09-02-2018, 06:48 PM
(08-02-2018, 11:24 PM)Ian Williams Wrote: Ok so I appreciate I may have better equiped workshop than some, the point I am trying to make is that you would be surprised what can be accomplished with a little knowledge a few hand tools and the willingness to try. I bend then by placing one end of the bar in a vice and heating in sections with an oxy acetylene torch, leave the bar a bit longer than final size and apply pressure to the free end, as you get the bar coming up to cherry red, it will start to move with surprising ease. Work in small sections moving the heated area up and around the curve, have a pre cut template to check progress as you go, half an hour later you will have two blanks bent to shape. Then mark the finished outline across the curve on a bias, remember I said earlier the flat bar should be about an inch wider than your finished horn. Cut away the surplus with a hacksaw, angle grinder of if you are lucky like me a band saw, then tidy with a file and or grinder, you can also thin the ends with a file or grinder, but I don't bother on a special. You may need to slightly tweak the radius at this stage, mark and drill mounting holes, a coat of paint, sit back and relax with your favourite tipple!Agreed indeed on last sentence if not all, however, I can see precisely why the specialists have them laser cut and bend them in a substantial fly press, since doing them by hand and adding profit would probably render them quite an expensive exercise, as if they aren't already.
Not that hard really, and other than the heating with gas torch totally achievable with hand tools and a small amount of skill, my point being if you are capable of building a special you are capable of making Cow horns!
Why though are they ground thinner on the inside, when...it appears (I've never yet bolted anything to them, so the experience is awaited) the panels bolt through on the outside? I am intrigued, and assume there's a logical answer?
Arthur