Working with Horn

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:03 pm

Save the jokes..........

For those with experience in it, do you all run tubing through it for safety reasons? Or is it expected to be perfectly fine coming in contact with the smoke?

flix · Post by **flix** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:04 am

It seems to me that the bone poses no health hazard. The only thing that it might do is produce a nasty smell if burned (like when you burn hair, logically speaking).

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:12 am

Horn or antler doesn't pose any risks, really. I have a Talbert that has a full horn stem, and I also have one I made with a full water buffalo horn stem - both smoke just like any other stem from vulcanite or acrylic.

The only thing you have to watch when it comes to horn is that you don't make it too thin at the button. It tends to be brittle, and you can put a tooth right through it since it won't flex like vulcanite. (advice courtesy of Trever)

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:56 am

KurtHuhn wrote:The only thing you have to watch when it comes to horn is that you don't make it too thin at the button. It tends to be brittle, and you can put a tooth right through it since it won't flex like vulcanite. (advice courtesy of Trever)

I think it depends on the type of horn. I believe water buffalo horn is more brittle than steer (cow) horn.

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:26 am

What about health conncerns? I thought that I had read somewhere that some horn had a high concentration of protein that could be very bad for lungs. Anyone hear anything like this?

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:07 pm

Well, we're not grinding it up and snorting it.

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:14 pm

KurtHuhn wrote:Well, we're not grinding it up and snorting it.

You might be, unless you're wearing a respirator while you're working it.

Rad

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:00 pm

RadDavis wrote: You might be, unless you're wearing a respirator while you're working it.

And water buffalo horn smells so good, too!

StephenDownie · Post by **StephenDownie** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:28 pm

The smell is why I've moved to alternate materials. My workshop smelled like a perm had caught fire in it.

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:23 pm

bscofield wrote:What about health conncerns? I thought that I had read somewhere that some horn had a high concentration of protein that could be very bad for lungs. Anyone hear anything like this?

I've worked with all kinds of wood, bone & horn, so I'm not sure what did it, but my lungs have become really f**ked up in the past couple or so years, something like COPD. I suspect one (or more) of those things did it. Yep, wear a respirator. Or go ahead and say ""It'll never happen to me!".

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:52 am

I might be called overly cautious, but I always wear a respirator while grinding anything. Even though I've got plenty of dust collection and filtering going on, I still wear that respirator. Some of that stuff is really bad for you. Stuff like G10, carbon fiber, or Micarta can royally screw up your lungs. G10, in particular, contains fiberglass, and can result in silicosis after prolonged exposure.