Some Great Banjo Building Ideas Found Elsewhere on CBN... - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-28T15:12:37Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/some-great-banjo-building-ideas-found-elsewhere-on-cbn?groupUrl=banjoplayersunite&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHey Rand - Exactly what I was…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-13:2592684:Comment:18940252014-02-13T22:50:13.357Zturtleheadhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/turtlehead
<p>Hey Rand - Exactly what I was thinking on skinning the box - I suppose it would be sort of like doing upholstery work.</p>
<p>Maybe I just got lucky on my first attempt, but I would say that the temporary (or permanent) tacks helped quite a bit in getting the skin stretched evenly. I had a little bit of clumping near the end and had to smooth them out and replace a few tacks along the way. I also found that I had to use my body to hold down the bowl while I pulled as hard as I could. …</p>
<p>Hey Rand - Exactly what I was thinking on skinning the box - I suppose it would be sort of like doing upholstery work.</p>
<p>Maybe I just got lucky on my first attempt, but I would say that the temporary (or permanent) tacks helped quite a bit in getting the skin stretched evenly. I had a little bit of clumping near the end and had to smooth them out and replace a few tacks along the way. I also found that I had to use my body to hold down the bowl while I pulled as hard as I could. Another pair of hands would have come in handy!</p>
<p></p> Hi Turtlehead,
That's a real…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-12:2592684:Comment:18917742014-02-12T02:56:33.423ZRand Moorehttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RandMoore
<p>Hi Turtlehead,</p>
<p>That's a real nice looking old-fashioned tack-head banjo. Did you leave it unfretted? I'd have to fret mine or I wouldn't begin to know where the notes are to play it. The drum head looks quite professional. Thanks for the link to the instructions on how to stretch and tack down the skin on a drum head. When I did mine I went all around the perimeter without temporary tacks to help hold things in place and wound up with places where there was too much material "clumped…</p>
<p>Hi Turtlehead,</p>
<p>That's a real nice looking old-fashioned tack-head banjo. Did you leave it unfretted? I'd have to fret mine or I wouldn't begin to know where the notes are to play it. The drum head looks quite professional. Thanks for the link to the instructions on how to stretch and tack down the skin on a drum head. When I did mine I went all around the perimeter without temporary tacks to help hold things in place and wound up with places where there was too much material "clumped up". It also didn't end up as tight as I'd hope. Guess I just need to keep practicing and not give up so easily.</p>
<p>A square drum seems like a pretty novel idea. "Skinning" a box this way seems like you'd get a lot of clumping at the corners. Perhaps you could slit the skin near the corners and fold the material around the box maybe like wrapping a present. Certainly building two square (or rectangular) boxes such that one fit inside the other would be a lot easier than building two round rims. You could use finger joints for the outer box (as my usual butt joints backed up with corner posts would obstruct the inner box), or maybe use a cigar box for the other box, and then build the custom inner box to fit that, using the simple butt joint and corner post method. Well, good luck on that square drum head project!</p>
<p>-Rand.</p>
<p></p> Thanks for the info Rand...I'…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-11:2592684:Comment:18910372014-02-11T09:29:30.626Zstringybarkhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/2yk2ho4alv7y2
<p>Thanks for the info Rand...I'm also easing into "the build"..I've made a few ukuleles/4 string tenors and a couple of 3 string slides..(didnt want to stuff up my first banjo build)...thanks again, with all this new info I dont think I will ever sleep again.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Rand...I'm also easing into "the build"..I've made a few ukuleles/4 string tenors and a couple of 3 string slides..(didnt want to stuff up my first banjo build)...thanks again, with all this new info I dont think I will ever sleep again.</p> Nice of you to put this toget…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-11:2592684:Comment:18910042014-02-11T03:42:40.880Zturtleheadhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/turtlehead
<p>Nice of you to put this together Rand. I built a tack head salad bowl banjo last summer with good results. I had seen Milton's tensioning system at the time and it's a great idea. I might eventually put one in, but it was still (mostly) playable even in the late summer humidity. This is the best pic I have at the moment.</p>
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<p>As far as the…</p>
<p>Nice of you to put this together Rand. I built a tack head salad bowl banjo last summer with good results. I had seen Milton's tensioning system at the time and it's a great idea. I might eventually put one in, but it was still (mostly) playable even in the late summer humidity. This is the best pic I have at the moment.</p>
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<p>As far as the installation of the tack head goes, I loosely followed the instructions here for a gourd banjo:</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dhyatt.com/craft_how_skinhead.html" target="_blank">http://www.dhyatt.com/craft_how_skinhead.html</a></p>
<p>I drew a line about 3/4" down the side of the bowl all the way around and laid out the locations of the tacks, then pre-drilled the holes with a very small bit. I also marked the holes with permanent marker which helped me see them through the skin. Start a tack at 12:00, then pull taught to 6:00, then 9 and 3. Then I just worked my way around clockwise, pulling as tight as I could and tapping in the tacks with a small hammer. When I was finished and the skin was still wet I had my doubts, but when it dried it was tight as can be. </p>
<p>One of these days I want to try to mount a skin on a box. I think it could work and building the tensioning system would be easier. </p>
<p>Banjos are fun.</p> Hi Stringybark,
Glad someone…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-10:2592684:Comment:18897712014-02-10T11:38:41.304ZRand Moorehttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RandMoore
<p>Hi Stringybark,</p>
<p>Glad someone found the info helpful. Here's a <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/banjoplayersunite/forum/topics/the-3string-dulcijo-and-other" target="_blank">link to the Dulcijo discussion</a> I wrote for this discussion group. And a "stick dulcimer" is not widely known because the instrument goes by dozens of different names. Popular names include Strumstick, Strummer, Strumbly, Pick n' Stick, Dulcitar, Dulcimer Guitar, PickStrum, to name a few. A few years…</p>
<p>Hi Stringybark,</p>
<p>Glad someone found the info helpful. Here's a <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/banjoplayersunite/forum/topics/the-3string-dulcijo-and-other" target="_blank">link to the Dulcijo discussion</a> I wrote for this discussion group. And a "stick dulcimer" is not widely known because the instrument goes by dozens of different names. Popular names include Strumstick, Strummer, Strumbly, Pick n' Stick, Dulcitar, Dulcimer Guitar, PickStrum, to name a few. A few years ago there was discussion to get a standard generic name and "Stick Dulcimer" was one of the favorites, so that's what I call mine. I have a discussion page elsewhere on CBN about how to build them. Here is <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/HMRB101/forum/topics/the-boat-paddle-box-the" target="_blank">that link</a>. The discussion group for this stick dulcimer discussion may be of interest to you as well... <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/HMRB101" target="_blank">Home Made Resonator Boxes 101, v.2.0</a>.</p>
<p>I have been "easing" into banjo building as I learn more building techniques and the like. This past summer I built two octagonal sound boxes and one circular. Next summer I hope to build a fairly recognizable banjo with a round body and tacked on head. Milton's internal head tensioning system will likely be used in that build. My current build is focused more on the head and neck, with a 5th String tuner made by modifying a standard guitar tuner.</p>
<p>Well, good luck with your banjo build.</p>
<p>-Rand.</p> WOW!...I have just started ma…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-10:2592684:Comment:18898552014-02-10T10:25:25.829Zstringybarkhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/2yk2ho4alv7y2
<p>WOW!...I have just started making my banjo..(it will be a long project I think)..these are two very inovative ideas that I am keen to incorporate. Love Scotts fret positioning..(.just worked out why the bridge was on an angle)...an am going to incorporate the Milton Cable head tensioning system in this also! cheers and thanks for sharing...and Rand, now I have to investigate what a dulcijo is and a 3 string stick dulcimer...</p>
<p></p>
<p>WOW!...I have just started making my banjo..(it will be a long project I think)..these are two very inovative ideas that I am keen to incorporate. Love Scotts fret positioning..(.just worked out why the bridge was on an angle)...an am going to incorporate the Milton Cable head tensioning system in this also! cheers and thanks for sharing...and Rand, now I have to investigate what a dulcijo is and a 3 string stick dulcimer...</p>
<p></p> That instrument that I made w…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-02-10:2592684:Comment:18895532014-02-10T03:18:39.623ZRand Moorehttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RandMoore
<p>That instrument that I made with the 5th string routed under the fretboard was actually a Dulcijo with a short 3rd string, but the problem was the same. Sorry, for misleading anyone.</p>
<p>Also, in addition to the dulcijo (which had an octogonal cookie tin for a body, I have built a 3-string stick dulcimer with a skin drum (the drum was manufactured and sold as a hand drum and I used it for the instrument's "sound box"). So, I know about the effects that weather (humidity and temperature)…</p>
<p>That instrument that I made with the 5th string routed under the fretboard was actually a Dulcijo with a short 3rd string, but the problem was the same. Sorry, for misleading anyone.</p>
<p>Also, in addition to the dulcijo (which had an octogonal cookie tin for a body, I have built a 3-string stick dulcimer with a skin drum (the drum was manufactured and sold as a hand drum and I used it for the instrument's "sound box"). So, I know about the effects that weather (humidity and temperature) have with skin banjo. This is why I recommend to everyone to use some kind of synthetic head material instead of animal skin.</p>
<p>My first real home-made banjo is a current "in-progress" project, which is why I'm needing to do this research.</p>
<p>-Rand.</p>