how do I make my horn shiny

[Jim Curlee]

Made this little horn out of one of our longhorn's that wasn't(Norman). lol
Started workin on it last year sittin in the turkey blind, decided it was time to finish it out.
I have scraped it with a piece of glass
Is there a way to make my horn smooth, and shiny?

Thanks
Jim

[G. Elsenbeck]

Looks just fine as it is.  Too shiny that many do come to regret later as it makes handling a slippery event.  Scrape it smooth and maybe go over it with 600 grit if you feel the need. 

[Robert Wolfe]

You can wax and buff if that suits you.

[Eseabee1]

Just like Gary said sand it up through the grits to the finest grit you want. I know some people use a buffing wheel but you have to be careful not to over heat it.  I take mine up to around 600 grit if I sand them. Then use Howard’s feed and wax.

[Jim Curlee]

Thanks guy's for the tips.
I decided to follow GEs advice, and leave it the way it is.
I did go out and hit it with some aqua fortis/heat, that yellowed her up a bit, browned up the butt plug, so I'm good with it now.
I still have the other side, and I think I'll make that one into a Sunday go to meeting horn, complete with a shiny waxed surface, may even try a bit of scrimshaw.
Jim

[Top Jaw]

Too buffed and they take on a plastic look.  Especially black tips and/or black horns. 

[Jim Curlee]

Got her done, more or less. lol
Left her with the scraped glass finish, and applied some heated trap wax.
Pretty happy with the finished product.
Plan to do a brain tanned deerskin strap, maybe even with a bit of quill work.

[Tim Crosby]

 Looks good, nice choice of horn. To me the staple could use some color too. On your next one I would think about changing the direction of the staple, maybe a 90 degree turn. I guess some depends on what kind of strap you want to use. What is that the staple made from, a piece of wire, nail or a fence staple?

   Tim C. 

[Jim Curlee]

Tim;

That is a copper nail that you use when you apply cedar shingles.
I think you could get-em at any hardware store.
I also buy the copper washers, and make rivets out of the nails, works very well with leather.
I roughed the nail up a bit with a file, they are slightly barbed when you buy them.
I decided to run the staple in that direction for no particular reason, just looked good in the maple. lol
Actually I have a plan, but I need my brain-tan deer skin, and since neither the wife or I can remember where we put it, might be a bit before I get it completed. lol
Did find the porcupine quills, so that's a plus.

I'm finishing up another horn that I started many moons ago, that staple runs the other direction.
I'll post pics when I'm done, as soon as you see it you'll know why.

Jim

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Rub your horn down hard with Brasso, and polish with a soft cloth.  If the polish is good, the shine will amaze you.  But the horn must be scratch free as possible to get that effect.