using deer hooves for overlays?

[mo stk-bow]

Has anyone used deer hooves for overlay's.  Can you give a description of the processing to flat piece of hoof?

jerry Beckerman

[sticshooter]

Never thought of that. Sounds like a great idea. I would think to flatten the out you would have to soak them to get the soft then press them till dry? <><

[Tom Leemans]

Hack a slab off with whatever kind of saw. A belt sander works great for shaping but watch your fingers! You could hot glue it to a scrap of wood and shape it, then remove it and prep the surface for glue. It's basically like a fingernail. Loctite super glue gel bonds this very well, as will epoxy. A fingernail buffing tool (pad) polishes them up really well too.

If you go to the build-a-long page and read the St. Judes BBY thread, you'll see where I prepped some overlays for the limb tips. I was using cow horn, but the process is basically the same, only the hoof is thinner.

[mo stk-bow]

ttt

[Gene Roberts]

ttt

[Mark Smeltzer]

I've used cow hoof befor, it's great tip overlay material.  I use a band saw to cut the sides down, then a heat gun to warm it up and flatten it out in the vice.
Mark

[John Scifres]

Here's how I do horn tips.  The process is basically the same.  Horn Tip Overlays