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starhopper - Posted - 02/15/2012: 04:49:10
Hey guys - I have a 1910 Farland Tenor with a 12 1/2" pot - the calf-skin head on it just ripped the other day when I overtighted the brackets. The rip is about 3" long and is a straight line rip.
I don't really play this instrument much - so I don;t think I want to go thru the pain of replacing the entire skin head as there are no pre-mounted heads available in that size.
So, any advice on how I could patch this and where I would get the materials to do it?
Thanks for any advice you can send my way!
Lyle
Edited by - starhopper on 02/15/2012 05:01:56
jbalch - Posted - 02/15/2012: 05:26:19
I am very doubtful that you can sucessfully repair a 3" split in an old calfskin head. You might be able to make it look better. But I don't think it will ever hold sufficient tension & sound decent. The skin should be replaced.
To repair very small problems, I cut a patch from similar calfskin material and glue it on the botton side with super-glue. I would remove the head from the banjo to nake the repair.
I have done this sucessfully with tiny pin holes or natural flaws (see below). But never with long tears.
starhopper - Posted - 02/15/2012: 05:30:24
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
I am very doubtful that you can sucessfully repair a 3" split in an old calfskin head. You might be able to make it look better. But I don't think it will ever hold sufficient tension & sound decent. The skin should be replaced.
To repair very small problems, I cut a patch from similar calfskin material and glue it on the botton side with super-glue. I would remove the head from the banjo to nake the repair.
I have done this sucessfully with tiny pin holes or natural flaws (see below). But never with long tears.
Any idea where I can get a replacement calfskin head? Everywhere I look, the largest sheet I can find is 16", and from what I read, I need larger than that for a 12 1/2" pot!
Lyle
SFI - Posted - 02/15/2012: 05:33:09
I usually have 12-1/2" Remo fiberskyn heads in stock, but I do not right now. if you want one PM me and I will add it to my next Remo order.
In the meantime, to patch your exisiting head; remove the head from the banjo. Get a piece of calfskin larger than the rip and glue it to the inside of the head with superglue. To hold it all together until it dries, I use wax paper covered plexiglass on each side of the head.
Though the rip was significantly smaller than yours, I used this technique on the calf head of a favorite banjo a few years ago and it is still holding up.
Bob Smakula
starhopper - Posted - 02/15/2012: 06:25:45
quote:
Originally posted by SFI
I usually have 12-1/2" Remo fiberskyn heads in stock, but I do not right now. if you want one PM me and I will add it to my next Remo order.
In the meantime, to patch your exisiting head; remove the head from the banjo. Get a piece of calfskin larger than the rip and glue it to the inside of the head with superglue. To hold it all together until it dries, I use wax paper covered plexiglass on each side of the head.
Though the rip was significantly smaller than yours, I used this technique on the calf head of a favorite banjo a few years ago and it is still holding up.
Bob Smakula
Bob - I sent you an email. I couldn;t find a Remo haed any larger than 12 1/8" It's great if they actually make a 12 1/2'!
Lyle
Pluckin Mutha - Posted - 02/15/2012: 06:29:54
I repaired a 4" tear which was just starting . It was stretched and about to tear. I backed off each bracket 1/4 turn. (Over tightening caused the skin to start to tear at a thin spot in the head.)
I cut a patch from doe skin and glued it on the back with a TiteBond type glue. The next day I smeared some of the glue on the top side, with a saliva moistened finger, to catch the rough edges of the tear. It's held for over a year.
It can be seen in the photo below
Mutha
edited to add photo from top side
click on photos to enlarge
Edited by - Pluckin Mutha on 02/15/2012 06:37:28
carlb - Posted - 02/15/2012: 06:49:01
My recommendations, other then just replacing the skin is based on the information that was given to me about Crazy Glue. These types of glues were developed during the Vietnam War for quick stitching of wounds in the field. So with this in mind, I'd suggest first getting a piece of banjo skin (I always have saved the extra skin after cutting off the excess): 1) loosening the head considerably, 2) wet the skin on the banjo and soak the the extra piece of banjo skin in cold water for about 20 minutes, 3) pat both with a towel to remove excess water, and 4) apply glue to extra piece of skin and glue to the underside of the skin while trying to hold the torn edges as close together as possible. The best suggestion I can make.
mike gregory - Posted - 02/15/2012: 06:53:08
seems that if replacing the head is more work than you care to do right now, P.Mutha's suggestion for simply loosening it a lot, gluing, and re-tightening when it's dry, would be a very good temporary (couple of years) measure.
Waxre d paper and plexi is what I did, on a smaller tear, six years ago. Still working.
starhopper - Posted - 02/15/2012: 08:14:36
Thanks for all the info folks - it really helps!
Lyle 
Edited by - starhopper on 02/15/2012 08:17:14
