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Sheep horn advice sought
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Picture of Karoo
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As a sheep rancher, I have access to lots of good quality merino horn and want to cut scales off of them.
So far I have used a meat bandsaw (only bandsaw I have) and a small angle grinder with limited success as the shape is asymmetrical. I tried cutting it into 6" sections first too.
Even then, the slabs are very uneven and take a lot of grinding to achieve a uniform thickness.
Question: what else can I use? Jigsaw? Handsaw? I would have to buy a jigsaw.

Any advice on working with horn is appreciated as the internet has little to offer.
 
Posts: 779 | Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa | Registered: 24 December 2006Reply With Quote
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I would spend a little time and build a jig that you could clamp the piece of horn securely. I would then use a bandsaw for cutting.
 
Posts: 121 | Location: on the road | Registered: 01 October 2009Reply With Quote
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I use a bandsaw to cut slabs from moose horn drops I find. They are never uniform, as the horn tines are not uniform. I put them on a beltsander to even them up and flatten them out for epoxying to the knife. I think you could get them close with your angle grinder. Then, with a sheet of sandpaper on a hard flat surface, finish flattening them by hand.
 
Posts: 6901 | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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Picture of Karoo
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Thanks for the tips and I will see what I can do. I also think that I must separate the horn from the bone first to make it easier to saw.
 
Posts: 779 | Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa | Registered: 24 December 2006Reply With Quote
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Yeah, bandsaw. Follow the contour and get the thickness. Boil in mineral oil put in a vise while hot to flatten. Get a belt sander to finish flat.


Keep the Pointy end away from you
www.jerryfisk.com
 
Posts: 519 | Registered: 28 August 2014Reply With Quote
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Thanks Jerry. I will give it a go.
 
Posts: 779 | Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa | Registered: 24 December 2006Reply With Quote
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I was going to suggest boiling.
 
Posts: 10003 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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