Thread: Horn scale making tutorial

I do like to see how people make scales as I always manage to learn something. I was wondering what the advantage of soaking in neatsfoot oil is and does it really need to be for days?
Thanks.

Originally Posted by CMOT

I do like to see how people make scales as I always manage to learn something. I was wondering what the advantage of soaking in neatsfoot oil is and does it really need to be for days?
Thanks.

I can't speak for the OP but where I get my horn from - a bit further north from you - it's of a quality that doesn't need soaking but is aged enough before cutting that there is very little warp.

Originally Posted by UKRob

I can't speak for the OP but where I get my horn from - a bit further north from you - it's of a quality that doesn't need soaking but is aged enough before cutting that there is very little warp.

Would that be Highland Horn by any chance?

I will tape them up like you did then lay a wide piece of painters tape over one side and trace my pattern on it. Easier to see, then cut the profile. I leave them taped together for everything. I drill the pin/wedge holes before I profile them in the drill press. That assures the holes are straight and perfectly aligned then sand to final profile and shape then separate the 2 halves. I find it easier to get a symmetrical profile if they are still taped together. Easier to get a nice even roll from one side to the other and drilling before sanding while the slabs are still perfectly flat makes life easy.

Why do you soak the horn in neatsfoot?
Thanks.

Great work mate
The soaking in neatsfoot oil gets the horn nice and translucent and helps it polish up well

Originally Posted by CMOT

Would that be Highland Horn by any chance?

That's the place - I've used him for a few years. I believe he still supplies horn for use as spectacle frames and that's why the aging needs to be right.

Mine is actually from this guy. He has blanks on ebay all the time.

Well I can't say if it makes it easier to shape. I use a belt sander, so it's easy regardless. I'm still not sure if it makes a difference at all, I've seen others do it so I tried it. I will say that I used goo gone to remove the double sided tape residue, and that appears to have penetrate the horn and made it very nice looking. I'm going to test it further and allow the scales to soak it in, just to see if it really works or not. It could be a bad thing, I don't know.