Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bigcountry on April 16, 2009, 04:28:11 pm

Title: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: bigcountry on April 16, 2009, 04:28:11 pm

I have used 60grit to shape, 120grit, then 220gr, then moved to 300 and 400. 

Is there a secret to polishing these to be nice and shiny?  Just keep moving to 1000 grit?

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Kent D. on April 16, 2009, 04:30:23 pm

Mark, I go all the way to 1000 grit.  600 will get it good and shinny, and if you hit it with 1000 it will polish up even better. 

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: bigcountry on April 16, 2009, 04:38:46 pm

Hmm, guess i need to go to a auto store to get that fine grit.  Went out at lowes and depot, and finest they had is 400grit. 

I have some silicon carbide solution also, with those felt wheels on my dremel. 

I can't seem to get past floor tiller.  I have no bend near my fades.  IPE is some hard stuff.  I only get to work on it about 1/2 hour every few days.

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Timo on April 16, 2009, 06:14:31 pm

I shape with at mill bastard file, finish the shape with 150 grit, then 220. Then oooo steel wool. That is it.Smooth as a doves fart.:)

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Adam Keiper on April 16, 2009, 06:33:17 pm

I use a fine file, then 80 through 400 grit sandpaper, then 0000 steel wool, and finally buff with a piece of split leather.  Tear off and twist a piece of the steel wool to get in the grooves, too.

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Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Timo on April 16, 2009, 07:04:30 pm

Adam, that is a good idear ,twisiting the wool like that! Thanks!

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Bent Rig on April 16, 2009, 07:20:00 pm

Thanks for sharing that trick with the steel wool Adam - I will be doing that from now on !  ;)

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: DarkSoul on April 17, 2009, 09:57:23 am

I've heard you can polish horn with toothpaste...never tried it though. But I intend to try it soon.

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: El Destructo on April 17, 2009, 10:15:55 am

Brown Rouge on a Bufffing Wheel will have them Mirror Smooth .....just don't push....let the Wheel do the work

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: bambule on April 17, 2009, 02:25:09 pm

I'm using a special nailfile from my wife for polishing the nails - it works like magic on horn...

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: markinengland on April 17, 2009, 03:09:47 pm

Ipe can be polished just like the horn to a mirror finisah. Take it up to 4000 and be amazed! There are some very fine grades of wet and dry paper on ebay if you look.

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Kent D. on April 17, 2009, 03:44:42 pm

Quote from: DarkSoul on April 17, 2009, 09:57:23 am

I've heard you can polish horn with toothpaste...never tried it though. But I intend to try it soon.

I have used it to polish glass and crystal.  Worked great.   The diatoms shells they put in it as a mild abrasive works pretty good.  I can only imagine it would work on horn as well.  Just dont use jel ;D

Title: Re: How do you polish horn overlays or tips?
Post by: Far East Archer on April 17, 2009, 03:59:53 pm

I use wet sand paper like Mark say, but only up to 2000 starting from maybe 800.
I start at 120~200~250~400~600~800~1000~1500~2000.

Works well on getting finishes smooth too...