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Which is more difficult to work with?

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Easternarcher:
YEsterday, I wanted to get the nocks on my ELB.  I don't have any horn for the traditional nocks, but I did have a supply of moose antler. So I cut and ground a set of nocks and glued them on. By the time I was done, I was muttering to myself that I'd never do it all from scratch again! Too much dust, too difficult to shape etc.

So since I've never used horn for nocks, question comes to mind....
How difficult is horn to work than say antler or bone, even wood. I'm almost to the point of just using antler or bone overlays on my ELB's instead of carved and bored traditional English nocks.
I like to keep things traditional if possible, but those antler nocks were tough!

CraigMBeckett:
Easternarcher,

As I have not used either bone or antler I cannot give you a comparison but I have never found horn difficult to work with and it polishes up beautifully. I drill first then do rough shaping on a belt sander, then finer shaping with a Dremel and sanding sleeves, then move to emery cloth in tin strips and fine sandpaper then I polish using a cloth mop on a bench grinder. Sounds a lot but it is fairly quickly done, about the only problem is the fine dust and the smell, similar to singed hair.

Craig.

Easternarcher:

--- Quote from: CraigMBeckett on February 27, 2011, 10:18:19 am ---Easternarcher,

As I have not used either bone or antler I cannot give you a comparison but I have never found horn difficult to work with and it polishes up beautifully. I drill first then do rough shaping on a belt sander, then finer shaping with a Dremel and sanding sleeves, then move to emery cloth in tin strips and fine sandpaper then I polish using a cloth mop on a bench grinder. Sounds a lot but it is fairly quickly done, about the only problem is the fine dust and the smell, similar to singed hair.

Craig.

--- End quote ---
I found antler to stink as well.
By your description, horn is easier to work than antler. Also, I expect the horn would be lighter in weight.
I follow a similar course as you. Drill first then shape on my small belt sander - some filing etc. these are not finished of course. Thgey need more shaping and polishing and the grooves cut. maybe today.

Del the cat:
I agree with you, those 'traditional' style horn nocks are a right pain and an overlay is doubtless just as good and vastly quicker, simple and lighter.
I only do 'em because people want them on their bows. It's nice to do 'em once just to prove to yourself you can, bu the effort involved doesn't really get appreciated anyway.
proper medieval horn sidenocks mught be fun.
I quite like the smell and working properties of horn/bone /antler I think they are pretty similar/ Waterbuffalo horn is pretty easy to work, but I find it's the small size of the nocks which makes it tricky, and if you want them slim then you end up having to work with it down pretty thin.
I don't think any form of horn reinforcement is really necessary until you get to the v high draw weights or V thin tips.
Del

Easternarcher:

--- Quote from: Del the cat on February 27, 2011, 02:41:39 pm ---I agree with you, those 'traditional' style horn nocks are a right pain and an overlay is doubtless just as good and vastly quicker, simple and lighter.
I only do 'em because people want them on their bows. It's nice to do 'em once just to prove to yourself you can, bu the effort involved doesn't really get appreciated anyway.
proper medieval horn sidenocks mught be fun.
I quite like the smell and working properties of horn/bone /antler I think they are pretty similar/ Waterbuffalo horn is pretty easy to work, but I find it's the small size of the nocks which makes it tricky, and if you want them slim then you end up having to work with it down pretty thin.
I don't think any form of horn reinforcement is really necessary until you get to the v high draw weights or V thin tips.
Del

--- End quote ---

Del, I'm with you! And I imangine the size needed for the trad horn nocks adds a fair bit of weight to the tips. Unessecary weight at that!
I think thinner tips with horn overlays would look just as good and improove performance  AND help with the hand shock issue.
Del, I'm like you, I like to try things just to proove I can do it. I've done that and may do it again in the future, but most likely will purchase some pre-formed English nocks instead.
Thanks

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