Thread: How to flatten slab of honey horn?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

God I love when I am right...

Actually even the "Pressed" part is now up for debate

Well... it's good to have options!!

Here's my method Michael I only used it last week on this Goldedge came in with a nasty warped set of scales I make a wedge from wood slightly smaller than the internal diamiter of the scales almost the full length cut out a small section if your razor as three pins, then glue a piece of brass plate to the wood to give it rigitity now you wedge is the same size exatly as the internal measurement of the scales, now get a pan of hot water not boiling hold the blade and place your scales into the pan for 30 or 40 seconds now remove and quickly clamp the scales tight and flush to the internal wedge alllow to cool job done.

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Seems like all you gents clamp the pieces between aluminum.. Is there a reason for that or is that what you have available?

Aluminum is cheap

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Here's my method Michael....

Thanks Jamie.. that's a sweet DD for sure..

Originally Posted by mainaman

Aluminum is cheap

I have a good supply of alu plate in my shop. I was just curious whether there was ulterior motive or benefit to choice of material...

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Seems like all you gents clamp the pieces between aluminum.. Is there a reason for that or is that what you have available?

Its just what I have and it works, Aluminum is not a great heat conductor and its quite flat so it works well for those 2 reasons for me.

Originally Posted by alpla444

Its just what I have and it works, Aluminum is not a great heat conductor and its quite flat so it works well for those 2 reasons for me.

Aluminum is a very good heat conductor, it is the fourth best heat conductor of all common metals, Copper, Silver, Gold being the 3 ahead. Al has about half the thermal conductivity of Copper and Silver. Because it is a good heat conductor cooking pans are made from aluminum. Carbon steel and especially stainless steel are not very good heat conductors.

Horn can be fickle when it comes to staying flat. I've had a few slabs that were flat when I got them, but curved after letting them sit for awhile and once flattened would curve again if I let them sit afterwards. What I've found to work pretty well is a light steam to allow them to flatten and clamp them between two heated pieces of steel. I will heat the steel to where it is too hot to touch and allow the scales and steel to cool completely before removing from clamp. Try not to let them sit to long before making your scales. Once cut and shaped there is less material to put tension on itself and might help keep them flat.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Aluminum is a very good heat conductor, it is the fourth best heat conductor of all common metals, Copper, Silver, Gold being the 3 ahead. Al has about half the thermal conductivity of Copper and Silver. Because it is a good heat conductor cooking pans are made from aluminum. Carbon steel and especially stainless steel are not very good heat conductors.

quite right you are, a typing error on my part well spotted, (it needs to be a good heat conductor for the way I use it as the horn is between the sheets and in the vice only a bit of the Horn slab is visible, I need the quick heat spread to get all the horn warm)