Flattening Horn
I've just started work on my first horn bow and have gotten to the point where I need to prepare my horn strips. I am using gemsbok horn and I have cut it into two halves, and I was wondering what I should use to clamp the horn between as I boil and bend it. I was originally going to use wood, but I was thinking that if the horn is bending the wood might not keep its shape either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Don?t use that kind of horn for your hornbow.
Even if you could "boil it straight", it will keep its form for a while but sooner or later the horn tries to regain its grown shape. Its reconstitutional force makes horn so precious for bowyers, but the bowyer has to follow straight the laws of the horn.
So choose the best waterbuffalo- horn you can find for your bow.
There?s is not any historical proof of the use of gemsbock-horn in hornbowery, but so many hornbow- beginners try to use it.
Michael
Even if you could "boil it straight", it will keep its form for a while but sooner or later the horn tries to regain its grown shape. Its reconstitutional force makes horn so precious for bowyers, but the bowyer has to follow straight the laws of the horn.
So choose the best waterbuffalo- horn you can find for your bow.
There?s is not any historical proof of the use of gemsbock-horn in hornbowery, but so many hornbow- beginners try to use it.
Michael
I am planning on using water buffalo horn on my next bow, but I have already spent a decent amount of time and money on the gemsbok horn. I have seen some bows made from this type of horn and they seem to have come out o.k. Also, I am not sure if I was clear about what I am bending (the horn is not crooked so hopefully it won't cause any misalignment of the limbs if it returns to its original shape). I am bending the horn from a shape like this: U to a shape like this: __. I am not bending the horn to correct a side to side curve. I appreciate your advice and will use buffalo horn next time as it seems a lot simpler and is the traditional way.
Steven S,
Good luck with the gemsbok horn. I have been working on Australian buffalo horn trying to prepare strips for a hornbow. Its pretty solid stuff - tried boiling for over an hour to straighten the main stem without much luck. I ended up trimming it down to 1" wide at the base and 23" long. Final shaping by sanding/scraping ~ Any further advice on preparing buff horn would be welcomed.
Good luck with the gemsbok horn. I have been working on Australian buffalo horn trying to prepare strips for a hornbow. Its pretty solid stuff - tried boiling for over an hour to straighten the main stem without much luck. I ended up trimming it down to 1" wide at the base and 23" long. Final shaping by sanding/scraping ~ Any further advice on preparing buff horn would be welcomed.