holding a horn for schrimshaw work

[sloe bear]

 i have made many a horn although very primitive,my problem is and always has been a good way to hold the horn when working on it, no vise works and it's difficult to hold with one hand and work with the other. what is the best method to keep the horn steady and firm? any suggestion will be appreciated. sloe bear

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I do a lot with the horn resting on my thighs while curled up in a seat.  I also have a cloth bag full of beans.  The bag sits on the table and conforms to the shape of the horn.  I still hold it with one hand and engrave with the other.  I also make a lot of use of the arm rest on a couch, lay the horn over it and work on it. 

Coryjoe

[The Original Griz]

I do all my engraving sitting on my recliner in my living room watching TV, just for noise. I hold the horn in my left hand and engrave with my right hand... cant use the sand bags at a table, just seems awkward to me. But then again I am weird..

[Horner75]

For general rasping and shaping, and sometimes engraving. __  I have about a 2 foot length of 2"X2" that is rounded and slightly pointed on one end and wrapped with leather.  I clamp the thing in my bench vise solid in the position that is easiest for me to work,  and slip the horn I'm working on, onto the pointed end of the wood. __ The leather wrapping will hold the horn in place and you can turn or re-adjust the position of the horn easily for working on that horn.

For engraving, I just hold in my hands on a table with a terry cloth bath towel folded under it!

Works for me anyhow!

Rick

[Shreckmeister]

I just held in my lap, but I am going to try a combination of that with
a cloth bag of rice and see how that works.  Thanks for the ideas.  
I like the ability to sit in a chair and watch a game or converse with
someone while I work.  Mrs. doesn't like when I hide out in the shop too long.

[sloe bear]

thanks for the reply, I think I'll try the rice bag or the bean bag, maybe I need to relax and scrimshaw while watching TV but not the news  that would really mess me up and through what artistic ability I have down the drain.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Rice or bean bags don't bleed like legs!!

[Eric Smith]

Rice or bean bags don't bleed like legs!!

Well said my friend.

[smorrison]

Like Griz, I engrave the horn in my easy chair with the TV going.  Hold the horn with my left hand, knife in my right...

Scott M

[ChipK]

I use a leather rifle rest, one that you can purchase in just about any shooting supply house or sportsman store.  They run about $20 and the U shape does well to secure the horn.  It also [prevents you slipping and running something through your hand or leg - don't ask how I know that

[The Original Griz]

Like Griz, I engrave the horn in my easy chair with the TV going.  Hold the horn with my left hand, knife in my right...

Scott M

Good grief Scott, your as weird as me, seek help as soon as possible

[LURCHWV@BJS]

Mind you , I'm just starting out myself. No real experience .
   Need to try the bean bag thingy
   On my lap works well
   Wife wouldn't let me,OR I have too much respect for her, OR  I'm afraid to do it in m
y living room
   Recently I've been using the steering wheel of a peterbuilt, that works well

   Rich

[Ahtuwisae]

I too sit in the living room with the TV going.  i use various methods depending on the item being scrimmed however my norm is leather chamois (you can buy two pieces at any wally world) sewn into a bag and filled with rice.

SuzKat...if you are going to use rice (or beans) use leather for the bag, this way the horn will not slip.

I saw Bill carter using a strap with a leather collar, kind of like a strap you would have on a shoulder bag, that he wraps around the horn and uses his foot to apply pressure to hold the horn in place on top of his rice bag.  I guess we all have our ways.  Sloe Bear, experiment and you will find something comfortable for you.

[TinStar]

You can make sandbags of varying sizes by cutting the legs off old blue jeans. Cut them to the length needed, turn inside out and glue the end shut with a real good helping of hot glue from a gun.. After one end is done turn it back rightside out and glue the other end shut after putting in the amount of sand you want. I have a bunch for shooting and they work great and cheap as can be.

TinStar
Soli deo Gloria!

[Ky-Flinter]

You can make sandbags of varying sizes by cutting the legs off old blue jeans......

I have several bags I've made that way, but always worried about the sand working it's way out, so I put the sand in a ziplock freezer bag, then slide that in the jeans leg and sew it up.  Also made a couple out of buckskin, suede side out.  They do hold the work better.

-Ron

[Kopfjaeger]

I use sand bags. Like the ones shooters use to rest thier rifles on.

I have three, but usually two sand bags work.

[smorrison]

Like Griz, I engrave the horn in my easy chair with the TV going.  Hold the horn with my left hand, knife in my right...

Scott M

Good grief Scott, your as weird as me, seek help as soon as possible

I dunno, Tim.  I don't think there's any help for me...

Scott M

[The Original Griz]

Like Griz, I engrave the horn in my easy chair with the TV going.  Hold the horn with my left hand, knife in my right...

Scott M

Good grief Scott, your as weird as me, seek help as soon as possible

I dunno, Tim.  I don't think there's any help for me...

Scott M

just come on over and stand in my corner with me  Heaven help us both

[sloe bear]

all of the replies are great, this is a great source of suggestions, the sand bag out of buck skin seems to work great thanks sloe bear, I'm still working on the art part it seems that all I can draw consistently are flies.

[George Sutton]

A big lump of clay. It won't move at all.

Centershot

[bigbat]

Look at the contempory makers blog and you will see how Cathy Sibley holds her work to scrimshaw it.

[LURCHWV@BJS]

  I saw something today that put a whole new perspective on a possible work platform for scrim.
  Excellent lighting, movable work area comfortable place to sit. 

   A Dentist chair.  Only two more things you'd want, a refrigerator and a toilet   The perfect work area

  Sad thing is,  I'm serious

    Rich

[R.I.J.]

I make my sand filled shooting and horn rests with zip lock bags in the sleeves of Goodwill leather jackets the rest of the jacket winds up as other projeccts, cheap,