Cookie Tin Banjos

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Permalink Reply by Roger Morin on April 14, 2010 at 8:17pm

Look in the Videos Tinyguitars is the first video and he is showing a new banjo he just finished. He is also a member here and his web site is on the video at the end.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on April 14, 2010 at 8:24pm

I cut a bit away under the lid, just like a cigar box. I build feet under the neck that attach to the bottom with a pair of screws. Don't know if it matters or not! Some folks prefer to build on the bottom, but I can't stand to waste the graphics.

For a bridge, I use the standard piece of oak moulding I always use. The smallest tin I've used was 6" square, with a 15" scale.

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Permalink Reply by stickbugg on April 14, 2010 at 8:48pm

Incredible! I'm using the bottom at this point, because I thought it was easier, but by the looks of your pictures it wouldn't really matter either way. My cookie tin is a little less graphically appealing than yours, so I'll probably just stick to my original plan for my first project, which is full-length (19" fretboard). If things work out and I don't fail miserably, I might try to make myself something more like what you've built, so it's small enough to take on hitching trips.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on April 14, 2010 at 8:55pm

The bottom is more structurally sound, so it is a good choice. I've got photos of more tin dulcimers on my page.

Here's one I built on the bottom:

And this one, too:

I'm looking to make a 5-string someday soon, maybe this summer.

Quincy Brandt said:

Incredible! I'm using the bottom at this point, because I thought it was easier, but by the looks of your pictures it wouldn't really matter either way. My cookie tin is a little less graphically appealing than yours, so I'll probably just stick to my original plan for my first project, which is full-length (19" fretboard). If things work out and I don't fail miserably, I might try to make myself something more like what you've built, so it's small enough to take on hitching trips.

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Permalink Reply by ken farmer on April 14, 2010 at 11:17pm

Diane, you build some great looking instruments!

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Permalink Reply by ken farmer on April 14, 2010 at 11:19pm

sigh, double-comments.

Anyhow, I was going to say - that red and green one is just great.

You're out of Chicago, right? I was wondering if it's a lot easier to find cool old materials in older communities.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on April 14, 2010 at 11:29pm

Thanks!

Hard to find old cool materials in the city anymore at all. Used to be smaller junk shops around, with architectural stuff, but all that is picked over now and sent directly to the high end salvage shops.

I'd suspect better pickings in the hinterlands.

I get occasional tins and containers in resale shops like Village Thrift, but still do best for really cool tins on Ebay. I have a $10 limit, tho, including shipping.

ken farmer said:

sigh, double-comments.
Anyhow, I was going to say - that red and green one is just great.
You're out of Chicago, right? I was wondering if it's a lot easier to find cool old materials in older communities.

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