Dave1climber - Posted - 02/03/2014:  05:43:38

You could get some in your eyes, and blink one last time.     Wear safety glasses or goggles.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/03/2014:  17:49:57

Dave,

Oddly enough I was talking with Bill Rickard about just this today...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/03/2014:  18:38:32

MONDAY 1-2-2014

Hurray! I've been worryin' about where I was gonna stick more photos. I have just about maxed out the BHO allotted space. It begins to get really spooky when you are up to 495.89 mb of an allotted 500.

But I got it fixed, at least for now.

First I tried Flickr and I most certainly didn't like that. It was not user friendly enough for an idiot like me.

Having an Amazon account already, I went ahead and set up a Amazon Cloud Drive. I can fill it with 5 gig of photos... It should be good for a while! It seams to work much like the BHO which is wonderful for somebody like me. I may soon go back to again posting larger images.

***************

Big head way was made today on Wills banjo. In fact I spent the whole day working on it. So here are a few of the highlights of this rush!

I needed to poke some holes in this rim for bracket shoe bolts & etc. so this is how I went about it.

First I taped the outside of the rim so I would have a surface to lay every thing out on.

I clamped on a tension hoop and using a J-hook and shoe I was able to find and mark the bolt center placement.

Using my little adjustable square I marked all the way around the rim at the required distance...

(Missing photo here) I slid the tension hoop down and marked on my line the hook placement. 

Then I drilled all of the holes...

And started the final sanding. 

This instrument will be oil finished and the staining will be very like David Emery's St. Augustine banjo. The first stain is my homemade walnut stain. This first pass is to check the sanding. It must be absolutely perfect for an oil finish.

Now on to sanding of the peghead, this too has to be right!

As I was sanding I realized that I had never engraved my name into the shield on the peghead. So of to work I went...

Now for the necks first staining...

After multiple coats of walnut stain and almost as many of my metal stain, plus loads of sanding (to 800 grit) and burnishing the rim and neck are nearly ready for their first coats of oil.

More Tomorrow

Dave1climber - Posted - 02/03/2014:  18:44:58

Dan

Reading your post was easy, viewing the photos, not so easy.  All that showed was a small box with a question mark.  Don't know if the problem is on my end or your's.    ?

kwl - Posted - 02/03/2014:  19:28:31

Dave, I experienced the same thing. I think it has something to do with the links to the photos on the Amazon Cloud drive. It could be a permission problem or something else. Dan, it does sound like you had a productive day.

Kaelri - Posted - 02/03/2014:  19:31:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by DanKnowles

MONDAY 1-2-2014

Hurray! I've been worryin' about where I was gonna stick more photos. I have just about maxed out the BHO allotted space. It begins to get really spooky when you are up to 495.89 mb of an allotted 500.

But I got it fixed, at least for now.

First I tried Flickr and I most certainly didn't like that. It was not user friendly enough for an idiot like me.

Having an Amazon account already, I went ahead and set up a Amazon Cloud Drive. I can fill it with 5 gig of photos... It should be good for a while! It seams to work much like the BHO which is wonderful for somebody like me. I may soon go back to again posting larger images.

***************

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Flickr did seem to have a learning curve, at least it did for me.But I have a computer-literate teenager, so I have "built in" IT service, ha ha

And ......unfortunately,I couldn't see the pictures either. Just had an image of a "broken" window where the pictures should be. 

rubicon - Posted - 02/03/2014:  19:42:59

quote: youre not seeing things the pictures aren't there ?? I get the little boxes as well

---

Originally posted by Dave1climber

Dan

Reading your post was easy, viewing the photos, not so easy.  All that showed was a small box with a question mark.  Don't know if the problem is on my end or your's.    ?

---

Nels - Posted - 02/04/2014:  03:20:26

Isn't it nice to have "family" IT techs?  Mine , however, are on the other side of the state. They try to explain things on the phone to "old" dad.......

Kaelri - Posted - 02/04/2014:  08:47:10

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nels

Isn't it nice to have "family" IT techs?  Mine , however, are on the other side of the state. They try to explain things on the phone to "old" dad.......

---

Nels, I often get the " teenage-exasperated sigh" from my IT tech while she is trying to assist me!  

(I noticed you are from Grand Haven....Wow...there is more than one banjo player in SW Michigan! ha ha)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/05/2014:  16:43:35

Dave, Ken, Ellen, Rubicon& Nels, After several hours of fooling with Amazon Cloud and not getting it to work, I began deleting photos from here on the ole' BHO. So now I've got some more space for the Luthiers Life pictures. Anyway here is Mondays post! What ever you do, don't believe the hurray for Amazon Cloud. MONDAY 1-2-2014 (Corrected) Hurray! I've been worryin' about where I was gonna stick more photos. I have just about maxed out the BHO allotted space. It begins to get really spooky when you are up to 495.89 mb of an allotted 500. But I got it fixed, at least for now. First I tried Flickr and I most certainly didn't like that. It was not user friendly enough for an idiot like me. Having an Amazon account already, I went ahead and set up a Amazon Cloud Drive. I can fill it with 5 gig of photos... It should be good for a while! It seams to work much like the BHO which is wonderful for somebody like me. I may soon go back to again posting larger images. *************** Big head way was made today on Wills banjo. In fact I spent the whole day working on it. So here are a few of the highlights of this rush! I needed to poke some holes in this rim for bracket shoe bolts & etc. so this is how I went about it. First I taped the outside of the rim so I would have a surface to lay every thing out on. I clamped on a tension hoop and using a J-hook and shoe I was able to find and mark the bolt center placement. Using my little adjustable square I marked all the way around the rim at the required distance... (Missing photo here) I slid the tension hoop down and marked on my line the hook placement.  Then I drilled all of the holes... And started the final sanding.  This instrument will be oil finished and the staining will be very like David Emery's St. Augustine banjo. The first stain is my homemade walnut stain. This first pass is to check the sanding. It must be absolutely perfect for an oil finish. Now on to sanding of the peghead, this too has to be right! As I was sanding I realized that I had never engraved my name into the shield on the peghead. So off to work I went... Now for the necks first staining... After multiple coats of walnut stain and almost as many of my metal stain, plus loads of sanding (to 800 grit) and burnishing the rim and neck are nearly ready for their first coats of oil. More Tomorrow

rubicon - Posted - 02/05/2014:  16:59:10

The neck and rim are beautiful Dan gonna be a beauty!!

BNJOMAKR - Posted - 02/05/2014:  17:03:41

Really nice!  

Dan Drabek - Posted - 02/05/2014:  17:50:04

As an amateur astronomer, I really appreciate this banjo. I could see the inside of the rim inlaid with star maps. Like a planetarium. 

DD

Nels - Posted - 02/05/2014:  18:27:23

I concur  and raise you ....that is gonna be fantastic!!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 02/05/2014:  18:55:25

Great looking neck and rim..can't wait to see it with the oil finish.

Big O - Posted - 02/05/2014:  19:39:04

Very nice Dan can't wait to see the outcome :)

Kaelri - Posted - 02/05/2014:  19:39:49

I love the color tones in that neck and rim. Thanks for going to the trouble to fix the pics for us. 

kwl - Posted - 02/05/2014:  20:01:19

Beautiful. It was well worth the wait for the pictures. Thanks, Dan

DEmery - Posted - 02/06/2014:  16:00:08

Dan I really love the ebonized, walnut stained, oil finish neck you are doing in this post. If I understand, this maple is from the same board as my slot head. It is always interesting to see the variation in curl in the same board. I still think the slot head neck on Saint Augustine has one of the finest necks I've gotten on a banjo; and the finish is as smooth and comfortable as it is beautiful. Great work. David   

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/06/2014:  20:19:40

Rubicon, Marvin, Dan, Nels, Doug, Chuck, Ellen & Ken, 

Thank you so much for your kind words... I just hope that Will doesn't read about the stars inside the rim or I know what I'll be doing next!

David,

Although I am following the same basic staining and finishing pattern as we did on Saint Augustine the wood on this neck is from another tree.  I'm so pleased that you are enjoying that banjo, that is really why I do them.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/06/2014:  20:38:32

THURSDAY

This has been a relaxing day. I suppose that most any day spent lounging around in bed all day fits that description. The shame is that I've been spending it in the company of the crud... upper respiratory junk!

Oh man.

Anyway it has been so much better than the pneumonia  I caught last year that I'm not complaining. Oddly enough it was right around this time last year for I was just coming down with it when we did the Lee Academy concert.  I went to visit my favorite doctor and friend Scott Whitby yesterday. He just shook his head and said "Dan we gotta quit meetin' like this!" After the first batch of Azitromycin I'm already feeling like the mend is coming my way! I might even go into the shop tomorrow.

My sweet wife Debra brought the SD card home tonight so I now have a couple of shots (from Tuesday) of the first coat of oil going on Wills neck & rim.

I really like the way it has brought out some of the more amber tones of the wood.

It's interesting (looking at this) seeing the different penetration of this first coat. This was taken just after the oil was applied and had yet to get its wipe down.

In this second photo I'm wiping the rim, the neck has already been wiped. It will be interesting to see how it all looks tomorrow.

More Soon!

DEmery - Posted - 02/07/2014:  03:47:41

Well that "splains" it Lucy. Different tree. You must have another banjo neck going from that board with the tight curl. Regardless, the finish looks outstanding. David E.

WillT - Posted - 02/07/2014:  18:40:16

quote:

---

Originally posted by DEmery

Well that "splains" it Lucy. Different tree. You must have another banjo neck going from that board with the tight curl. Regardless, the finish looks outstanding. David E.

---

I'll come clean David. I had been eyeing the stain on your banjo for some time before Dan called and suggested we do a similar color ritual on mine.  I hadn't even talked about it with him, but we must have been connecting through telekinesis because we were already on the same page.  We knew it would look amazing before he started.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/07/2014:  20:42:32

David & Will,

I must admit. This staining process has become one of my favorites. Although I have yet to try I think this approach might work as a basis for a whole series of very elegant effects and colors.

Will call me if you are planning on coming over to Paris on Saturday (but please don't call me tonight! ).

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/07/2014:  20:57:20

FRIDAY 2-7-2014

We just got n from Clarksville, TN from picking up our grand sons, it's good to have them in Paris. That 3 hour trip does tend to tire the old guy out. Still I am glad to be able to make it.

 It was one year ago today that our friend Tommy Ogle left this life. I really do miss my friend.

So I was back at the shop today, for a while anyway and got really quite a bit of stuff done. Here are a few photos of the oiling of Will's banjo.

Here I am buff burnishing the surface with a piece of soft leather. This follows a good going over with synthetic steel wool. The burnishing helps to firm up the surface and seams to pack the pores...

I forgot to stain the dowel stick, so today I did just that. Here it is being checked for a proper color match...

After all of that is complete on goes a coat of oil...

More Tomorrow!

rubicon - Posted - 02/07/2014:  21:26:12

Color is looking very good !

Yanni - Posted - 02/08/2014:  01:43:59

That is looking simply beautiful Dan!  I can't wait to see the finished article :)

Ian

DEmery - Posted - 02/08/2014:  08:15:23

Dan you will recall before doing the finish on Saint Augustine - you sent me about 7 or 8 wood blanks with different stain samples. We both landed on the same sample and you used it as the basis for my neck. I agree this technique will produce a range of excellent appearances.

Will I am pleased you took note of the slot head Dan built this last year. Dan has done a lot of building for me over the years and each one took on a different design and appearance wood-wise.  It is the artist in ole' Dan that gets these banjos looking like they do and the player in him to pull out the sounds they produce. I wish you well with the new banjo and look forward to seeing the final photos. Let me know how she does once you get "hold of it."

Between Dan and John Balch (my banjo spiritualist); I've been fortunate to come up with some good guidance on these projects and know you will be proud too.

David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/08/2014:  13:01:55

Rubicon & Ian,

Thanks! I really am enjoying doing this finishing project! I love seeing the surface as it develops.

David,

Those little samples sure taught me a lot about this type of staining. I have been thinking about how it would respond with red, blue and green tints.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/08/2014:  13:31:52

SATURDAY 2-8-2014

 It was snowing here in the sweet sunny south land when I awoke this morning. So I got up, had breakfast, took a shower and received phone calls from todays students. Nobody was coming in for fear of the roads. I know that you folks from up north don't really understand this about folks down here... but we aren't used to this ice, snow and such like y'all are. Most of us hope it stays that way too! 

I walked into the shop this morning. It was a virtual winter wonderland. It made me feel just like a patterfarmillius! So, so quiet. No tracks on the snow in the street. No cars were out. Just me walking in a light, white, fluff floating down.

So nice! So peaceful!

My former student and good friend Barry Hart and his cousin Johnny Halliburton came in to pick up their instruments today. Here we are viewing Johnny's 1938 Gibson banjo.

After a bit one of the finest tenor singers I've ever met  came in. His name is Tony Gladwell from up in New Jersey. He brought along his Knowles Volcano guitar and proceeded to sing and play Danny Boy, Colombus Stockade Blues and a whole bunch of other tunes.

Today I went ahead and aged (patina) all of the raw brass hardware for brother Will's banjo. Here I am putting patina on the brass rod part of a White Ladie tone ring...

After they dried and were buffed off this is how they looked...

MORE TOMORROW!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 02/08/2014:  13:49:33

Short an sweet..it looks beautiful..you are a fine craftsman an it shows..learning a lot from this blog..thank you

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/08/2014:  19:00:24

Doug,

Thanks, it is what  do it for.

Will

You called, your asked and told me that I had never posted a face shot of your neck. Thanks for telling me. Now you have it! It was difficult to get a good shot but this is what I got. It doesn't really allow the engraving to show up. But I guess it will suffice for now. I'll try and get a better one soon.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 02/08/2014:  19:02:18

What a neck? Magnificent to say the least.

Hankon5 - Posted - 02/08/2014:  19:12:14

Boy!  That neck is really SPACED OUT!!!!  Good job my friend!

Dave1climber - Posted - 02/08/2014:  19:12:34

Dan

I have run out of superlatives to describe your wonderful banjo work, both old and new.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 02/08/2014:  20:52:54

Hankon 5, that is a great banjo mute shown in your avatar. How does it work?

WillT - Posted - 02/08/2014:  21:42:10

Thanks for going and getting that picture Dan. The inlay really pops away from the fret board now. Can't wait to play it for the first time!

Nels - Posted - 02/09/2014:  05:49:51

quote:

---

Originally posted by DanKnowles

Doug,

Thanks, it is what  do it for.

Will

You called, your asked and told me that I had never posted a face shot of your neck. Thanks for telling me. Now you have it! It was difficult to get a good shot but this is what I got. It doesn't really allow the engraving to show up. But I guess it will suffice for now. I'll try and get a better one soon.

---

"Oh, my gosh, that's beautiful." said my wife. As do I. WOW....since I can't push the like button but only once, this pic had to be reposted to get another "like"!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/09/2014:  06:06:37

C Nyal, Hank, Dave & Nels,

Thank you so much! I'm very glad y'all like it. Hank that avatar is just Toooooooo Cooooool! There are times when I could use a mute like that for my playing!

Will,

You are so welcome. It won't be long now.

Hankon5 - Posted - 02/09/2014:  09:00:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by C Nyal de Kaye

Hankon 5, that is a great banjo mute shown in your avatar. How does it work?

---

You pick your banjo so loud that your wife screams....you hand her the mute and then she can have a bang up of a time!!!

cbcarlisle - Posted - 02/09/2014:  09:00:51

Notice, it's a nine-pound hammer.

Big O - Posted - 02/09/2014:  11:09:12

Dan that is some Fabulous work Totally speechless WOW!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/09/2014:  18:57:48

Good lord Hank, THAT COULD REALLY HURT!!!!

Curt,

I'll trust you on that one!

Chuck,

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your comment.

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 02/09/2014 18:58:11

northwoodspicker - Posted - 02/09/2014:  19:15:37

Did Pine Cone's banjo ever get done? I was looking forward to seeing it because I loved the theme. Or did I just miss it?

Edited by - northwoodspicker on 02/09/2014 19:15:54

Paul R - Posted - 02/09/2014:  20:13:13

I was going to hold off commenting until the 'jo was all together, but, wow! Super work! Out of this world!

By the way, Dan, don't think that we northerners are all great at winter driving. The first snowfall of the year, it's as if some drivers have totally forgotten how to drive in winter, and have to learn all over again - especially the SUV drivers.

And think of the mayor of Toronto in 1998, Mel Lastman (whom some people called "Mel Function") who called in the Army after one particularly heavy snowfall.

Looking forward to seeing the completed banjo!

Pine Cone - Posted - 02/10/2014:  17:57:55

Will's neck and pot are looking great!  Can't hardly wait to see the finished banjo.

While taking a walk in Port Townsend yesterday I ran across a nice John Deere riding lawn mower.  Every cyclist should own one... I know you like to ride like I do, and it would certainly make mowing the lawn more enjoyable.

John Deere Riding Lawn Mower

 

Dan Drabek - Posted - 02/10/2014:  18:07:22

Very cool Dan. That's one of the more striking fingerboards I've seen. I see you've got the planets in order of their distance from the sun. (though Pluto is now temporarily inside the orbit of Neptune) I also like the image of Kepler, or Tycho Brahe, or whoever it is in the lower part of the fingerboard. This must be commissioned by an amateur astronomer.

DD

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 02/10/2014:  18:18:36

 Just wondering. from the sound of one of Dan's previous threads about snow, does it come with a plow attachment.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 02/10/2014:  18:22:22

Joseph,

The quick answer to your question is no, it has just begun the process. I suppose the answer deserves a bit more, that I guess I'll call...

THE LONG ANSWER

I probably build in a bit different a manner than most of the professional banjo builders that you will find (maybe not though, they all might be a crazy as me!). I only build fully custom banjos. That means each banjo that comes from my shop (with the exception of my mini's) it totally unique. There are no models. From the wood, metalwork, inlay, carving , tone, finish, feel and shape each one is created with my client and their desires in mind. Add to that my muses and the it means that no two are alike. This is not the wisest way to make money, but it suits me. 

I said all that to say this; I build as my teachers taught me. When I build a banjo there are times when the parts must rest...  I never use wood that has been in my shop less than one year. Much of the time I will have owned it for more than ten years. When wood is cut (even old dry wood) it wants to move so once the parts have been rough cut and glued up I give them a minimum of 3 months to settle and acclimate to their new form. After this time of settling I dado for the truss rod, install that, glue on the fingerboard and allow it to rest for a month or so before inlaying, binding and carving. In all the years that I have built I have never had a neck twist on me. I believe following these few steps have been what has caused this.

Paul,

Thanks! It's good to know that we aren't the only ones who have trouble on ice and snow.