Thread: What are you working on?

Anyway, that wasn't what I came to post about.

I took apart the scales from the S. Crookes and did some sanding. I tried a few things to get the dye out first but to no avail. It seemed to be just on the surface and I figured maybe it would sand off.



Most of it did sand off but it penetrated deep enough to where the remnant looks like hell. It looks like there was some natural streaking and whoever did the repair/restore/whatever either didn't like it or was trying to cover the little bit of delamination. I may try the hair dye remover stuff from the beauty supply store but then I will have more work dealing with it. Otherwise they get patched and go for a soak in the Rit brown dye for a week or two.

Also the previous person drilled the pivot end holes awfully large so that need a fill and redrill.

Looks to be mainly imbedded in the inside of the scales. U know me, if it can be ground and filled...I'm on it. If not, hello dye. Just hard to let streaked honey horn go, I guess.

Yeah, mostly inside. I didn't want to thin them too much but I still have some room. Minimally invasive is how I tend to steer.

What product will you use to fill those pivot holes Paul?

Originally Posted by Tathra11

What product will you use to fill those pivot holes Paul?

Probably epoxy them since I have other bug bites to fill but since it's under the collars I might use CA.

I was thinking about just making some new streaked blond horn scales since I have some nice blanks and then I thought, well, if I'm planning on doing that anyway let's get a litte more vigorous with the sanding and see what lies beneath (killer Trower song by that title) and this is what I found.



I used the Dremel on first low setting and an extra fine sanding drum doing quick, light, constant lateral strokes. What I found was one really clear, streaked and one butterscotch sunburst. Still needs more sanding but that also took care of some of the delamination at the edges.

They'll sharpen in color after a good soak and polish. After repairs, that is.

Like night and day. Funny thing though, they look almost pristine seen with the eye but with the camera comes a fair bit of specking.

Look how clear they look now though compared to what ther were like.


They had quite a process for horn in those days to get it so transluscent.

From what I understand, Paul. Honey horn comes more from the center of the horn, compared to the outer layers, which is typically darker.

They look good, to me. Speckles are character. .

Fix that crack in the wedge end....please.!

Originally Posted by outback

From what I understand, Paul. Honey horn comes more from the center of the horn, compared to the outer layers, which is typically darker.

They look good, to me. Speckles are character. .

Fix that crack in the wedge end....please.!

All in due time. All in due time.

The process I'm talking about is getting it that clear. I have blanks/slabs that are plenty blond but cloudy. There's a thread somewhere that talks about it. If I recall it involved heat and pressure and steam or oil or something.

This project has me thinking about other projects I have in the process (gotta finish some of that stuff. I'm too easily distracted by shiny things) that I might take more after the scales. I have a couple finished that have dyed scales I might strip down too.