[Regia-NA] Working and Decorating Horn

[list-regia-na@lig.net]

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Hi Mike,
I've worked horn a bit.  There is some info on the web about how to.  My ex=
perience has been mainly making spoons.  For cutting, you might prefer to u=
se a manual tool rather than something electric, as cutting horn produces e=
xtremely noxious odors...burnt hair smell and sometimes that smell permeate=
s the horn and will smell faintly of it later.  When doing carving, work sl=
owly and carefully making small cuts...horn being composed of keratin, it m=
anifests itself physically in growth by strands and layers.  When cutting t=
hese layers, sometimes they can peel...making small cuts means that you mig=
ht be able to control the peeling and save a workpiece.  I don't know if I =
would use horn for a buckle...its location means it endures a bit of stress=
 and movement, and it might peel easily.  When making spoons, it really eas=
y to boil the horn and make flat pieces thereafter...but again, the smell i=
s very irritating...best done outdoors.  I have finished most of my spoons =
with beeswax, but I do know of people using sealants (foodgrade safe...avai=
lable on the web), especially when coating the inside of a drinking horn.  =
Most of the drinking horns I've cut, I have left uncoated inside, but ensur=
ed they are completely clean and sterilized...use a solution of 3 parts wat=
er to 1 part bleach.  However, these will sometimes still have a smell to t=
hem.  I wouldn't use a drinking horn for a hot beverage as this also causes=
 a smell and taint to the beverage.  Not having my library with me at the m=
oment, I can't comment on horn decoration, or if there are any finds of suc=
h.  I have thought about using a woodburning tool to do some decoration...u=
sing the heat tip would melt the strands and should prevent the possibility=
 of peeling, although it would probably smell digusting!
Bill
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<P>Hi Mike,</P>
<P>I've worked horn a bit.&nbsp; There is some info on the web about how to=
.&nbsp; My experience has been mainly making spoons.&nbsp; For cutting, you=
 might prefer to use a manual tool rather than something electric, as cutti=
ng horn produces extremely noxious odors...burnt hair smell and sometimes t=
hat smell permeates the horn and will smell faintly of it later.&nbsp; When=
 doing carving, work slowly and carefully making small cuts...horn being co=
mposed of keratin, it manifests itself physically in growth by strands and =
layers.&nbsp; When cutting these layers, sometimes they can peel...making s=
mall cuts means that you might be able to control the peeling and save a wo=
rkpiece.&nbsp; I don't know if I would use horn for a buckle...its location=
 means it endures a bit of stress and movement, and it might peel easily.&n=
bsp; When making spoons, it really easy to boil the horn and make flat piec=
es thereafter...but again, the smell is very irritating...best done outdoor=
s.&nbsp; I have finished most of my spoons with beeswax, but I do know of p=
eople using sealants (foodgrade safe...available on the web), especially wh=
en coating the inside of a drinking horn.&nbsp; Most of the drinking horns =
I've cut, I have left uncoated inside, but ensured they are completely clea=
n and sterilized...use a solution of&nbsp;3 parts water to 1 part bleach.&n=
bsp; However, these will sometimes still have a smell to them.&nbsp; I woul=
dn't use a drinking horn for a hot beverage as this also causes a smell and=
 taint to the beverage.&nbsp; Not having my library with me at the moment, =
I can't comment on horn decoration, or if there are any finds of such.&nbsp=
; I have thought about using a woodburning tool to do some decoration...usi=
ng the heat tip would melt the strands and should prevent the possibility o=
f peeling, although it would probably smell digusting!</P>
<P>Bill</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
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