Thread: Simple tool for warped horn scale

Just tried this little invention and it worked well.

I just drilled holes in a price of left over trex deck material, used some wire to hold it down, brushed some neatsfoot oil on the scale and slid a regular shim under the warped spot of horn.

I just pushed the shim in farther every few hours or so. It took a few days but it got it close enough to straight. Might want to put something over the spots the wire hits the scale if it real old and brittle. Super excited I don't have to pitch these scales.

But will it stay straight?

Time will tell. Two days pinned and so far so good. Worth a shot to keep the original scale.

Great idea. Hope it does stay straight, keep us posted!

Would slow heat help? I know that is the way to bend/reform most materials.. I would wonder if you would have a gentle heat source over the jig to help ease the bending then remove the heat while still in the jig and let cool slowly will set it into the new straighter position.

Just a thought.

I read a thread where someone (might have been gssixgun) made a somewhat simple jig 'sandwich' with holes in it and the steam from an iron to straighten out horn I believe.

Originally Posted by OnTheRocks

Time will tell. Two days pinned and so far so good. Worth a shot to keep the original scale.

will bend right back.
You will have more success with applying heat, but even then many times the scales bend back to original or close shape.
I love horn but it is so inconsistent

I use a similar type of a set-up to correct my old horn scales, except I use a hair dryer on high heat for about 5 minutes. Then when they are straightened and still hot I leave em secured in the jig with the shim and pop em in the freezer foe a couple of hours. Works every time and so far they all stay straightened.

Use your same rig,suspend it over a pot of boiling water for a few mins,let set for a day,ck and repeat if need be,