Thread: restoring horn (and other natural scales)

Hey all, I'd be most grateful to hear your tips on restoring & polishing horn (and other natural) scales. FOr instance, how does someone like T-I get their horn *so* shiny and polished? I assume it has to do with various mechanical (i.e. dremel, buffing wheel, etc) buffing, probably with various polishing and buffing compounds. I've experimented a bit with my dremel and some different compounds, and I can certainly improve horn and bone scales quite a bit, but I can't get them anywhere near as polished and glossy as I'd like. Many thanks, as always.

Undream's video series pretty much tells it all, hand sanding then buffing.

Straight Razor Restoration Start to Finish Video Series - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by mainaman

Undream's video series pretty much tells it all, hand sanding then buffing.

Straight Razor Restoration Start to Finish Video Series - Straight Razor Place Wiki

+1 -- check out his last few videos on making/finishing the horn scales. It's the same process as getting the razors shiny, except a bit easier on the hands as horn is softer. I guess the trade off is the smell.

If you have old horn that you want to restore there are some wiki articles on doing so. You'll typically want to soak them in an oil (say mineral oil) for several hours first, and then wipe them off and start your sanding progression. There are also some articles on how to straighten them out using heat from either a blow dryer or boiling water.

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion - I started make my way through the series a few days ago, and though I dont know exactly how he finishes up on the razor, I am currently able to get a razor blade pretty close to mirror, and the same process (or different ones) doesnt get me as far as I'd like with the horn.

interesting about the soaking - what exactly does it do?

Originally Posted by Mijbil

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion - I started make my way through the series a few days ago, and though I dont know exactly how he finishes up on the razor, I am currently able to get a razor blade pretty close to mirror, and the same process (or different ones) doesnt get me as far as I'd like with the horn.

interesting about the soaking - what exactly does it do?

the soaking eliminates the dust while sanding. I like to do it with WD-40, but water is just fine too. You can hand sand throguh the grits with sand paper, then jump to micromesh , then finish with maas/mother's, Novus. Plas X, thre are many. Try and see what you like.

Well, I usually sand with water or oil anyway to achieve the same purpose. I guess the soaking is just a way to avoid having to continually reapply, given the unique ability of horn to absorb the oil? Anyways, the progression you mention is pretty close to what I've already done. Now don't get me wrong - it does get the horn looking quite nice indeed, and MUCH better than when one receives it, but I was hoping to find a way to take it to the next level...

Originally Posted by Mijbil

Well, I usually sand with water or oil anyway to achieve the same purpose. I guess the soaking is just a way to avoid having to continually reapply, given the unique ability of horn to absorb the oil? Anyways, the progression you mention is pretty close to what I've already done. Now don't get me wrong - it does get the horn looking quite nice indeed, and MUCH better than when one receives it, but I was hoping to find a way to take it to the next level...

I find it hard to think about more than that:
Straight Razor Restoration Start to Finish Video Series - Straight Razor Place Wiki
video #10 or 11 (can't remember for sure)