Best Glue to Join Black Walnut to Bison Horn

[canadianml1]

Don't know much about various glues but I want to glue a 1/8 inch thick Bison horn muzzle caplet to my smr black walnut stock. What do you think from your experience is the best glue to use? I am thinking fast drying epoxy or Elmer's, but I don't know.

Thanks for your help!

[bob in the woods]

I have used titebond in the past, but it had a roughened surface to bind to re the horn, and I inlet two small screws into the horn, and then drilled corresponding holes in the stock .  My thought were that this would increase the strength of the joint, and it seems to have worked. 

[WestBranchSusquehanna]

I just used Gorilla epoxy on this Buff horn.  No problem.  The brass tacks are more for show. 
However:  In real practical sense, no glue should be used at all.  Only Wooden nails to attach the butt in case of an accidental ignition of the powder.  That way the butt will blow out and maybe the explosion will not be as violent.

[sdilts]

I've always used epoxy. You can color it to match the horn with epoxy dye from Brownell's.

[FDR]

If you want it to never come off use this:
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/stock-work-finishing/stock-bedding-adhesives/acra-weld-cartridges-prod20983.aspx
I have used this epoxy on over 400 custom knifes with 100% success so far. Not a single failure since 1982.

Fred

[canadianml1]

Thanks to all!!!!!!!

[Daryl]

Jerry - how do you water proof hide glue joints?

[bob in the woods]

I was going to mention hide glue, but not everyone is familiar with it's use, so mentioned titebond [ 3],
which is waterproof.  Hide glue is a tenacious glue if used properly, and centuries old items including firearms with glued joints are testament to it's saying power. The bone inlays on age old firearms as well as wood stock patches are examples of it's use. I would imagine that the applied finish helps to a degree to keep the joints from deteriorating .  One of the rifles in RCA 1 [ or 2 ...I can't remember ]
has a bone facing applied to the cheek piece. It's attached with hide glue 

[Daryl]

Much depends on the relative humidity, as well as how well the item is finished.
Hide & fish glue is quite hygroscopic, at least that was the lesson in the bow building bibles.

[WadePatton]

I've always used epoxy. You can color it to match the horn with epoxy dye from Brownell's.

JB Weld Quick (5-min) is black, if you were considering the use of epoxy.


...

[alacran]

There is enough wood to use a couple of pins to give some mechanical attachment.  Rabbit skin glue, or isinglass will work, there are centuries old joints on wood and horn made with such glues.  The joints should be tight. On a bow hide glue is used to attach backing and or sinew and thus has a lot of surface area. Epoxy alone without a mechanical attachment can also fail. Even when gluing an ebony nose cap with epoxy, it is better to also have a mechanical attachment.

[canadianml1]

As a result of all the input I have decided to use fast drying epoxy plus two "helical brass brads". The brads are made from two #2-56 brass flat head slotted machine screws with a flute cut at the tip so they will self tap into the wood which will be pre-drilled in situ to 0.079 inches diameter. The heads are reduced in diameter and will be filed flush and blackened once installed so they will not be visible. The caplet will have two clearance holes drilled in it and slight countersinks. I know it is not PC but this works........I tried it on a test sample.  I know this sounds like a lot of work but there is only about 3/32 inches of wood to go into. It is a VERY slender fore end.

 If anyone has a better way please chime in!!!

Thanks for your comments it helped a lot!

[alacran]

Ok if you have 3/32nds to work with, you can use 1/16 th pins. First drill the holes for the pins into the stock on either side of the ramrod channel. Drill the holes with the next size numbered drill. Take a piece of tracing paper place over the the stock and rub with pencil. Take the rubbing and place over the mating end of horn. mark where the pin holes are and drill the holes in horn. Make the pins long enough to go into the wood and horn, but short enough so they do not protrude through the horn.

[canadianml1]

I didn't go for 1/16 pins but I did simplify my installation. I pre-drilled the caplet with two .079 diameter holes, glued the caplet on with fast drying JB weld epoxy. When it is fully hardened I will continue drilling with the same drill using a pin vice to a total depth of .3 inches and screw in the helical brads with a bit of epoxy on them. Then I will finish them flush and then blacken. I did a trial test piece and it works like a charm. Done!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for making me think twice!!!