Bone or horn working

What tools do I need to work bone or horn into decent scales for my kit? Yes I am ordering some books so the quesions will slow down.. maybe ;o)

Thanks, John

Hi Ropes
Working this material is is very touchy.
Firat bake it for an hour or so at below boiling temp straped to a piece of metal. This will semi flaten it and dry the water out.
Then work it very slowly with files and sandpaper or a sander.
DO NOT GET IT HOT! Also Do not dip it in water .

Thats about it. It will move on ya for sure. Rough it before baking. This helps.

This is great. I always wondered why I couldn't make anything decent with bone. "Do not get it hot, and don't dip it in water." I never would have thought to bake it, either.

Attatch your sand paper to a flat steel plate and run the horn across the flat.Don't let the paper lift up while working.
When you get real close to flat, rub pencil lead(graphite) all over the flat and do it again.
The pencil lead will show you were it is still not flat. When all the pencil marks are gone, it is as flat as you can make it, and you should have no gaps when fit up.