I'm about to try my hand at making my 1st horn and was hoping that somebody wouldn't mind answering a couple of questions for me. If I was going to pin bands on a horn with Honey Locust thorns, what do I need to get the moisture content of the thorns down to before I use them? What would you recommend finishing the plug with? What, if anything, do I need to use to seal between the horn and the plug? Thank y'all in advance for your help!
I wouldn't worry about the moisture content. As we know a lot of bands were never secured I use iron pins just to keep them from popping off and ending up with an unhappy customer. Heated and pressed on they will stay, tap them down a bit while they are hot they will expand a bit. Drill a hole smaller than the tapered thorns tap them in and trim them off.
Finish the plug with what you have, linseed oil, Tung oil, Danish oil, melted Bee's wax, etc... If the plug fits good you don't need any sealer but if you want wipe a little glue (Bee's wax will also work) around the inside of the horn, put the plug in, pin it and wipe off any excess. Be careful though if you horn is scrapped thin enough to see through you will also see the glue/wax when it dries.
Tim C.
Tim C.
