cutting horn.
OK there has to be a better way. I just finished cutting my horn for a bow and it was the most difficult thing to do. I used a Hacksaw, bandsaw, tin snips , and a hammer. What does everyone use? I need help because I have to now cut the other side. Any advise. Thanks
If you have a good band saw then you have it made. Adam has a tutorial here about his process.
http://www.atarn.org/islamic/turkish_bo ... g_horn.htm
http://www.atarn.org/islamic/turkish_bo ... g_horn.htm
If you want to cut by hand I can recommend the old fashioned frame saw or a Japanese ryoba saw. These both work with buffalo horn. It is softer if you heat it first.
Big horn sheep horn is a different proposition since it seems to eat saws. Dr Grayson used to drill a series of holes and cut from one to the next.
Adam's system works perfectly.
Big horn sheep horn is a different proposition since it seems to eat saws. Dr Grayson used to drill a series of holes and cut from one to the next.
Adam's system works perfectly.
On a similar note, what's the easiest way (by hand) to remove all the ridges on the horn and turn it into a smooth plate?
The slow way is to use a very coarse rasp. Microplane rasps work well as do Surform planes. If you are very good with a frame saw, you can try to duplicate Adam's method with the band saw where you slice off the bumps and ridges in one layer. Spokeshaves only work once you have removed the ridges.
If you have a blacksmith friend, they can use the horn shavings for hardening metal.
If you have a blacksmith friend, they can use the horn shavings for hardening metal.
Bench or disc grinders do the job in no time.
I usually sand the outer ridges and bumps off on a belt sander,barely takes 5 min.
But what a wonderful smell there is.
You can say that again about the smell,the women start nagging everytime i am in the garage grinding horn,lol
Bede could you tell us more about hardening with horn shavings!
I hope Bede will forgive me jumping in.
You can use animals by products high in carbon in a process called case hardening. You need to enclose the bone, leather or horn shavings along with the iron or low carbon steel object you want to get harder on the surface in a container and heat it up to let the carbon get into the metal.
Some arrowheads for armour piercing were case hardened like that, the case hardened object will be harder outside but the core will remain soft.
You can use animals by products high in carbon in a process called case hardening. You need to enclose the bone, leather or horn shavings along with the iron or low carbon steel object you want to get harder on the surface in a container and heat it up to let the carbon get into the metal.
Some arrowheads for armour piercing were case hardened like that, the case hardened object will be harder outside but the core will remain soft.
Ashbow is right. Case hardening has a long history. There is some evidence of its use in the Warring States Period in China when making arrowheads.