new "aged" horn

[rich pierce]

Sometimes I like a horn to tell a story.  This horn is meant to represent an owner-made horn.  All done with common hand tools and no abrasives except some pumice on a wet rag. The fella used a compass to inscribe the crude arcs at the base, using the nail holes as the center of the arcs.  He patterned the spout end after a bottle top, and chip-carved the butt plug quickly.

I colored it with aquafortis to simulate the aging colors a horn will take.  This was an amber horn running to brown at the end, and is thin enough to see the powder level.

[dave gross]

That's a dandy job....just enough decorative work....as would have been done by its owner two centuries ago. Sometimes difficult to rein in the urge to "fancy" it up just a little more but you've hit it on the head.

Dave Gross

[Ole Doc]

thare ya goo ... that's the ticket.
YOU NAILED IT RIGHT THERE
 wonderfull

[eseabee1]

Really nice horn

[Bill-52]

Rich,

Very nice looking horn.  Just the right balance of embellishment.  I really like the simple spout and plug.

Bill

[RoaringBull]

Beautiful!

[Beaverman]

Looking good Rich!

[Tim Crosby]

 Good looking horn, great designs.

 Tim C.

[skillman]

Rich
While I like to build "fancy" horns I tend to carry and use very plain horns. I like this horn. I really like the base plug. Reminds me of one in Grant's book. Very simple and efective decoration.
Steve

[rich pierce]

Thanks, Steve and all.  Generally I let the horn speak to me as I start working on it.  I picked up a very rough, extra long horn from Lee Larkin and noted it was light and thin already.  Sure enough the cavity went close to the end, which was thin. So I didn't have much material for shaping; the horn was too thin to have a step from the body to the throat.  With rough horns, I never know what lies underneath all the "bark" till I've got it smoothed down a bit.  I saw a picture of a chip-carved end plug that was fairly unsophisticated and it caught my eye.  I did it in pine- next time I'll use cherry or something that will stand up better to the chisel, if I want it to look "horner-made" instead of "owner-made.

[Jefferson58]

Rich, that is a really great, simple horn. The compass engraving looks really good. I could maybe even pull something like that off. The spout shape is a perfect compliment as well.

Great job, thanks for sharing it.

Jeff

[Rick Sheets]

Rich!
Neat horn. Simple and looks just right.
The chip carving reminds me of carvings found on farm-made butter molds.
Love that horn.
Rick

[jasontn]

very nice rich. i really like the base carvings. hadnt thought about using AF, i have a couple of similar colored horns i may try it on.

[LRB]

  Nice work Rich.

[G. Elsenbeck]

Very nice work Rich and I love the look.  The beauty of the horn is its' simplicity and lack of adornment.  What you added to the horn, the refinement to the tip and base plug, are very complimentary to the lines and color.  Great job. Thanks for sharing with us.
Gary

[rich pierce]

very nice rich. i really like the base carvings. hadnt thought about using AF, i have a couple of similar colored horns i may try it on.

I find with AQF on horns, it's challenging to get a uniform, not spotty result.  To prepare, I wash the horn with lava soap, then wash with clear water and rub with a damp cloth to mostly dry it up, but not completely.  Any grease or real shine will cause the AQF to spot up on the horn.  While the horn is still aittle damp I paint the AQF on with a brush, over and over, till it really is uniform, but not drippy anywhere, then let it dry an hour before heating it.  I also use AQF on pine.  it gives a great rich brown color when heated up.

[smshea]

Beautiful work Rich!

[Tim Crosby]

very nice rich. i really like the base carvings. hadnt thought about using AF, i have a couple of similar colored horns i may try it on.

I find with AQF on horns, it's challenging to get a uniform, not spotty result.  To prepare, I wash the horn with lava soap, then wash with clear water and rub with a damp cloth to mostly dry it up, but not completely.  Any grease or real shine will cause the AQF to spot up on the horn.  While the horn is still aittle damp I paint the AQF on with a brush, over and over, till it really is uniform, but not drippy anywhere, then let it dry an hour before heating it.  I also use AQF on pine.  it gives a great rich brown color when heated up.

Even the oil on your fingers is enough to cause spotting. Try wet sanding, maybe 600, followed by a rub down with  Isopropyl alcohol. Put a stick up onside it so you do not have to touch it,

 Tim C.

[rich pierce]

Good tips.  I'll try the alcohol but I've sworn off sandpaper; just scraping anymore.

[Majorjoel]

A very nice working mans horn Rich! I keep looking at the chip carving you did on the butt plug, with the color and design.  Since my wife put me on this low sugar diet a few months back I keep seeing sweet edibles in just about everything I look at. Your horn makes me want to pour a tall glass of milk and start dunking the oreo cookie it resembles to me!!!.......Oh forgive me......