Lookingfor advise,I have a set of Dall Sheep horns that have been removed from an old mount.They are fairly dirty and have a very dull look to them,I assume soapy water would be the obvious method, would a person put anything after a cleaning to give them a natural shine so to speak? Thank you, Mike
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you wash them. Let them dry thoroughly. For days that is! If you feel that you need to put something on them you can spray Grumbacher MATTE Damar varnish on them. All it will do is make them easier to clean later. Don't put anything else on them!
The horns tend to age and like the "old masters" oil paintings, varnish will not tolerate expanding and contracting. It ultimately cracks. If you MUST do anything, use a thin oil (WD 40). I've used linseed oil and turpentine, but the smell is not a natural one for sheep and it does tend to cast a yellowish look to the already golden horns of Dall.
I have found that the Grumbacher Damar Varnish spray is more of a "fixative" than a thick varnish like one would imagine. I personally don't use anything on the horns but while working in one of the major studios in the U.S. hint-(it's in Nevada) That is what used on all sheep horns. Doesn't the WD-40 and the linseed oil darken the horns?
WD evaporates quickly. I agree with WHAT you do. I wash them and then leave them alone.
Don't use any type of oils on sheep horns. You msy find that they darken the horn darker than natural color. Use a damp cloth and apply Mop n' Glo (floor polishing product.) You can use this on all kinds of horns and antlers. Once you use it you won't use anything else.