The Arbalist Guild

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

Latest topics

» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Nov 24, 2023 3:50 pm

» Crossbow Stock
by kenh Tue Oct 31, 2023 6:19 am

» Colletiere a Charavines continuing experiment
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:36 am

» Cocking - how
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:24 am

» Questions around heavy crossbow lath buildin
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:10 am

» Arab Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:57 am

» prod angle, and lever trigger for sale anyone?
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:54 am

» flexible string
by jasper1978 Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 am

» jens sensfelder
by jasper1978 Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:58 pm

» 400lb Windlass crossbow bolts weight and accuracy shooting high.
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 05, 2023 2:53 pm

» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm

» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm

» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm

» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am

» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm

» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am

» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am

» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am

» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am

» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm

» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm

» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am

» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm


3 posters

    horn inlay and veneer

    avatar
    stuckinthemud1
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 526
    Join date : 2014-02-05
    Age : 55
    Location : south wales valleys

    horn inlay and veneer Empty horn inlay and veneer

    Post by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:54 pm

    I have been pondering much recently about the antler and buffalo horn inlays the medieval stock makers used and in particular the seemingly complex shoulder pieces around the nut-block. Anyone out there have any insights as to how these were achieved and would I be right in thinking casein would have been their adhesive of choice?
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by Geezer Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:41 pm

    Glue for bone inlay?  I know they used hide glue and fish glue for horn/sinew prods, but casein glue is certainly a strong possibility.  The hide/fish glue is probably more water proof. 
    As for the bone inlays themselves, Holger Richter's "Die Hornbogen Armbrust" has photos of an ancient stock with its bone inlays removed. The inlets appear to be about 1/8 in. deep, which incidentally is about as thick as I've been able to buy camel-bone plaques online.  I know bone topped stocks usually have the bone inlet in the stock, with a bit of wood showing around it.  Tne easiest way to achieve that is to do the bone tope FIRST, before anything else is done.  That way you're less likely to blow out a narrow edge of wood surrounding the inlay.
    For fancy decorative inlays ln the side or bottom of the stock, those seem to be pretty thin... simetimes even made of parchment... yeah, that thin where strength isn't an issue.  Geezer.
    avatar
    stuckinthemud1
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 526
    Join date : 2014-02-05
    Age : 55
    Location : south wales valleys

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 04, 2018 3:27 am

    Found the image in 'Die Hornbogen Armbrust', thanks Geezer, it is very enlightening. Wow those veneers are thin. Regarding the inlays along the spine of the stock, are they always bone? I had thought to use antler.
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by Geezer Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:18 am

    Antler should be fine.  Geezer.
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by Geezer Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:21 am

    I have also seen cow-horn for the table (top inlay) Geezer.
    OrienM
    OrienM
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 195
    Join date : 2014-08-01
    Age : 48
    Location : New Mexico, USA

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by OrienM Sat May 12, 2018 8:59 am

    Horn can be 'stir-fried' and bent easily while hot; I was amazed how floppy the material becomes after a short time in hot oil! It was relatively easy to shape my double-curved cheek pieces by hand, wearing gloves of course. A carved jig would also work very well.

    Bone and antler are both quite a bit more wear resistant and low-friction than horn, IMO. I tried using horn inlays as wear-plates on the soles of some of the hand planes I make, and it wore out rather quickly.

     I generally glue all these materials with '2-ton' epoxy...not authentic, but strong.
    avatar
    stuckinthemud1
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 526
    Join date : 2014-02-05
    Age : 55
    Location : south wales valleys

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by stuckinthemud1 Thu May 24, 2018 12:05 pm

    OrienM wrote:Horn can be 'stir-fried' and bent easily while hot; I was amazed how floppy the material becomes after a short time in hot oil! It was relatively easy to shape my double-curved cheek pieces by hand, wearing gloves of course. A carved jig would also work very well.

    This sounds interesting, and I will give it a go in the very near future; presumably the oil is not too hot?  Any idea what temperature to aim for?  Also, I guess we are talking about vegetable oil here, not mineral? One last question, what thickness of veneer were you using - something about 1/8"?
    OrienM
    OrienM
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 195
    Join date : 2014-08-01
    Age : 48
    Location : New Mexico, USA

    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by OrienM Thu May 24, 2018 8:44 pm

    Yes, the horn panels were about 1/8", maybe a  little thicker. I used vegetable oil, a low temperature, and 'cooked' each piece for maybe 30-40 seconds. The hot horn was soft and flexible, easy to shape. If overcooked it gets brittle; I broke a panel on my first try, and had to cut another.

    Sponsored content


    horn inlay and veneer Empty Re: horn inlay and veneer

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:03 am