Bruce
 
Thomas, One word of caution. If you use the oven method, be carefull not to overheat the sheep horn as it will turn yellow and can even burn
frown.gif
. I think the boiling water is the way to go. The downside is that it takes time to dry out. A light bulb in a wooden box might speed up the process. I have had it stabilized as well and it darkens the outer rough side of the scales(looks great).I.M.H.O
I think that sheep horn has to rate near the top as scales go. Also, dont be surprized if it shrinks a bit after your knife is done. If its not totally dried out, the warmth produced from the knife finishing seems to shrink it a bit. Hope this helps
Mike
 
I use a piece of steel that is flat , clapm them down to it. Then put them in the oven for an hour or two just under boiling temp in your area. This dries them (water will shrink in time) and gets them flat.


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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
 
cjensema, no! You should never try to straighten a slide trombone in boiling water! It makes them shrink. However, trumpets can be straightened using the oven method.

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Bruce Woodbury
 
Howdy There....!
Sure do appreciate all of the advice on the horn. I think that I will try the oven and steel method, I have done the boiling and it does take awhile for them to dry. Just got a note from Joe Culpepper at Mother pearl Co. said that he has just received a new shipment of ram horn. Thanks for all the help and be careful boiling a tuba, cause will "Shrink" it water....!
Later "Possum"


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Thomas Clegg
 
NEVER use water if you do you are adding moister and they will shrink after you use them put in toster oven @325 for 15 min.clamp between 2 angle irons in vise when they are cold there done i have done a couple 100 of them and no problem
 
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