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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Robyn Hode on January 02, 2017, 12:21:00 PM

Title: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: Robyn Hode on January 02, 2017, 12:21:00 PM
I went to a new pet store to get my dog a Christmas present and they had water buffalo dog chews. They had full horn chews about 1/8 inch thick and larger pieces about 2.5 inches wide 3 inches long and 1/4 inch thick.

Will these work for tip overlays? Their suppose to be all natural.

If so, how thick do you usual make your horn tip overlays?

I've never used horn and appreciate your input.
Thank you
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: mwosborn on January 02, 2017, 01:37:00 PM
Yep, they will work.  Can make them various thickness - the few I have made were maybe 3/16" thick at the string groove.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: scrub-buster on January 02, 2017, 03:21:00 PM
Those will work great for tip overlays.  Occasionally I'll see solid horn tips at our local farm store.  The thickness depends on your tip design.  It doesn't take much to make a good tip overlay.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: Robyn Hode on January 02, 2017, 04:11:00 PM
Thank you.

I'm going to get some and give them a try.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 03, 2017, 06:17:00 AM
That is all I use for tip overlays. I buy slabs of it from a knife making supply. It comes 2.5 x 5 x 7/16th thick. I get 2 of them for about $15.00. Enough for about 15 bows.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: scrub-buster on January 03, 2017, 09:04:00 AM
That's probably better than buying the dog chew horns.  You will get more tips for your money.

My favorite overlay material is big horn sheep.  I trade staves to a horn bow builder for a large box of his scrap pieces.  He only uses the outside curl which is about 1/3 of the horn.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: on January 04, 2017, 11:01:00 PM
Is horn just as good as glass for FF strings??
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 05, 2017, 04:56:00 AM
Yes it is.
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: on January 05, 2017, 09:40:00 AM
Very Cool... Thanks... I imagine a bit lighter also...
Title: Re: Water Buffalo horn for tip overlays
Post by: scrub-buster on January 05, 2017, 11:28:00 AM
Horn is plenty tough enough for FF or any other modern string material.