Earlier, a person was forced to go into 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.
Hunting has become a lucrative income for some. How successful a hunter is can be judged by his trophies. In this regard, the skins, 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, it can be difficult to mount them on the wall. Specially for the installation of this trophy there is a device, which is known as a medallion for horns. Of course, you can buy it. However, depending on the size and design, a medallion for horns costs about a thousand rubles. Therefore, many hunters try to make do with homemade products. You will learn how to make a medallion for horns with your own hands from this article.
Introduction toproduct
The horn medallion is a special tool made of wood. Since the main task is to withstand a lot of weight, in addition to wood, the structure provides for the presence of one or two metal brackets. Depending on the shape and size of the trophy, medallions are round, square and shield-shaped. Judging by the numerous reviews, you can make a medallion for horns at home. How to do this, further.
What do you need for work?
Before you start, you should get the following consumables and tools:
- One board. Its thickness should be between 40 and 50 mm.
- Jig saw. With it, the contour of the medallion will be cut out of the workpiece.
- Chisel.
- Sandpaper.
- Paint coating. Wood impregnation is also suitable for this purpose.
Where to start?
First of all, you need to prepare the base. Mostly do-it-yourself medallions for horns are made from a board with a thickness of at least 40 mm. The dimensions of the product depend on the shape of the horns themselves. Some home craftsmen advise using ash. However, other woods are also suitable for this purpose. The main thing is that the board is perfectly flat on both sides. This can be achieved by passing it through a thicknesser.
Second step
At this stage, they are engaged in the shape of the product. At the same time, it should be remembered that it is not the medallion that plays the main aesthetic role, but the trophy itself. And if the design turns out toolarge 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. It will be used as a template later on.
Production
Now the drawing on the sheet is carefully cut out and applied to the wooden surface. Next, you need to circle its outline with a pencil. After these steps, you can proceed directly to sawing. This can be done quickly with a jigsaw. Due to the fact that the edges of the workpiece are sharp, experienced craftsmen recommend smoothing them with the help of milling equipment. Of course, if there is no such machine, then you can trim the contour manually. However, this work is too laborious and the edges in the wooden blank will turn out to be less embossed. Next, the wooden surface is carefully sanded with sandpaper of various grits.
Moose antler medallion will look much prettier if painted. Experienced craftsmen recommend using a transparent varnish, which is best applied in two layers.
About fasteners
In order for the trophy to hang securely on the wall, the inside of the medallion should be equipped with one or two metal brackets. It is best if there are two loops in the design. In this case, the medallion will be completely adjacent to the surface. Judging by the reviews, after mounting the brackets, there is a gap between the wall and the board. Fix this flawpossible 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 with 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 mounting on the wall, you should consider how to attach the decoration itself to it - the horns. This can only be done after they have been finalized.
How to prepare the horns?
You will have to work with a grinder and a hacksaw blade. It is desirable that the file has small teeth. In this case, the edges will turn out smoother and will not chip off. The essence of the procedure is to carefully cut off a small circle with horns from the main part of the skull. If flaws are formed during the work, they are easily corrected by a grinding machine. They can also fix the horns themselves. In the future, two holes are drilled in this circle for self-tapping screws. With their help, the horns will be attached to the medallion. In order not to miscalculate with holes and not to spoil the workpiece, experts recommend attaching a piece of paper to the circumference and making appropriate notes. Then the paper is cut with scissors along the contour so that a new template is obtained. It is applied to the medallion from the front side and holes are made.
In closing
Judging by the numerous reviews, medallions for the horns of roe deer, deer and other ungulatesanimals can be made into a shield. If you have skills in working with wood, various patterns in the form of oak leaves are cut using a set of special cutters. Most of these products are made to order. They cost up to 9 thousand rubles.
