Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Muzzleloaders => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on April 08, 2020, 06:37:46 pm

Title: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 08, 2020, 06:37:46 pm
I have reworked, restained, reworked again, scraped clean again, and stained yet again for probably the fourth time now.

It's clear that I should be done now. I really love the chocolate brown of the potassium permanganate stain on the spout and the boiled linseed oil on the7 walnut plug. I went through a fair bit of leather until I was able to be satisfied with the tabs and thongs on the straps, too.

Despite the four or five lbs of aspirin for the headache this horn gave me, I am reaching into the box for the next horn already, simply because I kinda like how this one finished out.

Now to find the address where I am sending it...
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Pat B on April 08, 2020, 08:50:06 pm
Boy, John she's a real beauty. You did an incredible job. Blood sweat and tears appreciated, I'm sure.   :OK
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: chamookman on April 09, 2020, 02:06:33 am
Nailed it - way cool  (A) ! Bob
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Trapper Rob on April 09, 2020, 01:33:08 pm
That turned out really nice JW. Do you weave the straps yourself.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: ksnow on April 09, 2020, 01:34:22 pm
Beautiful horn, JW. Would you mind sharing details of the dye procedure?
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: mullet on April 09, 2020, 02:24:07 pm
That's a real beauty, John.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Pat B on April 09, 2020, 03:01:54 pm
Which time, ksnow.   ;D   ;)
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: KHalverson on April 09, 2020, 03:56:31 pm
that looks sweet.
great job.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 09, 2020, 10:58:41 pm
That turned out really nice JW. Do you weave the straps yourself.

Kelsey Lowden of KL Custom Weaving did the strap from wool yarn and a card weaving loom. She does all my work and she is ridiculously fair priced for her work. She is also a driving force behind Smoke and Fire Company (Rondy-voo folks know who this is). She is easy to find on Facebook.

Beautiful horn, JW. Would you mind sharing details of the dye procedure?

The dying part was pretty easy. I added enough water in a mason jar to cover the spout section I wanted dyed. I heated the water to about 180 degrees, added a teaspoon of potassium permanganate, and swirled it with the horn. Thirty seconds will get you an onion skin yellow color, 30 minutes gets you this kind of rich chocolate brown. You overdye parts you do not want dyed, but judicious application of sandpaper or a scraper will get rid of the unnecessarily colored portion. I rubbed the whole horn and wood base plug with boiled linseed oil, then rubbed vigorously with a cotton cloth.


Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Hawkdancer on April 10, 2020, 12:05:14 am
That is a magnificent horn!  Definitely stand out at "shinin' times"!  You done good!  A good plug for your friend Kelsey, too.  Ought to get her some business!
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Handforged on April 10, 2020, 06:21:26 pm
Do you scrimshaw them as well?
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 11, 2020, 09:34:34 am
Do you scrimshaw them as well?

Nope. Scrimshandry scares the poo outa me. You don't do that until the horn is finished. I could see myself sanding out errors until there was no horn left.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Deerhunter21 on April 11, 2020, 11:27:32 am
Jw, those are amazing!! like seriously! Wow!
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: ksnow on April 13, 2020, 06:22:55 am
Thank you for the dying info. I've dyed horns with RIT and leather stain, have not tried the potassium permanganate yet.

Very nice work on shaping the spout.

Give the scrimshaw a try. Very few of the originals were really pretty. Most had plenty of "errors".
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: EdwardS on April 14, 2020, 07:14:38 pm
Looks great.  Scrimshaw isn't that bad if you can draw a bit.  I've done it a few times.  Horn's a good sight better than Corian for it, but I've done both.

Does the strap maker have a website?  I'm trying to put together a horn for my father in law and that looks perfect.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: Parnell on April 16, 2020, 01:41:43 pm
Simply beautiful, John.  Something to keep proudly.
Title: Re: New horn project, for the last time
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 16, 2020, 11:36:26 pm
Looks great.  Scrimshaw isn't that bad if you can draw a bit.  I've done it a few times.  Horn's a good sight better than Corian for it, but I've done both.

Does the strap maker have a website?  I'm trying to put together a horn for my father in law and that looks perfect.

No, but you can reach her on Facebook by searching for KL Customs Storehouse. Or you can email her directly at KLCustomsStorehouse@gmail.com