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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/242203
Nuts - Posted - 08/04/2012: 11:44:24
Does anyone buff their own?
I know you can buy them already buffed from Stern Tanning Co. and would like to know how it's done. I just mounted a new skin on a tenor banjo and don't care for the texture it has, can I just let it have it with my buffer? Flannel buff no buffing compound or with?
Any leather buffs out there?
jbalch - Posted - 08/04/2012: 12:26:09
I would try fine (320 or higher) sand paper.
Linking to the hide heads group....banjohangout.org/group/hideheads
Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 08/04/2012: 12:39:21
It's not too expensive to try. The hard part would be getting something so thin to be uniform.
jbalch - Posted - 08/04/2012: 14:36:14
You are not going to remove much material with the sandpaper or buffing. It will just smooth the surface for a softer feel. I've done it on my tenor banjos before....to reduce pick noise.
Nuts - Posted - 08/04/2012: 15:38:30
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
You are not going to remove much material with the sandpaper or buffing. It will just smooth the surface for a softer feel. I've done it on my tenor banjos before....to reduce pick noise.
I have tried sanding on a different project with fine paper and it does make for a softer feel but not quite what I am after. I don't know how Stern Tanning Co. does it but if you get one of their polished skins they are slick and smooth. That is what I would like to accomplish, if it can be done. I'm a bit hesitant to experiment with this particular skin, I bought a nice White one $ to go on a Vega Style N that I just refurbished. I suppose if no knows, I have a few basket cases and could experiment with one of those. Hopefully someone will pipe up and save me the trouble.
jbalch - Posted - 08/04/2012: 16:27:39
I've used a few of his calfskin heads. I agree that Jeff produces a very fine finish and even thickness. Jeff will even vary the surface texture a bit based on your preferences. Not sure what equipment he has that accomplishes it.
Good luck with it!
Edited by - jbalch on 08/04/2012 16:29:59
Nuts - Posted - 08/16/2012: 09:18:12
I did some experimenting with a few old unmounted heads I had and was able to buff some sheen onto the their surfaces. I ended up using sparing amounts fine Menzerna buffing compound which is light in color and didn't seem to discolor the skin much, if any at all. The results where better with velum processed flesh than standard processed skin. I went ahead and pulled the head off of the tenor banjo I wanted to slick up and buffed it just using my hand behind the skin to push it into the buff wheel. It probably would have worked better if I had not been so lazy and cut out a circle of plywood or the like to use as a stiff backing plate at the buff though. It is a standard processed skin and did not buff up evenly, due I believe to the grain (?) differences, for lack of a better term, in the skin. It did pretty much achieve the result I wanted, getting rid of the texture I didn't like but not as good as what you get if you just buy a skin that is buffed by the manufacture. I'm guessing that Stern Tanning uses some kind of burnishing process (?) while the flesh is wet rather than dry buffing to achieve the results they get. If you try this, don't buff it while it's mounted to your banjo. The buff will pick up tension hoop and hook metal, dirty the buff and the head.
Edited by - Nuts on 08/16/2012 09:19:50
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