Aaron,
Beautiful work. I have purchased thread from Mr. Smith before and he is a pleasure to deal with. I have been trying to do some scratch work on turkey calls I make and have several horn projects sitting in the wing. I have used a sharpened nail in a dowel that Cory Joe Stewart sent me one time but seems to really drag. What type of tool do you use for your scratch work and you would recommend to someone just starting out? Also, I have tried to use the India ink from Hobby Lobby on wingbone turkey calls but it seems to smear too much. Looking for other ideas for coloring. Sure would like to do such nice work as you someday. Thanks and good luck.
elkhorne
elkhorne,
I'm not sure I'm the most qualified to answer all that ,.matter of fact I know I'm not but I will answer you to the best of my ability.
Tools,...I've been asked this before and here is a pic with contact info. I got mine through fleabay shop. In my opinion they are top notch. Don't know the guy and have no affiliation with him,..but love his tools. The tool that works best for you is the one to use. Try different things,..everybody has their favorite. Folks modify all types of things from dental tools to exacto knives to scratch with. My try at something homemade didn't go well. I actually didn't try again for a few years. A guy named Mark Preston posted these tools in a thread once and I ordered one,...never looked back. I have 2 and plan to order more.
Ink- don't remember where I got it but this is what I have used. Nothing special. I am wanting to do some polychrome soon and have ordered some Windsor Newton colored ink that should be here in a few days. But this is the black that I have used
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Daler-Rowney-Simply-Black-India-Ink-1-oz/22960693?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=709&adid=22222222227018266124&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=156489867358&wl4=pla-268427016435&wl5=9014850&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=22960693&wl13=709&veh=semI sketch my stuff out directly on my horn or whatever with a soft pencil. A # 6B as of late. Hard pencils wont show up on some of the horn surfaces,..so I would just get a cheap pack of varying pencils and use what works. Others have a whole process of putting an image on a surface with special carbon paper and I don't know what all,....I cant or wont do that,..just seems harder to me. I either pull it outa my noggin or many times use reference from my ever expanding library or the net and sketch it on. I might as well make use of all these books I have. ...........but again,..do what works for you.
Surface prep - this is key to any scrim. All the horns I've shown are sanded to 220 and buffed with some steel wool. May see a little scratch here and there but the process of making the horn has put it basically ready to scrim. So I don't do anything extra. "Powderhorn Bill" as I call him gives everything a once over with Johnson paste wax I think when a horn is complete...I'm sure that helps.
So,..surface prepped,..sketch image,...scratch image with chosen tool,..I apply ink with q-tip,..let dry a minute,...wipe off with a small piece of paper towel and rubbing alcohol. Go over again as needed. I buff occassionaly and for sure when done with steel wool to get the snags out and keep my grooves clean.
When all is said I done I go over everything I do with Renaisaance Wax. Don't ask me what the stuff does exactly but I like it. Tons of info on the net about it.
Like I said I'm no master engraver or scrimshander but if somebody ask I'll tell ya. Powderhorn Bill tells me everytime im up there " I aint got no secrets". So I don't either. Any more questions feel free to post or PM. If it helps I'll add pics on next project.
Best -Aaron
