Tools

As with any craft, horn workers use a variety of specialist tools.

Tools for working the horn

When the horn is separated from the bony core an amount of soft tissue connecting the two pieces together is often left in place. This tissue is removed using a long handled knife (1) which can get right inside the horn. The blade is curved to follow the lines of the sheath.

A circular saw blade (2 - 7) used to cut the horn down to a workable size ready for it to be cut open and pressed.

Once the material has been heated and pressed flat a cutting blade (8 - 9) made of steel is used to punch out the shape of the required object. This example is the cutting blade for a spoon.

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Tools for finishing the horn

A hand file (10 - 11) is used to smooth or grail the surface of the worked horn to give a more pleasing surface texture. A long handled brush (12) such as this is used to polish off wax used to bring a shine to the finished object.

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