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Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 11/30/2011: 19:07:46
Seems I've done something idiotic again. I decided in my mind that the nice off-white Bill Miller pre-mount calfskin did not look interesting enough, so I removed it and soaked it in coffee. It came out a nice brown color, but it also came off the brass ring. I laid it flat on a table and carefully wrapped the edges back over the ring, placing the tension hoop over it to hold it in place while the skin dries, in hopes that I will be able to remount it. Am I just up a creekd? Will this be re-mountable? Heeeeelp!
jbalch - Posted - 11/30/2011: 19:14:50
If you have the skin back on the flesh hoop and the tension hoop back in place, I recommend you go ahead and place it on the banjo rim. This will help re-shape the crown.
I might try to get about four or six tension hooks ... in place too. I would not tighten them at all. But just reassemble it all enough to hold the head in proper shape as it dries.
good luck!
tdennis - Posted - 11/30/2011: 19:19:56
Tucking a head is no easy task. Drum & banjo companies had workers who specialized in tucking. Once the skill was learned , & w/ the right tool, it could be done quickly. The head needs just the right amount of moisture, so that it sticks to itself as it is tucked up under the hoop. If the head is too wet, it is slimy, if it is too dry it won't flex enough. Here is a picture of an old tucking tool w/ a brass blade. If you could fashion something like this you may have some success ( after many hours of frustration 
). Once it is tucked the head must dry on your pot to form a collar, under very slight tension.
Edited by - tdennis on 11/30/2011 19:22:25
Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 12/01/2011: 06:33:19
Well, I got it back on, and I'm amazed that I did. There was SO LITTLE to work with. I've never installed a skin head "from scratch," only the premounted ones. There is one small area (about 1/4" long) that is not under the brass hoop. I've got it cinched down tightly, do you think that one small spot will be a problem?
