Buffallo horn handled firesteels (warning double entendres)

[mountainm]

After I posted the recent thread here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83546&highlight=horn
(loads still available for swaps btw)
I find myself being accosted by people in the street with generally the same thought rolling around their brains.

"We know mountainm's the guy with the horn, and we'd like a piece of the action - but what do we do with it when we get it?"

Good question! It's been one that I think has been holding a lot of people back - well I say, don't be shy! There's plenty for everyone...
So to prove my point I spent most of tonight polishing my horn. Lots of rubbing and I did a fair bit of slow drilling too. Things got a little sticky in the end but once we'd whipped the leather and the beads out everything was fine and dandy.

Hope you like:

and one I did earlier:

Cheers

Mike

 

[Dreadhead]

couldnt have done a better job they are fantastic mate

 

[Kepis]

lovely job Mike

 

[mountainm]

Thanks guys, need to get some better photos.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Superb Mike. Ive got a ton of horn dowels down the garage collecting dust. this might inspire me to do something with them. can i ask how far in you went with the steel. my rods are only 3.2 inch and i dont want to bury too much inside

 

[RichardIT]

Yeah, lovely

 

[roger-uk]

I hav eno experince of working with horn but I've got two bits.

Stupid questions coming up:
1. Can it be worked like wood, sawn filed etc etc
2. How do you get a good finish sandpaper and then polish
3. Would wax wood polish work.

I really would like to make some fire steel handles but am not really sure where to start.

Roger

 

[mountainm]

Superb Mike. Ive got a ton of horn dowels down the garage collecting dust. this might inspire me to do something with them. can i ask how far in you went with the steel. my rods are only 3.2 inch and i dont want to bury too much inside

I went in about a cm and a half - but these are only 4mm steels - I filed lots of shallow grooves in the buried end to help the epoxy "bite"

I hav eno experince of working with horn but I've got two bits.

Stupid questions coming up:
1. Can it be worked like wood, sawn filed etc etc
2. How do you get a good finish sandpaper and then polish
3. Would wax wood polish work.

I really would like to make some fire steel handles but am not really sure where to start.

Roger

Buffalo horn is harder than cows horn - it can be sawn, filed and sanded but it is hard work and unforgiving with hand tools. It also has a tendency to "bite" onto your drill bit or saw blade as it is grown under tension.

To get a decent polish I use
60 grit emery to get the rough spots out
then
120,240,400,600,1200 grit wet and dry

this gives a smooth matt finish

I then use micromesh pads going right down to 12000 grit to get a mirror shine. I get mine from this guy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICRO-MES..._Crafts_EH&hash=item33718d5201#ht_2860wt_1139

hth

Mike

 

[roger-uk]

I went in about a cm and a half - but these are only 4mm steels - I filed lots of shallow grooves in the buried end to help the epoxy "bite"



Buffalo horn is harder than cows horn - it can be sawn, filed and sanded but it is hard work and unforgiving with hand tools. It also has a tendency to "bite" onto your drill bit or saw blade as it is grown under tension.

To get a decent polish I use
60 grit emery to get the rough spots out
then
120,240,400,600,1200 grit wet and dry

this gives a smooth matt finish

I then use micromesh pads going right down to 12000 grit to get a mirror shine. I get mine from this guy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICRO-MES..._Crafts_EH&hash=item33718d5201#ht_2860wt_1139

hth

Mike

Thank you - Its much appreciated

 

[Dave]

** Nice Firesteels

I hav eno experince of working with horn but I've got two bits.

Stupid questions coming up:
1. Can it be worked like wood, sawn filed etc etc
2. How do you get a good finish sandpaper and then polish
3. Would wax wood polish work.

I really would like to make some fire steel handles but am not really sure where to start.

Roger

1.] Yes. But its a lot harder and really reeks of burnt skin when you heat it up, drilling it for instance
2.] Yes, but you really need to be going right down in stages to a 1000 grit finish. I cannot seen to find any Emery paper in local hardware stores lower than 400.
3.] Never Tried it, but probably yes. For Glue you can use 151 Epoxy adhesive.

This guy is good to deal with

http://www.stickmaker.com/stickmakingshop.htm#Buffalo_Horn

Ive bought off Hazel and Buffalo horn off him before to make wading staffs.

 

[RonW]

shoot.... I like the one in the last picture a lot!
Love the dark, smooth colour and finish...

 

[mountainm]

They all look like that, the lighting was just pants in my latest photos.

 

[HillBill]

Nice on mate, they look good.

 

[Biker]

Really like those Mike, well bloody done!!! :You_Rock_

 

[bushwacker bob]

wire wool will do the job after 240 grit. then a bit of autosol for a final polish.

 

[cave_dweller]

Those are very, very smart. Nice job sir.

 

[mountainm]

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - seriously considering going maker and selling these if there's interest.

 

[lannyman8]

Mike, very well done sir.....

 

[Biker]

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - seriously considering going maker and selling these if there's interest.

Go for it, I'd be one of those interested.

 

[roger-uk]

Go for it, I'd be one of those interested.

me too subject to price