Need ideas on getting powder out of a horn

[Ky-Flinter]

I have a sale pending on an antique horn that has a solidified powder in it.  The buyer is 900 miles away, so I need to mail/ship the horn.  I don't want to risk removing the wood base plug.  The spout ID is about 1/4".  I used a straightened coat hanger and was able to break the powder up some, but there is still a lump left inside, I'm guessing about the size of a golf ball.  The coat hanger isn't having much effect on the ball of powder.  When I shake the horn, the ball rattles around, but not much powder comes out.

I was thinking about filling the horn with water to "disolve" the lump.  Good idea/bad idea?  Has anyone done it before?  Any ideas?  Thanks guys.

-Ron

[sonny]

How about pouring some small 7 1/2 shot in it an shake it back an forth to let the pellets smack the powder lump around a bit. Heck, you can always pour out the shot later.............sonny

[snapper]

I was going to recommend shot as well.   Shake it and break up the clump.

Cleaned up a old gas tank on a tractor once with a log chain shaking around inside it.

Fleener

[Dennis Glazener]

How about pouring some small 7 1/2 shot in it an shake it back an forth to let the pellets smack the powder lump around a bit. Heck, you can always pour out the shot later.............sonny

I suspect you will need something heavier than 7 1/2 shot I think I would use the largest size that you think won't damage the horn. Old caked powder can be pretty hard to break up.
Dennis

[Ky-Flinter]

I shoulda mentioned before, I put 15 BB's in the horn and shook the cr@p out of it.  It didn't have much effect.  I've cleaned gas tanks with a handful of nuts and bolts, but the spout hole is pretty small.

-Ron

[Mike Lyons]

Water should work. 

[Bob McBride]

I just picked up a percussion revolver that had been loaded since the eighties and I had to hand twist a series of drill bits to remove the caked powder out of the cylinder. It was surprisingly hard. I would try the heaviest shot that will fit in the spout if you fail with the coat hanger.

[BOB HILL]

Water was the first thing that came to mind, too.
Bob

[Robby]

Maybe you could flatten the end of the coat hanger, bend it a bit and mount it in a drill, give it the egg beater treatment, could even add a dash of water as a last resort. Good luck!!!
Robin

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks Guys.  I thought about chucking the wire in a drill, but the horn has a nice curve, plus twist, so the wire is bent accordingly.  I'm afraid to use the drill for fear of breaking the horn.

-Ron

[Tim Crosby]

 Ron, ya got a garden sprayer? I've use them to clean out horns a couple times. Mine has a small spout in the end, see the Pic, even if it doesn't It would probably work. I set the nozzle to stream, then put a piece of gas line on it, tape it up real good, put hot water in the tank, pumped it up good, stuck in the horn and it worked. Took 4 or 5 rounds but it got it out.   

  Tim
 

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks Tim,

I have a feeling I'm gonna get wet this evening.  Better wear my PFD so's I don't drownd myself.

-Ron

[Tim Crosby]

 So, how'd it go? TC

[Ky-Flinter]

I was going to work on the horn last night, but my wife had other ideas.  Hopefully tonight.

-Ron