charlied - Posted - 03/03/2012:  05:54:12

Can I shrink my skin head?  Re-wet?  Sprays?

I installed a skin head that is not as taut as I would like.  It still sounds good and I would not trade it for plastic but I  would like to have put it on a lot tighter.

1) I did not put the skin on and off 3x (times) with the flesh hoop and tension ring to give it a good thorough Pre-stretch.

2) I did not attempt to grab with pliers, forceps, or otherwise.  I worried I might tear the skin.

It was a new experience for me and I did two, solo, in a row but did not wait to see how tight they would dry.  Loose or not,  I loved the sound.

So I put it together without stretching.  It is great but not tight and I can't adjust anymore.  I have a back-up banjo coming soon and I can consider  experimenting in some way to re-wet/shrink the head.  

I know a new skin is the best answer, but I  wanted to also pass along my experience that it is a very do-able procedure and yes, make the effort to pull the head more as you install. I was anxious I tell you.

thanks for any ideas

charlie

jbalch - Posted - 03/03/2012:  06:06:08

Charlie:

You might try this:

1. remove the head from the banjo.

2. dampen the skin ( use a wet cloth to wipe water on the top - get it reasonably wet  - but don't submurge it in water).

3. Let it dry - off the banjo.

4. when it is completely dry (12 to 24 hours) - reinstall on the banjo.

I did this procedure recently on a head I mounted and set the crown a little higher that I wanted.  It seemed to shrink the hide just a little.  Might be worth a try.

I'm linking this to the Hide Heads group: banjohangout.org/group/hideheads

Fathand - Posted - 03/03/2012:  06:52:58

With my gourd banjo, I have had some luck wetting it with a wet towel then drying with a hairdryer. I never heard of pre-stretching. I follow directions like these,  frets.com/fretspages/Musician/...head.html

My Banjo Uke has a tension hoop and has not required more tightening using this method.  I have had good luck with the $9.00 Elderly heads but they have a mottled appearance which I like but YMMV.

Basically:

Wet,  Pat Dry, Install, Let Dry, Tighten.   The Head shrinks in the drying process and should be musical sounding before you start the tightening process.  The tension hoop should be as loose as it can be without the head slipping out.  AS in the directions hot sunshine is a great head dryer. 

retiredguy - Posted - 03/03/2012:  07:56:57

LOL,  Topic!,Initial reaction...

jbalch - Posted - 03/03/2012:  07:57:45

One more thing I would do ... while the head is drying ... off the banjo  ... let it sit inside the tension hoop. 

If you leave the tension hoop sitting on the unmounted head, it will help prevent the hide from opening up too much and loosening around the flesh hoop.  That can make re-mounting easier.

Hope that description makes sense....

carlb - Posted - 03/03/2012:  09:02:24

First, hope you have cut off the excess. Remove the head, soak it in cold water for about 20 minutes, pat it dry with a towel, remount a little tighter then you did before. That's what I'd do.

stringbeaner - Posted - 03/07/2012:  17:16:23

If you have trimmed the head after putting it back on DON'T RESOAK IT!! It's very difficult to get it back on!!

Rather, take a wet, but not dripping, washcloth and wipe down the skin while it's still on the banjo.  Don't let it run down under the tension hoop, just get the head wet.  then put it away (banjo and all) {not in the case} and let it dry overnite.  You might loosen the tension hooks a little bit to give it some room to restretch.  Make sure it's completely dry before messing with the tension on the leather.

I've probably put on more than a hundred skins and the only failure I've had was on one where I'd trimmed the head and then had to pull it off.

My granddad swore by tomcat hide.  They comitted suicide by going after his chickens.

Mike Buchman - Posted - 03/07/2012:  17:28:50

quote:

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Originally posted by retiredguy

LOL,  Topic!,Initial reaction...

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Plus one!