Thread: Restore Horn

I wanted to give an update. I soaked then in neatsfoot oil for 24 hrs then sanded up to 6000 grit. They look great! See?

Very nice. I just picked up a large container of neatsfoot oil last night. I am looking forward to results like yours.

Neatsfoot works so well for horn because it is the oil boiled down from hooves and horn. So.... as you soak your scales you are replacing what has been lost. Be sure to get the 100% natural stuff vs the synthetics that are being sold these days.

Here's another, better update. This is after a couple of coats of scratch-x and then around 8 coats of carnuba wax. Mirror finish from 150+ old scales.

Sidmind, if you want, post up your result here. I'd like to see them.

That looks well done. I have to admit it looks much better than I think was possible.

Thank you Bruno. I'm telling you guys, the neatsfoot oil made all the difference. It really rejuvenated the scales. When I sanded, I dipped the paper into the oil, using it like water.

Here's a couple of before shots. These things turned out soooo much better than I could have hoped. Sidmind, make sure you show us your before and after shots too!

Originally Posted by medicevans

Thank you Bruno. I'm telling you guys, the neatsfoot oil made all the difference. It really rejuvenated the scales. When I sanded, I dipped the paper into the oil, using it like water.

Here's a couple of before shots. These things turned out soooo much better than I could have hoped. Sidmind, make sure you show us your before and after shots too!

I am working on two different sets of horn scales right now. The first set which i didn't get photos of before. I am simply amazed after sanding, soaking in neatsfoot, and buffing. I swear I am second guessing myself, as it looks like plastic now. I had to break out the 30x loupe just to make sure I was working on the same set...

The 2nd set I am still soaking. And will post photos later.

I am having problems figuring out how to get the cracks and spots out. Trust me I have read every thing on the Internet about horn scale repair. And still stuck. But it's perhaps because I don't have the right stuff. I live in a small town and had to use what I could find at walmart.

I used 5 minute epoxy and a 94 cent bottle of black acrylic paint from the craft section.
I thought it was going to work great but when I started sanding it all came off. The voids were not exactly filled with epoxy. I might have to get the dry pigment like the "how-to showed" any one else use a common product I could buy from walmart to dye their epoxy?

Real quick, here's the completed project. It's with Larry right now getting honed. Brass stacked washers with brass pins.

Thanks for everyones' help.

WOW! Better than new!

@sidmind: try mixing your paint with the epoxy to match the scales, some epoxies can do this, read the labels or just experiment. You may also wish to try some enamel paint such as Testors model paints, a little tougher than acrylic.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

WOW! Better than new!

@sidmind: try mixing your paint with the epoxy to match the scales, some epoxies can do this, read the labels or just experiment. You may also wish to try some enamel paint such as Testors model paints, a little tougher than acrylic.

Thank you for the advice. But thatis exactly what I did. I mixed 5 min. Epoxy with acrylic paint from walmart.
It was a total failure. Not even worth doing. As it all sanded off. Even in the wholes/cracks.

media.. Razor looks great. You should be proud..

So you are suggesting enamel testers paint and epoxy. I will be happy to try it and report back..