Started my next horn

[Blackthorn]

Well it was a rough day at the home office and I needed a break from the toil.  It was a beautiful day out so I moved to my outdoor bench better known as the patio table.  Since my wife wasn’t home I could work without distraction.  Plus if my wife knew the work I did on both the kitchen counters and the patio table she’d probably have a bird.   

[Tim Crosby]

 FWIW This may help in holding the horn, you can use two hands this way. A clamp can be use to hold it on a table. Looks  like a good start.

  Tim

[Bob Gerard]

I agree with Tim- stabilizing the piece makes working on it much better in many ways.
The method I use is to insert the nozzle into a metal rod that I have clamped in my vise. This keeps the horn in place and allows you to turn it as you work on it. (I have not had any issues with this method for the near sixty horns I’ve made this way) - keep the nozzle a bit fat and it handles the strain- I thin it down after all the heavy rasping and filing is done.
Good luck on your horn project nonetheless- it’s very cool to make your own.

[Tim Crosby]

 I guess the link would help. You have to be careful sticking something in the drilled tip and working on the horn. I tried that but ended up with cracked yips and useless horns. This may not be the best but it has worked for me over the years.

  Tim

      https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=30428.0

[Blackthorn]

I do actually use a clamp.  I have a large wooden dowel with a tapered tip that I hold in my vise.  It seems to work for me.  It allows me to spin the horn while shaping and if I need to hold it still I have a Dewalt hand clamp.  It is also about 3’ long so I can adjust it to be up higher or closer to the vise 

[rich pierce]

A crooked tree branch cut off works for me. The trick of a wet leather wrap is a winner.