Starting #2

[KDubs]

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 Trying my hand at a flat . Probably not the best shape but why not.
 Picked up a fry daddy and candy thermometer.
 Works great, too good really.

 My fault . I smacked the plug while the horn was hot.
 I'll epoxy the plug and remove the damage.
 All good I think.
 Kevin
 

[Bigsmoke]

Kevin,
I'm thinking your horn was not hot enough and you are trying to use the pine form to do the shaping for you.
What temp was your oil?
Did you leave the horn in until it started bleeding little bubbles up through the oil?
You can test for doneness by tapping the horn against the edge of your pot.  While the horn still has the sound of a cold horn tapping the edge, it is not hot enough.  When it changes tone, it is ready.  Tap it before you start so you will know what it sounds like.  Kind of like tuning a guitar.  Same idea.
Let your vise do the flattening for you.  The form is just to make sure it does not collapse in on itself and to give it a certain profile.
I still prefer using a hot air gun.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Butler Ford 40]

I honestly believe that if you don't make mistakes, you never truly learn.  I admire your grit.....1

 

[BEAVERMAN]

What John, said, now that being said I NEVER try to force a base plug on a flat horn when hot, after I flatten the horn and trim the base edge I cut and taper the plug, then epoxy and fit it in the base, pin it, then cut the plug flush with the horn and sand to finish, hope this helps, just keep at it your doing good so far!, Experience is the best teacher!

[KDubs]

 yes to all of the above,
 the oil was around 320,  did several 10 second dips , pressed it in a vise with wood blocks and a set of wedges installed. i did see the white fizz at times.
 
i thought i should soften the base as i fit the plug but the plug was just a touch to big and i tried to force it a smidgen.  lesson learned.
 
What would be a proper sized spout hole. i drilled out a 1/4 hole, is that good for Ffg and a fiddle pin.

man I'm loving this stuff....kevin

 

[BEAVERMAN]

yes to all of the above,
 the oil was around 320,  did several 10 second dips , pressed it in a vise with wood blocks and a set of wedges installed. i did see the white fizz at times.
 
i thought i should soften the base as i fit the plug but the plug was just a touch to big and i tried to force it a smidgen.  lesson learned.
 
What would be a proper sized spout hole. i drilled out a 1/4 hole, is that good for Ffg and a fiddle pin.

man I'm loving this stuff....kevin

Kevin, I drill a 3/16 hole then use a 5/16" tapered reamer to open it up to at least 1/4", helps with the friction fit of the plug

[Bigsmoke]

Every spout hole I drilled in the tip of the horn has been done in steps.  Probably steps of 1/32 at a time, with a little wobble*.  How many tips have cracked as a result of that process?  Not a one that I can recollect.
Earl Cureton always provided a 1/4" hole in his horns but I figured that was a mite small to pour Ffg freely, so I usually opted to go up around 5/16".  That will pour Fg pretty good as well.  The 1/4" hole is fine for Fffg.

*  With a little wobble.  After I drill the hole (and this is using a drill press and feeding the horn into the bit, rather than feeding the bit into the horn) I gave the horn a little wobble.  this is to open up the top of the spout hole just a little so that the next size drill bit will start easily and not have a tendency to bite into the horn.

Is all that stuff really necessary?  No, probably not, but it is the way that I developed doing it, in a production mode.  Of course, as in all things, YMMV.  It just boils down to doing things the way you are comfortable doing them.  What worked for me will not necessarily work for you.  The main point is to enjoy what you are doing.  Else, why bother?  Life is too short not to.

John (Bigsmoke)

[KDubs]

I'm truly enjoying this . refreshes my tired soul.

 Thanks for the advice everyone.

Pretty sure I have too much base left, thin.
 I'll remove a little more and a with a some sanding all will be right with the world.

Kevin
 

[ridjrunr]

Horn flattening has been one of the hardest things to do structuraly for me when it comes to powder horn building. I think ive ruined as many as ive completed . Im fixin to try a realy small one i have soon but i dread the thought  of cracking it, its only about 4-5" long.

[Bigsmoke]

Dan,
That is sure a pretty little horn.  It's worth taking your time on.
To my eye, it is just screaming out for an applied/screw tip on it.  Maybe made out of antler.
But, whatever you do, it's going to be a winner.
Did I say I like it?

John (Bigsmoke)

[BEAVERMAN]

Hey John, do you still have a pic of that pretty white flat horn you made a while back with the paneled edges? now may be a good time to post it!

[ridjrunr]

Dan,
That is sure a pretty little horn.  It's worth taking your time on.
To my eye, it is just screaming out for an applied/screw tip on it.  Maybe made out of antler.
But, whatever you do, it's going to be a winner.
Did I say I like it?

John (Bigsmoke)

Thanks Bigsmoke, I agree its a cutie and i have thought of an applied tip. That or a paneled tapered tip. But I really want to flatten this thing in the worse way
This one will come after the beehive one im working on now.

[Bigsmoke]

Hey John, do you still have a pic of that pretty white flat horn you made a while back with the paneled edges? now may be a good time to post it!

Gee, Jim, I had forgotten all about that little horn.  I will take a quick look through some photos and see what I have.  It did come out pretty nice, I must say.  funny, I think I tried that again and it didn't come out near so good.  That's IIRC.  No guarantee there.

OK, I took a look through some photos and could not find it.  I have another idea, but will not be able to check that until tomorrow.  All for now, gotta go.

[KDubs]

A little update.
 Making some progress on #2 and #3.
 The thing im finding difficult is the vision of what to make with each horn I start.
 When to use a fiddle peg or an applied tip , should I engrail it
 Flat horn,  day horn, suppy horn etc.  Decisions decisions.
 I do have a large horn which will become a drinking horn at some point.
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[PetahW]

   
What would be a proper sized spout hole.

 i drilled out a 1/4 hole, is that good for Ffg and a fiddle pin.

You've done well, Kevin - the thing about decisions is that they're fun to do and satisfying when done.


I've used valves, violin/fiddle pegs and 1/4" dowels set into the tip material of my choice, depending upon the type of spout I want - using a drill slightly under 1/4" , then sand the peg or dowel for a snug fit against slippage or moisture.

I've never experienced a loose sprout hole plug.








For some ideas, these are my drinking horns, pictured on a small lap desk I made.