Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Craftsmanship => Accoutrements => Topic started by: ridjrunr on December 24, 2020, 07:54:55 PM
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I got this blank horn from the first go round pass around box.
Waiting for post rider to bring me some tooling for my lathe to finish filler plug. In the meantime over the next few days ill put finish on butt plug, maybe stain horn and start assembly.
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Beehive plug of maple
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Looking forward to the finished horn :bl th up
Kevin
Ps how did you turn the shoulder , lathe or hole saw??
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I use an expanding arbor on my lathe. So I just run a 1.375 forstner bit to whatever depth I want then slip the wood blank on the arbor and rotate about 1/3 rotation and it tightens rt up.
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:bl th up i may have to look into a lathe one day.
i see some at swap shops for under 100$ but they are bare bones and usually older imported stuff from what i can tell.
keep at it, other peoples work gives me inspiration. I really like when other folks share the same passion for something that i enjoy and horns are something ive just started dipping my toes into.
Horn building just adds to my BP enjoyment, now onto a building a smooth bore kit and a horn for that.
kevin
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I see alot of lathes on fb marketplace and craigslist.
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Kevin,
There was a shop in Spokane somewhere on the eastern side of town that sold used machinery. It was in the industrial area of town.
I wish I could recall just where it was. But that was over 15 years ago, so it might not even be there anymore. Could be worth looking into.
Yep, you should get a lathe, not only for horn work, but it is just a handy piece of equipment to have. When I started selling off my shop equipment, I decided that I was going to keep my lathe. That, and my router. Maybe someday I will get a little bench mounted drill press, but maybe not, either. Space is at a premium for me.
As a thought, check out CdA Power Tool. They sell Jet tools. I have put Jet wood lathes to the test and found them able to keep up with every demand I put on them. Over the years, I have had 3 or 4 of them and they all performed very well with few problems.
One thought on lathes. After having used what I would call medium sized lathes I have tried working with some of the smaller hobby/pen making lathes and they left me cold. Not enough power at all. Get something you can work with and not be overloading it all the time. These little pi$$ant lathes to me are nothing but a source of frustration.
And if you are buying a lathe from a private party on Craig's List, see if you can get the seller to throw in some lathe chisels with the deal.
All for now. Have fun with this.
John (Bigsmoke)
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I've been using a Jet MINI lathe for over 15 years, it's a 10" x 15" 1/2 HP and has never let me down, I upgraded the motor to a variable speed motor that I bought off Glen Sutt 8 years ago, ( the variable speed is handy for slowing down the lathe to turn antler tips) unless your going to turn bowls bigger than 9 &1/2" dia or spindles longer than 15" any 1/2 horse mini or midi should work fine, as John says those small pen lathes just don't have the grunt! I've worked on a friends Grizzly of comparable size and it seemed to be just fine!
Dan, horns looking good, are you going to hollow out that beehive anymore?
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Dan, horns looking good, are you going to hollow out that beehive anymore?
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Jim, no as it is now 1.375x 1" deep, I fugure thats several shots for a squirrel rifle, plus the plug weighs practicaly nothing.
This horn was inspored by one Clint Byers did several months ago, his had a more greenish/ yellow hue to it, a band and some pinwheels. For my tastes he knocked that little horn out of the park.
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Last night I slathered on 1st coat of blo having stain with vinegroon the night before.
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Wow, that looks like it's gold plated!
~Kees~
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Wow, that looks like it's gold plated!
~Kees~
Thanks Kees, the stain is homemade. Vinegar with rusted iron dissolved in it. Called vinegroon. And then boiled linseed oil on aftere it dried. I stained the horn because I didnt care for the mottled white look and did this with onion skins boiled in water. Also added one band. Ill probably pin it all together today.
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I forgot to mention, when I put the stain down, it appeared as though it was going to be really dark once the oil finish was added. So, doing something I learned last yr using this stain, I wet a rag with hydrogen peroxide and gave the whole thing a wiping with that. This has a reaction and “ brings back” the shade of brown from dark to golden/ lighter brown.
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looks great, I'll have to try that vinegroon . the ring is cool too.
kevin
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Vinegroon. I assume (dangerous, I know) I could half fill a pint jar with plain distilled vinegar, then throw in a handful of rusty nails and let it do its thing for a week or so? Use that to stain, then wipe down with H2O2, allow to dry, then finish with BLO?
Thanks,
~Kees~
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In a nut shell, yes. Some things to keep in mind. Iron and steel are different. If you use steel, make sure its good carbon steel, nothing with galvanizing or impurities, that is said to kind of ruin it. Its just like auqua fortis but instead of the harsh ( nitric?) acid, you are using vinegar. The vinegar breaksdown and carries the iron particals into the wood, the vinegar evaporates and whats theft is what you see. Its something I read about on American Longrifles. A guy by the name of LongJohn has done xtensive testing and writing about this. I just studied and experimented with what he has written. I think he actually has a degree in chemistry. In october, I started a new batch in a pickle jar using apple cider vinegar and wrought iron. Its still brewing. No one has said for sure but I think you need to let it cure for at least a month or two. I used some last winter for the first time on a restock, it had been brewing since 2014, I kind of forgot about it because I moved two states over in 15🙃 This is that stock, with the stain only and then after an oil finish.
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Thank you for the H2O2 trick. I had used this type stain before but was not happy with the "muddy" look. The slight "bleaching" affect of the hydrogen peroxide may have been the needed thing to reduce the "muddiness" of the stain. As it was, 220 then 320 sandpaper came to the rescue. Then some Laurel Mountain Forge stain. I'll try the vinegroon stain on some knife handle slabs on an upcoming project and see. Thanks again for the tip.
doggoner
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Thank you for the H2O2 trick. I had used this type stain before but was not happy with the "muddy" look. The slight "bleaching" affect of the hydrogen peroxide may have been the needed thing to reduce the "muddiness" of the stain. As it was, 220 then 320 sandpaper came to the rescue. Then some Laurel Mountain Forge stain. I'll try the vinegroon stain on some knife handle slabs on an upcoming project and see. Thanks again for the tip.
doggoner
Happy to help. Theres other subtle things that can make a difference like concentration or percentage of vinegar. If after cureing you get a green or muddy brown look, just adding straight vinegar to change the balance will most always take it to the redish shades rather than brown. Thats why I ALWAYS test it on a scrap pc and if possible a scrap pc of the project you are staining.
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Well we got a little side tracked there but I been keepin after that little horn and pretty much gotter done just before 11 tonight. Just need the spout plug and a strap. Right side carry, pinned woth thorns and sealed with beezwax. Plus now theres 3 coats of johnsons pastewax added.
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More pix
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That's a really nice little horn! :bow :bl th up
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The band came off of another horn?
:hairy That sure turned out nice! Now we need a photo of the horn hanging by your side, just to get a true judge of scale.... :wave
~Kees~
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The band came off of another horn?
:hairy That sure turned out nice! Now we need a photo of the horn hanging by your side, just to get a true judge of scale.... :wave
~Kees~
Thanks Kees,
Yes, to make bands, I cut slices of a donor horn, put them on a tapered arbor of wood on the lathe and true them up. I make my arbor from an old wooden baseball bat due to it already haveing a taper. This method is termed applied bands, they are applied to the horn and pinned in place. There were horns with carved bands but they were mostly a regional method in new england area .
Its a fairly small horn designed for a small caliber rifle. But when I get a strap on her, ill get another photo.
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:hairy
Good stuff
Kevin
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This is the making bands set up. Took me awhile to find the pix.