stinky horns

iceboxdan

iceboxdan

New member
i have several buffalo and cow horns that i want to make howlers out of but the stink inside. how do you guts get the stink out . the buffalo horns have had the bone out for a year and the cow horn just got the bone removed.
icebox
 
I must be the only person that doesn't think they stink? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif (Must be because asthma meds have "burned out" most of my sinus tissue.)

I don't know what all the real call makers do, for sure... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But what I've been doing, is making sure that all the meaty parts are boiled/scraped out as best as I can.
Then I leave them sit outside (on the porch, ect.) for a couple days, to "air out".
Once I start sanding on them, I use a sheet of 60 grit (rolled up), & thoroughly [sp] clean/sand the interior of the horn. Or at least as good as I fell I can get it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Once the rest of the work is done...but before I adhere the toneboard into the horn...I put a few coats of clearcoat on it, inside & out. That will take care of any lingering smells of the horn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Hopefully someone with a lot more knowledge than me, will speak up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
iceboxdan,
Cow horns stink? You ain't a bit of a wussy now are ya? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif You should ship those horns to ME by golly, and I will burn em, bury em or put em to really good use.

LORD I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT RIGHT UP THERE. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

In truth, you have been given good info already. Don't pay any attention to my wise remarks. I'm old and a bit senile. I also seal the inside of all horns with clear Rustoleum "Hardhat".
 
I've had some sent to me that stunk from rotting on the carcass. I put them in a ziplock with 6 or 8 dryer sheets for a few weeks. They smell fine now. Once you seal the horn inside and out...you won't have to worry about smell.

Tony
 
Will you need to work on goat horn. If you cant smell it you have got no smeller left. Horn has a smell that tends to stick with the worker. My wife is always first to tell me about it.
 
I may have to advertise for some goat horns this Spring. It'd be interesting to try different stuff. There's some local goat farmers, so who knows.
I've got a small bit of Osage that's sitting & waiting too.
Plus a couple smaller whitetail racks.
 
I had a friend send me a couple of goat horns. Here is the before and after.

Here is the goat before the coyotes killed it.
boer_goat_antlers.jpg


Here are the horns.
boergoat_horn.jpg


Here is what one of the finished horns looks like. The mouth was too small to hold a tone board, so I fit in a piece of Ebony to hold it. I left the finish natural, just sprayed with lacquer for protection. I figured the chips and such would better remind them of the old boy.

Goathornhowler2.jpg

Goathornhowler1.jpg
 
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