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Bonuscup98 - Posted - 02/10/2011: 20:31:18
So while dumpster diving I found a Goodyear contractor grade hose. No leaks--I checked. Right next to it was a 16 inch diameter by 6 inch deep cardboard tube. The wall thickness is 1/4 inch. I'm going to make a standup banjo bass. And water my lawn.
I have a nice dowel for the end peg, and a two by four for the neck, but I'm not sure what to do for the head/sounding board.
A piece of thin plywood? Some tape like the Squared Eel? Anyone invented a cardboard friendly tensioning device for a 16" mylar or skin head.
Please; any help will be put to good use.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 02/11/2011: 07:43:53
If it were me (and I wish it was), I would look at getting either an old bass drum head or a piece of rawhide calfskin or goat skin. Then I would make tensioning hardware from either ropes and beads (like a primitive drum) or cut a couple of rings from plywood to use as tensioning rings, with long bolts or threaded rod as tensioning screws, like this (note the rim -in your case the cardboard - sits on the lower ring and the upper ring slips over the rim, and the skin is fastened to the upper ring with tacks and glue or screws and washers or, if you use a commercial drum head, the "flesh hoop" will hold it):
Edited by - Jonnycake White on 02/11/2011 07:49:13
mike gregory - Posted - 02/11/2011: 08:27:40
The tape doen't woork as well on the edges of ROUND things, as it does on th nice flat edges of rectangulat things, but I'm not suing you if you give it a try.
The rope-and-bead setup is probably better.
Or the arangement Mr. Cakewhite posted above.
Here's a pic of a rope tension system:
Sliding the tabs (or beads) down, tightens the rope.
5stringpicker2 - Posted - 02/11/2011: 09:24:57
Make sure to post some pics when you get her built I curious as to what it will look like.
(I )===='---<::)
rotten - Posted - 02/13/2011: 04:15:53
I got a pretty nice sound of of Tyvek in some experiments. If you can dumpster dive a piece big enough, or cut up an old (big!) Fed Ex envelope, you should be able to fabricate a passable head.
vintagewells - Posted - 02/13/2011: 06:40:24
A quilter's or embroiderer's hoop might make a tension hoop. They are usualy 3 ply maple and pretty strong.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 02/14/2011: 08:50:08
quote:
Originally posted by rotten
I got a pretty nice sound of of Tyvek in some experiments. If you can dumpster dive a piece big enough, or cut up an old (big!) Fed Ex envelope, you should be able to fabricate a passable head.
I've had better luck laminating Tyvek with Mylar drafting film. I use 3M super strong spray adhesive to do the lamination. But since I discovered Mark Ralston's "Yellowstone" head material here on the hangout, I probably wouldn't bother with anything else, as far as making my own banjo head material.
You could always use goat skin, calf skin, or deer skin (all three untanned or "rawhide").
Edited by - Jonnycake White on 02/14/2011 08:53:06
