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

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» Troubleshooting
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Oct 01, 2022 3:08 pm

» 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

» Low Draw Weight Build
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:09 pm

» Trigger testing Rig/Jig?
by ora8i Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 pm

» Collotiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Jul 23, 2022 5:45 am

» Bad Antler
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:09 am

» best type of horn to use..
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:13 am

» Han Dynasty Chinese Crossbow
by hullutiedemies Fri Jun 17, 2022 1:00 pm

» Drawing of Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:01 am

» "How To Make Everything": Early Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:41 am

» Black inlay
by stuckinthemud1 Fri May 13, 2022 3:18 pm

» Roller nut details
by drawknife Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:44 pm

» 330#/7" wood bow
by Anatine Duo Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:08 am

» starting a 1400's replica
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:26 pm

» 18th century German crossbow reproduction
by Fangbows Sun Feb 20, 2022 7:15 am

» replacement for baleen?
by tghsmith Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:30 am

» Josef alm in English
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:07 pm

» Medieval crossbow finished
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:05 pm

» Trigger mechanisms
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Jan 03, 2022 10:23 am

» Finish wooden stock
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Dec 25, 2021 9:06 am

» finish prod binding
by kenh Tue Nov 30, 2021 5:26 am

» What bolts do you use?
by hullutiedemies Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:43 am


3 posters

    Black inlay

    crusader
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    crusader
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    • Post n°1

    Black inlay Empty Black inlay

    Post by crusader Wed May 11, 2022 2:59 pm

    Hey guys,

     Some crossbows have beautiful black marquetry.

     I understand that is a paste of glue pigment and Horn.

     Does anyone know about this?

     What kind of glue
     What kind of pigment
     Does the Horn need to be ground to powder?

     I would like to hear from you
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    kenh
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    kenh
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    • Post n°2

    Black inlay Empty Re: Black inlay

    Post by kenh Fri May 13, 2022 5:25 am

    The glue in the olde dayes (pre-1900) was undoubtedly hide or fish glue or a combination of the two.  

    All pigments would be natural based.  Ochre for red.  Black pigment was usually chimney soot or fine ground charcoal mixed with the glue.  I use artist's charcoal sticks when I build replica musical instruments with kolrose carved designs (like scrimshaw but in wood).    Horn most likely would not be ground into a powder, but cut/sanded into shapes set into the wood, as would mother of pearl or bone.
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    stuckinthemud1
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    • Post n°3

    Black inlay Empty Re: Black inlay

    Post by stuckinthemud1 Fri May 13, 2022 3:18 pm

    Horn is a fantastic material to work with. You can split it into sheets nearly as thin as paper where it becomes translucent and shows some lovely colouring or split a little thicker where you can cut it with scissors but it is opaque . It is a thermoplastic. Get it to the right temperature by holding it over a naked flame and it will bend in a right angle. Flash it under cold water and it sets permanently into its new shape. Too hot and it burns though. You have to really scuff up the glue side, the only down side with horn is it is tricky to glue with traditional glues but modern adhesives have no trouble
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    • Post n°4

    Black inlay Empty Re: Black inlay

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