Dry horns and ivory - how to treat these?

[SkullKeeper]

My friend has some horns and ivory that seem to be too dry. What is recommended as a treatment?
Thanks in advance everyone !

 

[BryceM]

WD-40 works well for horns. It’s fish oil, basically. As for ivory…… I dunno. I wouldn’t think it needed anything, but I’m here to learn.

 

[RR 314]

See if this will be affirmed by the experts here. I certainly am not one. However, I’ve known numerous people to use mineral oil on ivory. I’ve also knew an old gunsmith that swore by mink oil for collectible ivory gripped handguns.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

My friend has some horns and ivory that seem to be too dry. What is recommended as a treatment?
Thanks in advance everyone !

Here by @buck wild:

Thread 'Re-conditioning Horns'

Nov 16, 2020

Here is how I get a little life back into those boiled, dry out horns that come back to us. These are my personal sable and roan horns rec'd recently. I took careful measurements before leaving and needed to rebuild approx 1/2 " of horn to each.

First I make a silicone mold of the bottom 3/4" of each horn. I can provide more info on this later if someone is interested.

I next taken softened beeswax and apply a liberal coating over the entire horn. This will fill the cracks and provide a natural sheen.

I use a low heat source (hair dryer, paint stripper on...

• buck wild
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Articles

• 
• 

 

[SkullKeeper]

Here by @buck wild:

Thread 'Re-conditioning Horns'

Nov 16, 2020

Here is how I get a little life back into those boiled, dry out horns that come back to us. These are my personal sable and roan horns rec'd recently. I took careful measurements before leaving and needed to rebuild approx 1/2 " of horn to each.

First I make a silicone mold of the bottom 3/4" of each horn. I can provide more info on this later if someone is interested.

I next taken softened beeswax and apply a liberal coating over the entire horn. This will fill the cracks and provide a natural sheen.

I use a low heat source (hair dryer, paint stripper on...

• buck wild
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Articles

• 
• 

Thank you !

 

[SETH RINGER]

WE USE RENAISSANCE WAX ON ALL OUR IVORY. NOT SAVY ENOUGH TO POST A LINK BUT IT IS ON AMAZON

 

[towserthemouser]

From Ndlovu: The Art of Hunting the African Elephant by Richard Harland:

"Tusks kept in a trophy room or at a home, particularly in the generally moister climates of the northern hemisphere, should not crack..... in particular they must be kept away from fireplaces and heating units. Extremes of heat and cold are bad news for ivory.

A good application of wax-based furniture/floor polish is wiped as far as possible into the tusk's cavity by the taxidermist, moisturizing and sealing the inner surface. The exterior of the tusks should then be waxed and polished yearly. Besides the preservative effect, it adds to the patina of the dentine and enhances the grain."

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

WD-40 works well for horns. It’s fish oil, basically. As for ivory…… I dunno. I wouldn’t think it needed anything, but I’m here to learn.

Since when did WD40 become fish oil? News to me

 

[JimP]

Since when did WD40 become fish oil? News to me

It's always been fish oil based along with other ingredients.

It also works great sprayed on lures and bait while fishing.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

It's always been fish oil based along with other ingredients.

It also works great sprayed on lures and bait while fishing.

in some states that is illegal to do

 

[Sarg]

I have no idea but from the WD40 info site.

WHAT A FISH STORY!​

Myth: WD-40 Multi-Use Product contains fish oil.

Fact: Consumers have told us over the years that they have caught some of the biggest fish ever after protecting their fish hooks and lures with WD-40 Multi-Use Product . We believe this legend came from folks assuming that the product must contain fish oil since it appears to attract fish. Sorry Charlie_®, it just ain’t so.

WD-40 Company has taken steps to respect and conserve the environment, and encourages its users to do the same. While WD-40 Multi-Use Product can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion, WD-40 Company does not recommend using WD-40 Multi-Use Product to attract fish.

WD-40 does not contain fish oil, contrary to a popular myth, nor does it contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

​

 

[Sarg]

Just to add something here, I think I found a great way to fix up those horns !

I was cleaning up a few Thar horns & skulls in my shed, reboiled the skulls & whiten.

The horns were in a sad state, dry & dull, on my bench was a can of CRC Lanocte made from Natural Lanolin, a light went off & I sprayed a horn, it looked as good as the day it was shot so dragged out a Addax head & then a Sable pickup which was very dry both look like new !

 

[DieJager]

@Sarg thanks for the tip. It is a while since you posted this. Does it still looks good? If so this is a great natural way to get them back to new so to speak.

 

[buck wild]

I'm not familiar with this stuff so I can't specifically comment on it,

BUT as a general principle stay away from any "oil" stuff on horns as they will soak into the porous material and permanently darken the horn material over time. If that's what you are trying to achieve, then no problems, but if you want the horns to stay a lighter color, then avoid oils. I think most of the African shops use oil based products on horns thus the black horns a lot of us complain about upon their return to us. Oil type products can be used on "antlers" as they are bone and will not soak int the material and change the color.

 

[DieJager]

I'm not familiar with this stuff so I can't specifically comment on it,

BUT as a general principle stay away from any "oil" stuff on horns as they will soak into the porous material and permanently darken the horn material over time. If that's what you are trying to achieve, then no problems, but if you want the horns to stay a lighter color, then avoid oils. I think most of the African shops use oil based products on horns thus the black horns a lot of us complain about upon their return to us. Oil type products can be used on "antlers" as they are bone and will not soak int the material and change the color.

Ok, that sounds logical. What would your advice be?

 

[Sarg]

I’m always at a loss to know why the masses must put a negative comment on a subject or item that they haven’t heard of or know nothing about & say it as if they know & have expertise on this or that !

It has only been a few weeks since I tried this product & it looks great still, looking very natural & fresh.

Refreshed ancient neglected Bantang horns as well, after the comments & questions I just applied to one horn of a White Blesbok which as you might know have extremely light to whitish horn colour, it immediately took on a fresh look.

I will let it soak in for a few weeks & post the results, I feel it won’t turn them black !

 

[buck wild]

I was not putting anything negative @Sarg . Just the facts about oil on horns. And to think I don't have knowledge or expertise is a very foolish statement if you were referring to me. I have been doing taxidermy for 35+ yrs and am always staying up on the current trends etc. Of course no oil is going to turn light colored horns "black" but the facts are that oil products will darken horns over time, and over multiple applications. Your horns, do as you please, but others that might read about the subject of applying stuff to horns should be informed about oil. What I did say was that I was unfamiliar with the product you used, thus I was unsure as to its properties.

@DieJager I usually use wax type products such as beeswax or the hard, orangey colored (not the soft brown stuff) Johnson and Johnson floor paste wax. On sheep horns, even Mop and Glow floor wax is pretty good.

 

[MarkB]

Hello Sarg

I don not think @buck wild comment was in any way derogatory or any way negative to your idea. As a fellow taxidermist (not at Buck Wilds level) I agree with his statement. No slagging just some customers, hunters want their horns natural colour when finished. Oils sometimes darken horns to a point of no return.

His post just pointed this out. There are many posts and comments on here about the "shoe polish horns of African taxidermy shops" some hunters like, others do not. My first thought on seeing your sable horns was wow the oiled one is dark. The other is natural and as shot. For me I prefer all my taxidermy mounted as alive and shot.

Buck Wilds thread on here concerning his method or reconditioning dried, over boiled African horns is outstanding. Brings them back to original without changing their alive color, it is now the method I use.

There are many ways to revive horns and all ideas are what makes this site what it is, awesome. I have no idea of all horn color changes with oils, or additives. I would hate someone unknowingly to put something on that "blackened" permanently if unwanted. Buck Wild was just pointing this out I am sure.

Mark B

 

[DieJager]

Could you point me to the thread of @buck wild . My searching skills are lacking, could not find it. Thanks in advance

 

[MarkB]

Its posted by Jerome (site owner) in one of the posts in the start of this thread. @buck wild way/plan takes more time and energy than painting, coating or putting on a liquid but its brings them back to "as shot" perfectly. If that's the look your after.

MB