antiquing a horn

[patkinson]

Is there any easy way to antique a powder horn that is already finished?  Thanks   Phil

[Hungry Horse]

 A lot depends on th degree of finish on the horn. Is it simply scraped smooth, sanded smooth, or machine polished. Each will require a different process to give it an aged appearance. The one that works best for me on horns that have at least some white, or cream, coloration is Lincoln medium brown shoe dye. I brush it on quite heavily, and then immediately rub it back with a wet rag. Be sure to get Lincoln brand dye, Feibing's does not play well with the wet rag, and tends to be blotchy.
 I usually seal the dyed surface with clear flat, or semigloss, artist acrylic clear used to seal acrylic paintings.

  Hungry Horse

[Tim Crosby]

 Also AF with heat, it will give you a Golden/Tan color but the horn has to be squeaky clean, as in down to bare horn and cleaned with Alcohol to remove all traces of oil. Paint the AF on, heat it with a heat gun on high, let it sit an hour or so and wash off with water. If it is not dark enough and it probably won't be, repeat the process until you get what you want.
 You can still clean it up and use a Rit dye bath, even with the plug in it. Scott Sibley covers coloring and aging very well in his book; Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn.

  Tim C.  

[oldfireguy]

October Country carries a horn dye that seems to work well, at least for me.  I might add if you are going to use a heat gun with AQ and you have never done it before, be careful.  It doesn't take long to end up with crispy sections in your horn.  Just ask me how I know.

[Marcruger]

And brown shoe polish add definition to edges and brings out details.

[Mark Elliott]

I use ferric nitrate (aqua fortis) to get a nice orange color.   Like Tim said, you have to scrape the horn clean of any wax or oil.   Then apply the AF, let dry, and heat.  If you miss a spot, just scrape that area and retreat that area with AF.   It usually blends pretty well.   I have found that I have to get the horn pretty hot to get a real dark color change and I have to apply the AF at least twice.  When the horn is cold, I wipe on  walnut color oil stain, sprinkle with powdered charcoal and wipe off in an interesting manner.  It is the interesting manner that is important.     

[Tim Crosby]

 "Interesting manner " I like that Mark, I think you have just coined a new Phrase. With your permission I will use it.

   Tim C.