Mother nature can't be beat

[OKLAHOMAN]

Anyone who has turned Water Buffalo horn knows that as you turn it the horn will change some times it will totally surprise you. This one was all dark brown until:

this feather showed up.

 

[papaturner]

Awesome!

 

[darrenjttu]

Nice

 

[Brewmeister35]

That's awesome Roy. I've never turned water buffalo horn yet, is it nasty to turn like antler?

 

[DozerMite]

That's cool. Can you get a closer pic of the cap?

 

[cowchaser]

Like it alot. I seen some on ebay the other day, but don't know much about buying on ebay so I didn't. Don't want to get ripped off ya know.

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

Brewmeister35, Water Buffalo horn is not as bad as antler but has an odor somewhat like burnt hair.
James here is a close up of the cap.

 

[dntrost]

That is really nice what is the finish?

 

[markgum]

totally cool.

 

[igran7]

Absolutely beautiful Roy. I just bought some Water Buffalo from pennstate and have them soaking at the moment. I've never turned them before, is there anything I should know?

 

[toolcrazy]

That is very nice. Great work.

 

[Ligget]

I like those little surprises too, mother nature is indeed the penturners best friend, awesome pen![]

 

[drayman]

a very classy looking pen.[]

 

[workinforwood]

That's a beauty Roy, looks just like a feather expertly air brushed on there. You definitely scored with that one![]

 

[bitshird]

Roy, that is an extremely sweet looking pen, some times the unexpected surprises are way better than what we had envisioned when we started the project, that's the nice part of being an Artisan, we can deal with it.

 

[PaulDoug]

It's all been said. Awesome to the extreme!

 

[Dan_F]

That's a wonderful effect on a gorgeous pen.

Dan

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

Dion, I finish horn just like I do acrylics, wet sand with mm to 12000, buff with tripoli then white diamond, back to the lathe ,brasso,meguriers plastic X polish, then TSW.

Joe, they turn with sharp tools just like acrylic, I've had no problems with cracking, drill slow, and keep the blank cool while drilling, when turning do not heat the blank, I have made 6 and keep one for over a year without cracking, sold the rest and told each customer to notify me if it cracks, haven't heard from them.

 

[arjudy]

Ssswwweeeeeeeeett! You gotta love that horn.

 

[rccrazybill]

Antlers and horns are actually hair so they will have that distinct smell. I love turning them and have a trick. Take one of those small .25 face masks and rub some strawberry chapstick on the outside this was you smell strawberry instead of burning hair. It works well to with CA BLO finishes.

 

[RONB]

Pretty work. I can smell it from here[}]

 

[VisExp]

The feather looks cool! That's a great looking pen Roy.

 

[redfishsc]

That is a very nice piece of horn! Great choice of material and kit.

Originally posted by dntrost

That is really nice what is the finish?

I can't answer for him, but the horn I've used came from CSA and claims to have been "stabilized" (not sure if that means with resin, or simply "air dried"), and I do not put any finish on them other than Ren wax after assembly. I have one that I've used for several months and it has held up as shiny as the plating.

 

[desertyellow]

Thank you for adding the picture of the close up.
Serendipity at its best.

 

[chigdon]

Definitely looks like a feather! Nice

 

[GaryMGg]

God is smiling down upon you Roy -- nicely photographed too. [^]

 

[stoneman]

Very VERY cool. Ain't it grand when stuff just happerns out of the blue? Impressive job as well (got to help mother nature along a little I guess?)