Making buttons from sheep horns
Making buttons from sheep horns
First of all: hello, long-time lurker and now finally a newbie, here with a slightly odd first post. Has anyone used their own cow / sheep / goat horns to make buttons? Or other things.
A couple of our rams went to the abbatoir today and they have (had) rather nice horns. I've requested that the abbatoir let me have the horns because I make "stuff" and often buy horn buttons. In my self-sufficient way, it occurred to me that I'd get rather a lot of buttons, toggles, and possibly other items from these horns.
But what do I do to prepare the horns? I've Googled but not so far found any definitive processing recommendations. Has anyone here recycled animal horns successfully?
A couple of our rams went to the abbatoir today and they have (had) rather nice horns. I've requested that the abbatoir let me have the horns because I make "stuff" and often buy horn buttons. In my self-sufficient way, it occurred to me that I'd get rather a lot of buttons, toggles, and possibly other items from these horns.
But what do I do to prepare the horns? I've Googled but not so far found any definitive processing recommendations. Has anyone here recycled animal horns successfully?
- Green Aura
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
Sorry, I've no idea. But I'm sure someone will.
In the meantime, welcome to Ish
In the meantime, welcome to Ish
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
Thank you very much.
Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
don't know either but your quest is interesting. welcome here and make sure you let us know what you come up with!
- Davie Crockett
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
I don't know much about sheep horn. is it hollow or solid like antlers? If it's hollow, it will probably have a marrow like core which will need cleaning out before working it. Horn is composed of keratin and other proteins (like your fingernails) and can be worked by softening it by boiling: http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-ca ... horng.html
The gist of it is....Clean out the core, boil for one and a half hours. Cut the tip off and then open the horn to gain the most useful area. This can be either a straight cut from top to bottom or a spiral cut which will give you a strip to take your buttons/toggles from.
on the subject of buttons....
I frequent a bodgers forum (green woodworkers) and the subject of making wooden round buttons came up recently. The consensus of opinion for small round wood (3/4 inch or less) is to pre drill your holes and then using a fine saw, slice your buttons off á la carrot. Or for larger buttons and using a pole lathe, rounding quartered logs and proceeding as before. Very basic but efficient.
By The Way...Welcome to the forum.
The gist of it is....Clean out the core, boil for one and a half hours. Cut the tip off and then open the horn to gain the most useful area. This can be either a straight cut from top to bottom or a spiral cut which will give you a strip to take your buttons/toggles from.
on the subject of buttons....
I frequent a bodgers forum (green woodworkers) and the subject of making wooden round buttons came up recently. The consensus of opinion for small round wood (3/4 inch or less) is to pre drill your holes and then using a fine saw, slice your buttons off á la carrot. Or for larger buttons and using a pole lathe, rounding quartered logs and proceeding as before. Very basic but efficient.
By The Way...Welcome to the forum.
Time flies like an arrow; vinegar flies like an uncovered wine must.
Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
My grannie's a crofter from the west coast of Scotland. she showed me how to make sheep horn buttons.
It's really easy.
Just boil the horn til its soft and you can cut it to shape with a vegetable knife.
punch holes while its still semi-soft.
I use horn buttons as lace-bobbin weights because they're the perfect rough texture to sit on a pillow without slipping, especially if you cross hatch both flat sides.
It's really easy.
Just boil the horn til its soft and you can cut it to shape with a vegetable knife.
punch holes while its still semi-soft.
I use horn buttons as lace-bobbin weights because they're the perfect rough texture to sit on a pillow without slipping, especially if you cross hatch both flat sides.
- Green Aura
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
Hmmm, now where to get sheep horns from. Our local sheep don't have any.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
What? No blackies in your area???Green Aura wrote:Hmmm, now where to get sheep horns from. Our local sheep don't have any.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Green Aura
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
Almost entirely Cheviots, ina. The fleeces are pretty useless too. Apparently they're only of use to the carpet industry.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
The blackie fleeces aren't any better, either - but at least they have "handles"!
Pity, my friend has merino, and although the males have impressive horns, they don't tend to drop off occasionally, as used to happen with the blackies... Well, if I find one somewhere, I'll make sure I'll keep it for you.
Pity, my friend has merino, and although the males have impressive horns, they don't tend to drop off occasionally, as used to happen with the blackies... Well, if I find one somewhere, I'll make sure I'll keep it for you.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Green Aura
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Re: Making buttons from sheep horns
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin