Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/01/2013:  18:56:10

Ellen,

I just read your post to Debbie and boy did she laugh. She said, "I'll be so glad when the bathroom is done! Then we can say, we have one more room done!"

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 12/01/2013 18:56:47

bradtheraddad - Posted - 12/01/2013:  19:04:44

Dan,

Thank you for another hospitable visit as my family (Mom, Brother, etc.) stopped in on their way up from Corinth the other day (you were closed but still opened the door). The running joke so far is, all of my family will meet ya before I do :) 

Oh well, we'll be driving through from Austin, TX after Christmas, hope to make it up there around that time. Thanks for all that you do and sharing your journey with us, you're a true visionary, master musician and influence to us all!

-Brad

Scout - Posted - 12/01/2013:  19:28:28

It wasn’t a remodel, but I had a stopped up toilet in an old house once. Roots had grown into the terra cotta pipe and when I augered it, it broke. I replaced it with PVC up to where it connected to cast iron pipe to make the jump into the house from the crawl space and that’s when I noticed the crack in the iron pipe. I decided to replace it with PVC as well so I had to pull the toilet to replace the closet flange. Since they didn’t sweat the lead pipe to the brass closet flange I had to replace the rotten wood and floor tiles where it had stopped and overflowed up over the years. Then the toilet tank wouldn’t fit because when the bathroom was added on they measured from the studs instead of the finished wall. I got an offset flange but it still didn’t fit so I chiseled tile off the wall in back of the tank and grouted over the hole. Just before I put it back together for the second time, I noticed that somebody had written on the bottom of the toilet “I hope you have as much fun with this as I did.” If I had strangled him then, I’d be out by now. I wish I didn’t know anything at all about plumbing.

Chuck

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/01/2013:  19:58:36

Dan

I understand about the remodel "fun", my wife and I spent several months without a kitchen while that was being redone the second time, a couple of months with all of the furniture from the living room jammed into the dinning room while the living room was being refurbished.  When that was finished we spent three months using the dinning room as a bedroom while our bedroom and bathroom were being rebuilt.  Several other less intrusive projects over the years have brought us to the place that we have no more plans to make further improvements to our home.

Feels great!!

Kaelri - Posted - 12/01/2013:  20:02:26

That is so funny Scout! My husband is often threatening to leave sharpie written notes on the back of some of our repairs in our old house! Ours has sat empty for a while and before that it was foreclosed twice,I think, in four years without much in the way of repairs in between. So plumbing was not winterized before the foreclosures and with the winters here in the north...you can do the math and just imagine what happed to EVERY bathroom floor plus the kitchen floor! Yikes are we in for it! Thanks for sharing your story! I needed a laugh.

Dave, I feel your pain! It sounds like we are at the beginning of what you have described above! I have no kitchen right now either. Just a "makeshift" one in a corner of the house. But that is ok.....I have a beautiful old house! 

(Not trying to hijack the luthier thread for a home improvement thread! Now, back to your regularly scheduled "A Luthier's Life"!)

Ellen

Edited by - Kaelri on 12/01/2013 20:07:45

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/02/2013:  19:33:12

Brad,

I do hope you will drop in when you are by this way. Make sure that you call before you come... I might just still be stuck in a bathroom!

Chuck, Dave & Ellen

It is so nice to know that I'm not alone in this crazy addiction. Still Chuck your story takes the cake! I think I'm goinna start leaving little drawings & messages in this whole project!

This reminds me of a sewer pipe that once bedeviled me. It plugged up (what else are sewer pipes supposed to do?)  So I tried snaking it out,  I couldn't get it but still the clog didn't seam too far down the pipe and it too seamed like roots. I figured I'd dig along the pipe, find the root get rid of it and all would be well... wrong! I ended up digging the whole thing up (to the city connection) some 45 feet away. The trench started some 18 inches below the surface and was over 6 feet at its deepest. It was made from a pipe they called Orangeburg, pure trash. It had collapsed down near the city connection and the ground was saturated... no fun. I couldn't afford to pay someone with a backhoe so I got real up close and personal with a shovel. Still I'm proud that I didn't give up. Sometimes I feel that is the best part of this thing called memory.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/02/2013:  19:49:55

Tonight just before I sat down at the computer to link up to the BHO I applied a coat of paint to the walls. After reading Chucks story and Ellen's comment I just couldn't stop myself! So here it is (soon to be under the Shower surround and on the opposite side from the plumbing) is my first hidden message...

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/02/2013:  20:04:59

Dan

I left note's with the date and my signature, sometimes a happy face and a story.

Scout - Posted - 12/02/2013:  20:06:28

Hilarious! Good luck with your remodel.

Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 12/03/2013:  01:29:30

Hi

We had some work done on the house a while back, opened up a new doorway into the living room .We left a wee box inside the wall with a note and a photo of the family for the archaeplogists when they dig up the remains in a thousand years time!!

Jim

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 12/03/2013:  04:14:18

Aahhh orangeburg, isn't it great.  Nothing like left over rolls of roofing paper made into pipe.

Kaelri - Posted - 12/03/2013:  05:37:46

ha ha funny Dan! We are setting our shower in this weekend.....hmmmmm..gotta come up with something interesting. I am sure my husband will though!

(note: husband is tired of going to the in-laws to shower!) By the way, he is enjoying this thread right along with all of us banjo-folk.

Ellen

rparker4 - Posted - 12/03/2013:  16:59:02

Great visit with you the other day!  Awesome picture you posted of us too.  I will have to print it out and put it in my banjo case so when people ask me who made my banjo I can show them a picture of its maker.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/03/2013:  18:51:22

Dave,

I like that! A story... hum...

Chuck,

Thanks.

Jim,

What a great idea! You know I name all my instruments, maybe the house...

Kirk,

Soooo right! It's nasty stuff!

Ellen,

I hope to get our shower in this week too. At least we have another shower (maybe 18"x18" cant bend over when you drop the soap) to use. Debbie just knowingly laughed when she read your post.

Richard,

It was such a nice surprise to see the both of you. I'm so proud for you.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/03/2013:  19:01:34

STRINGS CONCERT

Debra and I just got back from the Krider Performing Arts Center here in Paris. We were given the chance to watch our grandaughter Abby perform in the fifth grade strings program orchestra. Are we proud of her? You bet! She sits first chair and tonight did a great job and was amazingly composed. Here are a few photos...

More Soon!

banjeaux bob - Posted - 12/03/2013:  19:08:07

To me,images of people playing music are a mute point. ;)

Edited by - banjeaux bob on 12/03/2013 19:08:35

Kaelri - Posted - 12/03/2013:  20:38:54

How neat that your granddaughter is doing well in her music. I love to hear of young people getting involved in music. 

And Dan, you SHOULD name your house! One of my brothers named our house and it stuck! Now we are branded. 

Ellen

ronwalker49 - Posted - 12/04/2013:  00:36:00

Many years ago my Grand Dad presented me with an old fiddle and encouraged me to get into Orchestra...It was the beginning of a lifetime love of music that has brought much joy and satisfaction.....I will always be thankful to Grandpa for this gift......I got the chance to do the same for one of my Grandsons...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/04/2013:  05:55:03

Bob, Ellen & Ron,

Abby has been at it for 3 months now and having grown up (so far) totaly immersed in music shows. She is doing so well. I think that being surrounded with music is the key to the language.

Right now we sort of call our house the Conger- Knowles Manse because the owners before us was the uncle and aunt of my fiddler Danny Conger. Not the coolest name, maybe there is a better one out there.

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/04/2013:  05:56:23

quote:

Originally posted by Kaelri

How neat that your granddaughter is doing well in her music. I love to hear of young people getting involved in music. 

And Dan, you SHOULD name your house! One of my brothers named our house and it stuck! Now we are branded. 

Ellen

Naming a house is quite common in England.  So the address might be:  The Farm House, Pikefish, Lane, St Ives, Cornwall.  I can't imagine how the postal system handles that.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/04/2013:  05:58:30

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Back a year ago when David Emery suggested this thread I didn't imagine that anyone would even look. Thank you for hanging in with me!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/04/2013:  05:59:12

Dan

Your very lucky to have poised, talented grandchildren.  It must run in the family.  

And its not quite a year yet, just think what could happen in five days!!! 

Edited by - Dave1climber on 12/04/2013 06:02:53

DEmery - Posted - 12/04/2013:  06:16:12

Dan I thought you were on track to hit "90K" before the official anniversary of December 8th - and you came in a few days ahead. Hey folks like to read what goes on in the life of a luthier. We would all do it...uif we could. As for me...I have to settle with the fruits of your labor. Thanks for a year of good reading. David Emery 

Dan Knowles Applies French Polish to Ebony Rim

Knowles Projects

1922 Vega S

New1850 Rim

Goshen By Dan Knowles

Ole' Abe built by Dan Knowles

Ebony banjo Sherry Lynne built by Dan Knowles

 

Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/04/2013:  13:03:01

dave1climber, in the UK we have a "post code" on all mail. It goes like this: you have the area of the country represented by one or two letters (I live in a large town called Wolverhampton, so the letters are WV), then you have a number to designate a smaller area of town, (my area is 6), then you have another three or four letter number combo which designates the individual street (so my postcode is WV6 9AP). This means that any letter can be sorted to the individual road no matter if the house has a number or a name. They frequently have both. Most houses with names and no number have a sign on the door or at the gate. Plus we are a fairly small island, so it's not as difficult as in the States for the "Postman" to know his own area well. Hope that was not to boring.
All the best from Bill. :D

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/04/2013:  19:02:32

Bufo Bill

Thanks for the up date on the "post code" business, I did know that UK address have some sort of code on the end.  I just did not know how it worked.  So if I send a letter to my friends in the UK without the post code, will it still get to the correct house?  Conversely if I send a letter with just  "The Farm House" followed by the post code will it get to the correct house?

No it was not "to boring"

Dave

Edited by - Dave1climber on 12/04/2013 19:04:06

Patrick Hanna - Posted - 12/04/2013:  19:24:38

Dan, I don't have children, so, obviously, no grand children either. I can only imagine how proud I would feel if my granddaughter played violin with an orchestra.

Oddly enough, I have a sort of "honorary" daughter who is quite an accomplished violinist with the St. Louis Symphony. She is the assistant Concertmaster, too. While I am extremely proud to know her and consider her family, it can never be the same as seeing a genuine, biological grandchild perform in an orchestra.

You are, indeed, very blessed. And I fully understand that you have known that for a very long time.

Patrick

Kaelri - Posted - 12/04/2013:  20:50:37

 Bill;

Very interesting! My postal carrier would just roll her eyes probably if my mail was addressed to my house name! But I'm in a small enough ruralish area that they'd probably figure it out!

Ellen

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/05/2013:  17:07:43

Dave, David,

Thanks so much. The number of folks who have looked at this still just amazes me!

Bill,

I have always wondered about these postal codes. It must be the same in Canada for the are simmilar.

Patrick,

You are so correct!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/05/2013:  17:52:08

IT ARRIVED!

Craig Evans Conversations With North American Banjo Builders vol. 4 arrived today. What a great treat! I opened up the package and...

I got my little Apple out, hooked it up to the stereo, stuck the DVD in and what do ya know... right now I'm writing tonights post listening to George Gruhn's interview. Craig is such a great interviewer, you should get a copy. Here's a link  vimeo.com/channels/banjobuilders

Ok I guess the rest of this is catch up time... among the several things I've worked on is this guitar which was dropped. The lower bout on the back was in near splinters. Each piece had to be fit in and glued in place. Here the final piece is being fit, just a bit of trimming and in it went.

That was yesterday, this is today...

All of the pieces have been glued in place and sanded. The grain filler has been applied and now I'm French polishing...

I took the Mandora d'Amore apart so I could finish the finish, since I was French polishing the guitar I figured I'd make time and work on both.

We are expecting some interesting weather tonight, ice and more ice. So tomorrow might just be interesting!

More tomorrow!

DEmery - Posted - 12/05/2013:  19:50:39

Dan I have always been intrigued with building but even more so with repair when a chunk has been knocked out. Making it disappear is amazing. David E.

Paulf - Posted - 12/05/2013:  23:44:07

quote:

Originally posted by DEmery

Dan I have always been intrigued with building but even more so with repair when a chunk has been knocked out. Making it disappear is amazing. David E.

Agree with that David, amazing work.  Dan, how strong is the area that you repaired compared to before it was damaged?

Paul

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/06/2013:  05:07:53

David,

Thanks . This is the type of work which I find most challenging. I have a motto on the wall that I put up for apprentices but it is the one I work by (when it comes to repair work) IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE. On this one there will be some small evidence if you really know what to look for, but it will be difficult to see and in 4 or 5 years that will disappear completely as the wood returns to its aged patina.

Paul,

Because of how the breaks lay and with the addition of the cleats, this will be as strong as it ever was if not stronger.

Paulf - Posted - 12/06/2013:  12:58:16

Thanks Dan.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/06/2013:  13:28:59

Dave1climber: letters with the addresses you mentioned may well get through eventually, but in typical British Passive-Aggressive style they may stamp the letter with a disapproving slogan (I don't know what good this does as you the sender are not a mind reader, and will be unaware of the consternation you have caused Royal Mail)!
Dan: sorry to clog up the thread with the UK Postal System, but congratulations to you and your granddaughter; when can I expect the first Knowles Family band Old Time or Bluegrass CD? Or with the apparent size of your brood will you be going for a Jazz Orchestra? ;)
All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/06/2013:  21:22:34

Bill,

This winter we hope to have the first incarnation CD as my son Samuel  will be singing and doing most of the bass work.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/06/2013:  22:12:38

ICE DAY

The ice storm arrived today... Debbie and I drove over to Clarksville, TN to pick up our grandsons Ryland, Keaton & Braden. We figured that an early trip would allow us to travel safely and for the most part it was. Very little ice was on the road. Traveling along at about 40 miles an hour, topping a hill just across the Tennessee river we hit a patch of ice, spun around and hit the guard rail with the passenger side of the rear bumper. Boy were we fortunate! All it messed up was the bumper.

I've been working on a inlay design for my pal Scott, Pine Cone here on BHO. It is a design which is to express the beauty of his north coast aria. Up to now I've been designing it on the computer. Although the basic design seamed sort of ok, it just didn't make me happy. It seamed much to stiff. Not enough life in it. I wondered why the design seamed stuck. I'd look at the computer screen and blaaaaa, nothing happened. I've spent quite a bit of thought trying to figure out what I was missing. Then i realized that the black was too oppressive, I couldn't seam to get past this...

What was I to do?

Today it struck me what I wanted to do to put a breath life into this project. 

I would first paint the design. Yes make a painting of the design. This approach is totally different from any that I've pursued before. I've hand drawn most of my designs but never attempted to paint one first.

So this afternoon I cut out a piece of hardboard and primed it.

Then laid out the fingerboard & peghead...

And painted a burnt sienna undercoating...

After several hours of painting (dot, dot, dot!) ...

Now just before I quit and prepared this post. Tomorrow I intend to start painting the details (boat, cabin, wildlife). Oddly what worries me is that I'm feeling tempted to try doing this in a way different that I have before, a pointillist inlay....

MORE TOMORROW!

Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/07/2013:  04:34:32

That looks stunning Dan! Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.
All the best from Bill. :D

Kaelri - Posted - 12/07/2013:  05:33:55

Wow! I like it! 

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/07/2013:  06:03:11

WOW

Dan

I will expect lots of photo's of this neck project.

WOW

Its good to see that your adventure ride wasn't more serious.

Dave

Edited by - Dave1climber on 12/07/2013 06:06:36

Nels - Posted - 12/07/2013:  06:13:40

This must be the "expression" of the day!  WOW!!! 

Paul Meredith - Posted - 12/07/2013:  11:16:27

Dan, I LOVE the idea of pointillist inlays!  It would be unique as far as I know.  If it can be done, you are the guy to do it.

Can it be done?  I mean, can you do it to your own satisfaction?  It will require  a LOT of holes & inlay dots.  Or do you have a different approach in mind?

Even if Scott & you decide on something different for this neck, you've got to pursue this idea!

DEmery - Posted - 12/07/2013:  13:41:07

Only good friend Dan Knowles would put everything aside and do a painting to create the inlay concept. Very interesting. I will watch what appears to be a painstaking inlay project. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/07/2013:  14:48:37

Bill, Ellen, Dave, Nels, Paul & David,

Thanks, I'm glad you like the way that it is looking. Perhaps the next installment will tickle y'alls interest!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/07/2013:  15:07:26

DOT CITY... er or rather DOT COUNTRY

Last night I think it was around midnight that I posted, well I was back up around 6 coffee cup in one hand paint brush in the other. I've hardly come up for air today. Dot, dot, dot.

First off I dealt with the trees and bank that I wanted to add  to the treble side. This is the under coat...

And the second under coat!

Oh yes this is the gas which keeps me moving. Fresh pulled in my La Pavoni espresso machine. It has taken me a while but I've finally gotten where I consistently pull shots that I'm satisfied with.

Oh ya, I kept right on painting here is a shot with the trees & kayak completed...

And here are Keaton & Braden fooling around with a "retro mini computer!"

COMPLEATED  PHOTO SOON!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/07/2013:  16:09:30

I do want to see this on a banjo neck.  I have no idea how you might do it, but however you do I am sure that it will look good.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/07/2013:  16:37:46

If this plan is accepted then this is how I'll precede.

1. Make a series of bits to cut the various dot & dot sizes.

2. Spend a day (or two or three) making the dots.

3. Make a cradle to hold the neck so the fingerboard plane is the same distance from the drill press table throughout its entire length,

4. Lay out the pattern on the fingerboard.

5. Drill the holes and fill the holes with dots.

6. Level the fingerboard

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 as often as needed until I am happy with the result.

This should be very like my painting,  fortunately much of the color work is already done. As to materials for the work my plan is to use Turquoise, Malachite, Abalone, Mother of Pearl, Piano key ivory, fossil ivory, silver, brass, copper, African Green Sea Snail & the kitchen sink (if it is the correct color)

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 12/07/2013:  16:44:01

I see, you don't paint with dots on purpose, the espresso makes your hand shake.  Looks good either way

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/07/2013:  18:15:43

Dan

if this goes forward, and I hope it does, I also hope that the person that this is for wants it fret less.

Big O - Posted - 12/07/2013:  18:19:45

I don't know you very well Dan but at the end of your final statement on your project end with the "And the Kitchen Sink." I'll add the "Boom bang Tish................."