Thread: Horn conditioning?

I have a few razors with horn scales and a brush with a horn handle. Should I be doing something to condition the horn? If so what?

Jordan

I've read on this forum that neatsfoot oil works well , although I haven't tried it . I use Flitz metal polish on my horn scales , and it shines them up quite well .

Hard horn like cow should be given a light dose of oil every now and then. Just apply it and wipe it off after an hour or so. Just about any oil will do. personally I use walnut oil. Some other horn like antelope which is matted hair is another story. If you want to polish it up cape cod cloths work good and certain rouges made for very soft metals and plastics work well also.

As they've said, a bit of oil will do the trick. I had an ancient set of horn scales from an old Marshes razor that were in sad shape. I oiled them up, and let them soak it in. I then gave them a light sanding and they now shine with the best of them!

I've always used olive oil.

As an asside you sould also oil Opals, Mother of Pearl and Abalone to keep it from drying out and potentially geting brittle or cracking.

No don't use oil on opal. Opal is quartz with microscopic cracks that are filled with water and its that water that gives the play of colors. Over time an opal will lose some of that water and some of the color play. If the oil displaces any of the water you will have what is referred to a common opal which has no color play. The best thing for opal is to leave it soaking in water.

I'm not doubting you but do you have more information. We had, on the advice of our jewler been oiling it periodically. Id expect you are more accurate than he is, but now I need to have the facts for the wife.

I have a Shavemac horn brush and a few TI razors with horn scales. I'll wipe them periodically with neatsfoot oil, and then use some Johnson paste wax to really make them shine.

Horn does not need anything unless you want to add a shine it ages well and becomes prettier with age. Mammoth Tusk anyone