Finishing horn scales

[buzzy]

Hi!

I made those horn scales this afternoon (first scales ever) :



The wedge is made with bone. It took me about 2 hours and I had to use a dremel because I don't have a belt sander. I sanded them up to 2000 grits but I'll have to do some touch ups.

What would be the best compound to polish them? I have emery and chrome buffing compound, white rouge and tripoli.

Also, do I have to put some products (varnish, oil, whatever) on them to protect them? They seem to scratch easily.

Thanks!

 

[Doc226]

White rouge should give them a nice gloss.

 

[daflorc]

I usually go from the coarsest compount, black emery, straight to blue. But short of blue, white does nice also.

 

[buzzy]

Thanks guys!

Do I need to coat them once I'm done polishing them or do I leave them as-is?

Thanks

 

[daflorc]

Nope, just leave 'em alone, same as bone and ivory.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Lovely work for a first time. I'm planning on dipping my toe into the sea of horn. I prefer the finish on horn as opposed to plastic although I've seen some lovely micarta scales lately. Did you shape it all by hand then? I'm planning on buying a cheap belt sander with a rotary sanding disk to make my scales - works out about 60 euros and will mean I'll gain LOADS of time when making them.

 

[buzzy]

Nope, just leave 'em alone, same as bone and ivory.

Thanks!

Lovely work for a first time. I'm planning on dipping my toe into the sea of horn. I prefer the finish on horn as opposed to plastic although I've seen some lovely micarta scales lately. Did you shape it all by hand then? I'm planning on buying a cheap belt sander with a rotary sanding disk to make my scales - works out about 60 euros and will mean I'll gain LOADS of time when making them.

The shape is the same as the original scales. I shaped it using only a dremel and a 1/2" drum attachment. I don't have a belt sander but I do have a press drill and I just realized I could buy a 1 1/2" or 2" drum attachment for it. That would be a lot cheaper than a belt sander.

 

[buzzy]

Here is the final result :



The white rouge didn't seem to make a very big difference, but it did a good job smoothing the pins.

 

[pmaster]

The final result seems quite nice. I'm curious about the process you used to carve the horn scales. You just used a dremel from beginning to end? Or did you use a cope saw to remove at least the worst of it?
Where did you get your horn blanks? I've seen some on ebay here and there but wasn't sure about the quality out there.

 

[buzzy]

The final result seems quite nice. I'm curious about the process you used to carve the horn scales. You just used a dremel from beginning to end? Or did you use a cope saw to remove at least the worst of it?
Where did you get your horn blanks? I've seen some on ebay here and there but wasn't sure about the quality out there.

The horn piece I got wasn't very wide and I wasn't sure the scales would fit if I cut it in half, so I traced the shape of the scale using a white pencil and then I cut the piece near the line (about 1/8") using a coping saw. I taped the two pieces together using double-faced carpet tape and cut the second scale with the coping saw.

I noticed that the white line was very hard to see because it faded away. I traced the shape again using a point scriber with tungsten carbide point. From there I used the dremel to sand up to the traced line, and then I rounded the edges. After that I sanded by hand using sandpaper up to 2000 grits.

The horn and bone pieces I got are all from the same eBay seller and I'm really pleased with the quality. I suggest you choose light colored horn because dark one looks like plastic. For this razor I used my least attractive piece because it was my first time and I didn't want to ruin my nicer ones.

I hope this helps!

 

[pmaster]

Thanks! Yes it definitely helps, I was wondering if it was too ambitious of me to think of doing some horn scales with only a dremel and coping saw, but it seems you got a very nice result with it.
I was also wondering about the dark horns since they seem to look a bit like black acrylic, but I imagine the feel is still nicer.
I found some possible horn blanks on ebay (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/321069862758?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649) at around $10, but shipping is also $10 so I'm still undecided.

Did you use 6'' long blanks? I see lots of 5" but not many 6".

The horn piece I got wasn't very wide and I wasn't sure the scales would fit if I cut it in half, so I traced the shape of the scale using a white pencil and then I cut the piece near the line (about 1/8") using a coping saw. I taped the two pieces together using double-faced carpet tape and cut the second scale with the coping saw.

I noticed that the white line was very hard to see because it faded away. I traced the shape again using a point scriber with tungsten carbide point. From there I used the dremel to sand up to the traced line, and then I rounded the edges. After that I sanded by hand using sandpaper up to 2000 grits.

The horn and bone pieces I got are all from the same eBay seller and I'm really pleased with the quality. I suggest you choose light colored horn because dark one looks like plastic. For this razor I used my least attractive piece because it was my first time and I didn't want to ruin my nicer ones.

I hope this helps!

 

[buzzy]

Thanks! Yes it definitely helps, I was wondering if it was too ambitious of me to think of doing some horn scales with only a dremel and coping saw, but it seems you got a very nice result with it.
I was also wondering about the dark horns since they seem to look a bit like black acrylic, but I imagine the feel is still nicer.
I found some possible horn blanks on ebay (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/321069862758?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649) at around $10, but shipping is also $10 so I'm still undecided.

Did you use 6'' long blanks? I see lots of 5" but not many 6".

Hi!

I think you'll be just fine using only a dremel and a coping saw, but 1/4" is too thick unless you're working on a very big razor. I think you'll have a hard time bringing it down to 1/8" with a dremel.

I bought my blanks from UK. The size is 150 x 45 x 3 mm, so about 6" long. I think 5" would be too short.

I bought 4 blanks (2 selected and 2 in bulk) and a piece of bone for the wedges for $30, including shipping to Canada. Shipping was the same amount whether I bought 1 or 4.

 

[pmaster]

Oh cool I didn't see you were also in Canada. I think I know which supplier you ordered from on ebay. I'll make sure to order the right thickness, good to know!

Hi!

I think you'll be just fine using only a dremel and a coping saw, but 1/4" is too thick unless you're working on a very big razor. I think you'll have a hard time bringing it down to 1/8" with a dremel.

I bought my blanks from UK. The size is 150 x 45 x 3 mm, so about 6" long. I think 5" would be too short.

I bought 4 blanks (2 selected and 2 in bulk) and a piece of bone for the wedges for $30, including shipping to Canada. Shipping was the same amount whether I bought 1 or 4.