Horn

[Toddy]

Has anyone successfully softened, cut apart and flattened horn ? And then turned it into a spoon or a bowl ?

Any advice or photos ?

HWMBLT doesn't have my patience, and has just put one in an old microwave to soften........it looks like bubbly popcorn

cheers,
Toddy

 

[dwardo]

I am sure i read somewhere about soaking the horn in milk...
Pretty sure it was a youtube thing about making mongol bows.
Maybe a research starting point for you.

 

[inthewids]

I read somewhere about boiling to soften it, bet that smelt nice when it came out the microwave :s

 

[John Fenna]

I have had some success (and some failures!) by boiling the horn...yup - it stinks!

 

[CBJ]

Hi Toddy
I use cow horn to cap sticks and i just boil them for a couple of hours then shape them as needed. You can also use a heat gun after for futher shaping if needed but go slow and carefull you dont want to scorch the horn to much

Thismight be helpful

www.florilegium.org/files/CRAFTS/Horn-Spoons-art.html


CBJ

 

[elma]

I have had some sucess with horn, in the days when we were allowed own handguns I rehandled a revolver with horn by heating the horn in boiling water and clamping it in a mould to take the required shape, I have made a mould for a salad fork and spoon but have'nt tried it yet

 

[Wayland]

I think heating in oil was the old way.

I'll do some digging for you when I'm sober.