Thread: vaccuum set up for refreshing old horn?

I recently saw a post by Gssixgun about using a brake bleeder set up to stabilyze wood scales. Pure genius btw. Anyways, I was curious if anyone had attempted to do something similar with neatsfoot and old horn scales. Or if it'd even be a good idea. I just know I always try soaking them in neatsfoot, and never get results commensurate with the effort or time it took waiting. So, what do you guys think? Worth a try? Already tried and it's pointless? Just not a good idea at all?

Sounds like it might just be a great idea. Waiting to see if anyone has tried it.

Wonder if compleatly saturating horn with neatsfoot oil would soften it?
Maybe better to use some sort of hardening resin,Just a thought.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Wonder if compleatly saturating horn with neatsfoot oil would soften it?

This would be my fear.Nothing worse than floppy scales.

Originally Posted by Theseus

This would be my fear.Nothing worse than floppy scales.

uhm..... damn..... ok I agree....

Well if someone has the vacuum set up already, I can donate some horn scale material to find out the result.

The problem I see with hardeners is that often these old dried out scales are also warped. We don't want to harden them with epoxy in their current shape. We want them to be pliable enough to straighten. If the scales came out soft, then that seems to be ideal. Smash them between two straight pieces of wood with some absorbent backing for a few days. Wait...then pull them out. The excess oil that was making them soft should have leeched into the absorbent backing, and you should be left with two straight scales and no more worry of cracking anything while peening. Ofc...I really don't know. haha. Just making some hopeful assumptions. Any thoughts on that?

I've never had trouble with horn not taking on oil. I usually saturate it in oil, sealed in a zip-lock bag and let it sit for a few days.
It comes out as good as new.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I've never had trouble with horn not taking on oil. I usually saturate it in oil, sealed in a zip-lock bag and let it sit for a few days.
It comes out as good as new.

I do the same thing. I just liked joking about "floppy horn"

I really must be doing something wrong. It never comes out "good as new", or even "good as slightly used". It always comes out "oily and just like it was". haha

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

I just liked joking about "floppy horn"

I was meaning to put this smiley () at the end of that post. It's funny how the lack of smiley can completely change the tone of a post