Previously, a person was forced to go to the forest solely in order to shoot someone and provide himself and his family with meat. Today, for most, wildlife is a place where you can relax, practice shooting and gain new experiences.
For some, hunting has become a lucrative income. How successful a hunter can be judged by his trophies. In this regard, hides, skulls and claws of dead animals are highly valued. One of the best trophies are horns. Due to the fact that they are quite heavy, difficulties may arise during their installation on the wall. Especially for the installation of this trophy there is a device that is known as a medallion for horns. Of course, you can buy it. However, depending on the size and design, a horns locket costs about a thousand rubles. Therefore, many hunters try to do home-made. About how to make a medallion for horns with your own hands, you will learn from this article.
Getting to know the product
The medallion for horns is a special device made of wood. Since the main task is to withstand heavy weight, in addition to wood, the design provides for one or two metal staples. Depending on the shape and size of the trophy, the medallions are round, square and shield-shaped. Judging by the numerous reviews, you can make a medallion for horns at home. On how to do this, next.
What do you need for work?
Before you begin, you should get the following supplies and tools:
- One board. Its thickness should be from 40 to 50 mm.
- Jigsaw. With its help, the medallion contour will be cut from the blank.
- Chisel.
- Sandpaper.
- Paintwork. For this purpose, wood impregnation is also suitable.
Where to begin?
The first step is to prepare the base. Mostly do-it-yourself medallions for horns are made of boards with a thickness of at least 40 mm. Product dimensions depend on the shape of the horns themselves. Some home craftsmen advise using ash. However, other wood is also suitable for this purpose. The main thing is that on both sides the board is perfectly flat. This can be achieved by passing it through the thicknessing machine.
Second step
At this stage, they are engaged in the shape of the product. It should be remembered that the main aesthetic role is still played not by the medallion, but by the trophy itself. And if the design turns out to be too big or catchy, then attention from the horns will be constantly distracted. Each master chooses the form for the medallion at his discretion. After it is selected, a drawing is prepared on a piece of paper. In the future, it will be used as a template.
Manufacture
Now the drawing on the sheet is neatly cut out and applied to a wooden surface. Next, draw a pencil around its outline. After these steps, you can proceed directly to sawing. This can be done quickly with a jigsaw. Due to the sharp edges of the workpiece, experienced craftsmen recommend smoothing them using milling equipment. Of course, if there is no such machine, then you can trim the circuit manually. However, this work is too laborious and the edges in the wooden blank will turn out to be less embossed. Further, the wooden surface is carefully sanded with sandpaper of various grain sizes.
A medallion for moose antlers will look much prettier if painted. Experienced craftsmen recommend using transparent varnish, which is best applied in two layers.
About fasteners
In order for the trophy to hang securely on the wall, the medallion should be equipped with one or two metal brackets from the inside. It is best if there are two loops in the design. In this case, the medallion will completely adhere to the surface. Judging by the reviews, after mounting the brackets between the wall and the board there is a gap. This shortcoming can be corrected as follows. It is necessary to attach a loop to the workpiece and outline its contour with a pencil. Next, you need to outline two holes for the screws. Then, in a selected area, a piece of wood is selected using a chisel. At this stage, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the loop will simply “drown” in the workpiece. It is enough that the bracket does not protrude beyond the surface. If the medallion is completely ready for wall mounting, you should consider how to attach the jewelry itself - the horns. This can only be done after they are finally processed.
How to prepare horns?
You will have to work with a grinding machine and a hacksaw blade. It is advisable that the file has small teeth. In this case, the edges are smoother and will not be chipped. The essence of the procedure is to carefully cut a small circle with horns from the main part of the skull. If flaws are formed during operation, they are easily corrected with a grinding machine. They can also correct the horns themselves. Subsequently, in this circle, two holes are drilled for self-tapping screws. With their help, the horns will be attached to the medallion. In order not to miscalculate with holes and not spoil the workpiece, experts recommend attaching a piece of paper to the circumference and making appropriate notes. Then the paper is cut out with scissors along the contour so that a new pattern is obtained. It is applied to the medallion on the front side and holes are made.
Finally
Judging by numerous reviews, medallions for the horns of roe deer, deer and other ungulates can be made in the form of a shield. If you have the skills to work with wood, using a set of special cutters, various patterns are cut out in the form of oak leaves. Mostly such products are custom made. They cost up to 9 thousand rubles.