How do I keep bugs from boring holes in my powder horns?
Thanks,
Trinity
Thanks,
Trinity
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Holes in powder horn
- Thread starter TRIN
- Start date
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Brokennock
Cannon
Keep powder in them.
Sorry if this seems trite. I have not had a problem with bugs boring holes in my powder horns (knock on wood) so far. But, all my horns are filled. Could just be chance though. I can't recall anyone with powder in their horns saying bugs still ate them when this has come up before.
Other possible solutions.
Permethrin, spray your horns with it.
Pack them away in sealed containers with pieces of cedar?
Sorry if this seems trite. I have not had a problem with bugs boring holes in my powder horns (knock on wood) so far. But, all my horns are filled. Could just be chance though. I can't recall anyone with powder in their horns saying bugs still ate them when this has come up before.
Other possible solutions.
Permethrin, spray your horns with it.
Pack them away in sealed containers with pieces of cedar?
Keep your horn where bugs can’t get at it. Or at least take it out once in a while for a visit 
Hang them up or pack them in a box with mothballs.
Eutycus
Cannon
Leave a little powder in the horns. The Sulphur will keep them away. Never heard of bugs eating at horns with powder present. They seem to like empty horns.
Mine hangs on a hook with my shooting bag. Gets used at least once a week. No issues.
There were two horns that something bored into 1st was a small priming horn that was full of 4f it was in my workshop/ shed. The other is one I made for my daughter around 17 years ago it was hanging up in my rec room it was empty. I have other horns that I do use (not as often as I’d like ) that have powder in then that were untouched in the same room. I always liked her little horn and bag hanging up I will put some powder in it see if that helps although they did bore into the full priming horn .
Thanks for the advise
Thanks for the advise
Attachments
Brokennock
Cannon
Wow! I like that horn you made for your daughter, very nice work.
I absolutely can not stand even the slightest whif of moth balls or crystals, but I am wondering if putting some of the crystals in the horn would take care of the problem and not cause an odor of them in the room.
Never seen that before, except on very old horns. Semper Fi.
Eutycus
Cannon
The little buggers (carpet beetles?) ate holes in one of my older horns when it was packed away and empty. I patched the holes with epoxy, both JB Weld and the Harbor Freight variety. After the "globs" of epoxy dried I had intended to sand them down even with the surface of the horn. I did a little but had a change of plans. T
he nobs leave me with a "non-slip grip". I like it, it has character plus it's a one- of-a-kind pattern.
Eutycus
Cannon
That seems to be one of the cures, frequent use.
I've never had that problem. However, I did get a horn one time that already had several small holes in it. I made it into a powder horn and I filled the holes simply by holding a lighted candle over the holes so that the melted wax would drop in and fill the hole. Then I could just scrape off the excess wax with my fingernail.
I used that horn for years with no problems.
I also seal the edge between the horn and the wooden butt cap with the wax. Just to be sure.
Of course, make sure there is no powder in the horn when you hold a lighted candle over it.!!!!!!!
I used that horn for years with no problems.
I also seal the edge between the horn and the wooden butt cap with the wax. Just to be sure.
Of course, make sure there is no powder in the horn when you hold a lighted candle over it.!!!!!!!
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This problem is a new one to me too. I’ve had powder horns over 40 years and never had this happen. With all the bugs we have around here maybe I’ve just been lucky. Those are nice horns, hope you get your problem licked.
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I normally dye my horns then wax them. I also put a little powder in each horn. I’ve never had bugs… yet.. ( knock on wood)
SHOOT EM 
I seal my horns once they are finished with BLO or tung oil. Seems to work.
Eutycus
Cannon
What do you dye them with?
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Sounds like a good idea I will have to try that on her horn as it never gets used .
Thanks,
Trinity
I have several other horns inside my house and shed that are older and never had an issue before. I do apply wax to the horns maybe it wore off over time . Thanks for the suggestions
When I build one I normally dye it with feiblings leather dye. I then wax the horn, I do think that, either or both of these steps, helps greatly in keeping the bugs away. I have a horn that I made nearly 30 years ago and it seems to be bug free. I don’t want to toot my own horn too loudly as I don’t want an issue with bugs! But that has been my experience.
