I'm getting my Kudu done, but the horns were cooked very hard to get them off, and there is a wear mark from the shipping. I would like to get that beautiful polished look that I saw through the brush when I first saw him. My taxi doesn't want to tackle this, any ideas?
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Posts: 1195 | Location: Lake Nice, VA | Registered: 15 March 2005
Unfortunately what you are describing is common. Once the horns are over boiled they will never look the same. As you know, a kudu's horns have a real luster to them on a fresh specimen and they are the rich brown color of walnut meats. When they are cooked and dried they turn darker and almost black. Some people even paint them black! It is difficult to restore them but a good taxidermist should be able to make them look better than they do now.. If they are greasy at the bases from the fat soaking into the horns you can wash them a bit with soap and water. For finishing I use Johnson's paste wax on horns to help bring back some of that luster.
I found "Wilbert's Lemon Oil" works great! Put some on a rag and wipe the horns with it, you may have to do this a few times because of the horns being so dryed out, it will leave a light shine on them, just like what you saw in the bush!
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Widowmaker416
Posts: 1782 | Location: New Jersey USA | Registered: 12 July 2004
I had to bring back the sheen of some kudu horns that where exactly as you describe. It took awhile but I used johnson paste wax. Put it on and let it dry some and buff it by hand and reapply if necessary. You can buff it as much as you want by hand.
Posts: 344 | Location: Elkin North Carolina USA | Registered: 12 March 2006
Ooops! It wasn't Wilbert's at W-M. Got a sample of Guardman Lemon Oil from a furniture store and the kudu horns took on a nice, light sheen. Still very dark brown/black but looks great. I may try some Old Craftsmen's Lemon Oil with Beeswax. Found online, and Amazon.com lists a Wilbert's source I found as well.
Wilbert's left some old bushbuck horns looking oily and dull, smelling like polished furniture. Old Craftsmen's Lemon Oil With Beeswax lightens the dark brown kudu horns I have and leaves them much shinier, without smelling them up.
