May 11, 2004

Ever consider making your own drinking horn? Yes, you too can make your own drinking horn. There are quite a few different sites out there. If you're not up to the task, you can always buy a horn that's allready been crafted. For not much more depending on the merchant. I found an old horn in my garage (came with the house) and fashioned it into a rather heroic drinking horn. All it takes is a horn, a few simple materials, and a wee bit of patience.
posted by CellarFloor 20 years ago
  • Ah! I've had this horn sitting on my desk ever since last summer, when I picked it up while hiking. Excellent post!
  • I should mention that there are lots of different methods prescribed around the web. I synthesized what i felt looked right them and did the following. Washed the horn thoroughly with water and a brush. Cleaned it by soaking it in water with a lot of bleach for about 10 minutes. Soaked it in vinegar for 10 minutes (it's in a few of the guides, i have no idea what it does though. Can't hurt). Right now it's curing with a bunch of merlot sitting in it , and after 24 hours I'm gonna see the horn taste / smell is gone. If not, I'm gonna repeat this step. Lastly, i'll sand it and rub the outside with linseed oil.
  • I think the vinegar gets rid of the horn (and the bleach) smell. Vinegar is very good for cleaning smells out of things. If you put dirty baby's diapers in a bucket of vinegar and water, they don't smell badly, even in a small bathroom.
  • What kind of vinegar do you guys use? Rice vinegar? Apple cider? Black vinegar? Do any of these horns come with a "Connect to Oceans" attachment? I'd pay alot for one of those.
  • thanks a bunch jb!
  • Cellarfloor
  • Actually, linseed is fine. It's recommended on at least one of these sites, and the oil should not soak thru' the horn, at least not right thru'. Only if it were used on the inside of the horn would you have a problem. Using a poly finish is a worse idea, because there's no guarantee it would be non-toxic. The guy's gonna be putting his mouth on this, remember.
  • Put your mouth on some linseed sometime. Dry poly is non-toxic unless heated, and tastes of nothing. Linseed oil will stink the wine right out of the horn. Want to drink out of this thing, or just hang it on the wall? /glass user
  • /tool user
  • The linseed isn't for waterproofing, it's for appearance.
  • For finishing you will want to use linseed oil. Linseed oil will bringout the shine of the horn and not damage it in any way. If you do not wishto use linseed oil, wax will also give a nice finish to the horn. Do notdo the inside of the horn however, the oil can affect the taste of anydrink. Also do not use lacquers or enamels on the horn. Many of these desolvein alcohol and water and will leave your horn looking as if it had notbeen polished.
    From the first lnk
  • My only question is, is linseed toxic if its only used lightly and on the outside. Maybe I can fit a rim onto it........
  • Hmm. "Horn", "rim", "oil" ... Nope. I got nothin'.
  • *insert "drunk and horny" joke here*
  • Oh no, I put oil on my horn, thank god the latex broke down when it did. I was gettin' really close to the rim!
  • Thanks, CellarFloor! That's what I was waiting for ...
  • You know, of course, what is so great about drinking horns? Besides being awesome and studly (that's right, i said studly!), you can't set it down until it is empty! God, I love my drinking horn. I vaugely remember many good times with that horn...
  • I have had many good times with my dunking horn.