The Pagan Quality of the Steer Horn in drinking communion with Mother Earth.

The Steer Horn as a Drinking Vessel--Part 2 Preparation/Maintenance

STEP 1
If you have found an old steer horn, it most likely has flaky-looking white residue on it.  Garden hose it with a high-powered nozzle and power-wash it.  Let it sun dry.  If you have access to a sand blaster, you may blast it lightly on the inside.

STEP 2
Sand the outside.  Wear a dust mask.  Horn dust is very fine.  Do not work indoors.  A fan helps.

Put the horn in a vice, but don't clamp it down too tight.  You can use a Dremel tool with a course (#100) sanding bit.  Follow the grain of the horn, otherwise you will leave deep ruts.  Switch over to hand-sanding.  Rinse the dust from the horn periodically.  Work your way down in paper grades to # 400.

STERILIZING
STEP 3
Take the horn to your kitchen.  Wash it well with plain dish detergent and water.  Use a bottle brush for inside.  Fill the horn with 20% bleach solution and let it sit for 4 hours.

STEP 4
Wash horn again, this time with a vinegar solution.  Wash the horn yet again and take it back out to dry in the sun.

STEP 5
The horn is not only drying, but is also being heated.  When the horn is warm, melt 4-6 ounces of beeswax in a pot, and then pour it into the horn, rotating to spread evenly.

If you coat the horn too thick, if it gets left in the sun, you will have a sticky mess.  The idea is to seal the pores of the horn, not use it as a wax mold.  Beeswax has a very high melting point (about 140) hot, but not boiling beverages are not a problem, like hot cider or coffee.

MAINTENANCE
Always rinse your horn at the end of a night of wine, etc.  Let it sit down on the ground on Mother Earth to drain, then turn it upside down, beings it can't be stood upright.

Merry Steer Horn Drinking from the desk of Sage Sweetwater!

 

Copyright 2005 Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist