Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/06/2014:  20:15:49

NEW ORLEANS

Saturday

We arrived last night in New Orleans about 9:45, this on the heels of a forth show on the Queen of Mississippi during this cruise. This makes six shows with two more to go before our trip is complete. One of the guests and I started to head out towards the French Quarter (about 10:30 ish, but quickly figured out that we didn't know our way around. So after a nice stroll it was back to the Queen to wait for another day.

This day came today.

With an alarm set for 6 AM Eddie and I headed out to watch the French Quarter try to wake it self up.

We were docked at the New Orleans Port Authority, next to Marti Gras World. This meant a 45 minute walk to Jackson Square.

The Queen was leaving at 12:30 and we needed to be back at least one hour before she departed.

Do the math...

We hightailed it as quick as our old dawgs would carry us.

1st. stop, Cafe Du Monde.

Coffee and beignets, yes, yes!

Well...

here are the remains...

Then it was off to the French Market to purchase a New Orleans Tee-shirt (got ta have a tee shirt!)

Next we wondered around and through, over and under the French Quarter until we arrived at Louis Armstrong park and Congo Square.

This is a holy spot for banjo players.

Perhaps one of the earliest historical mentions of the banjo in the new world, the "rude lute" was here.

Slaves gathered here on Sunday afternoons and danced the troubles away...

This statue was placed here since my last visit. Do you see the banjo player in the upper left side (3rd. figure in)?

After worshiping, it was down the street and around the corner to City Cemetery #1.

Velly, velly interesting. 

I've never seen anything quite like this place.

(note the shirt sleeves rolled up. 80 degrees on the 6th. of December)

Fella there told me that they call these graves ovens because of their shape.

Sunset? Nope... the side of a ship here on the Mississippi river. It is amazing how much ocean going traffic there is down here. After we departed from the dock it was like threading a needle. Made me grateful for a great pilot. 

Here in fact, another beautiful Mississippi river sunset.

After a fun morning in the French Quarter, relaxing afternoon, beautiful sunset and great dinner, what could make the day even more perfect?

A concert by Plectrum Banjo Hall of Famer, my pal from the Delta Queen days,

Mike Gentry.

What a great show it was he had all of us singing, clapping and laughing. But when he played some Perry Bechtel... Oh my, need I tell you!

Here he is with his Ebony Ne Plus Ultra. Imagine two ebony banjos on one boat!

On to Baton Rouge !

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/06/2014:  20:36:08

Looks as if it has been a great cruse so far!! 

guitarman8491 - Posted - 12/07/2014:  02:04:34

Wow wonderful pictures and I agree it looks like you are one heck of a wonderful cruse!

jbalch - Posted - 12/07/2014:  03:52:37

I'd love to have seen and heard those two ebony banjos together.  Did you pick a tune with him?

B&D Ne Plus Ultra and the Knowles' Sherry Lynne  -  both masterworks for sure!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/07/2014:  08:18:40

Dave & Doug,

This has been a great trip... best this year & having Mike on here is a true capper!

John,

We haven't had both those banjos together yet. Tonight I think we may do a tune together. We had a nice sit down gossip & chew the fat at breakfast this morning... Life is good!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/08/2014:  12:47:12

BANJO ON THE QUEEN

Today was our final banjo class on the Queen. Like all the other classes this year, the students were great... perhaps we'll have some up and coming players!

Eddie and I are getting ready to do an afternoon performance in just a few minutes. I'll play catch up here in a bit including the return to Baton Rouge on December 7 and last nights performance with 2 (count um) two ebony banjos!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/08/2014:  20:25:46

MONDAY

I  just got done packing up and am finally ready for bed.

I can't believe this two weeks is almost over. How the time has flown.

Well tomorrow we travel home.

After I get home I'll post a couple catch up posts.

See you then!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/10/2014:  05:11:24

WEDNESDAY

HOME!

What a wonderful word. I realize it has only been 2 weeks, sure is good to be here.

Catsup time:

Sunday was December 7 and we were in Baton Rouge again. In the morning I decided to head over and visit the U.S.S. KIDD. The KIDD is a World War 2 era Fletcher Class destroyer that now is a living museum here in the Baton Rouge harbor. This was the class of destroyer which my father was a storekeeper on during World War 2.

It was docked next to us and Eddie and I went over not at all thinking about the significance of the day. Boat days come and go by as if in a dream. Fortunately there were others who did remember.

We arrived on the Kidd in perfect time for a service of remembrance of that day.

There were perhaps fifty people there on the aft deck of the Kidd, with another fifty or so who gathered on the gangway. 

The service included a talk by the director of the Kidd, a lady who at 14 

was in Honolulu  with her parents. She had a date to go on the Arizona that afternoon.

A retired soldier who read/ recited a very moving poem called DO YOU SEE ME? And ended with this piper playing AMAZING GRACE.

, 

Being as there were several World War 2 vets on board, in the afternoon I offered to do a visit back on the Kidd that afternoon.

Here are some photos from that visit...

Port deck...

Crew sleeping quarters. I couldn't help but try out one of the bunks...

Starboard deck 2...

Of the two who went with me, I spent the most time with this man named Fred (I don't remember his last name) who is a retired army Colonel. Such an extreamly gentle soul. A living time machine...

The wheel house... 

Underway... the last sunset of the trip...

We arrived in Vicksburg yesterday morning, in the fog. After we passed under the Mississippi river bridge this phantom appeared out of the fog. Although it is a gambling boat (which means it is a fake), it appeared as if a memory of past times...

My last view of the Queen of the Mississippi (my home away from home). See ya in the spring ole' gal!

See you back here banjo building soon again!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/10/2014:  06:04:46

A summer on THE river, doesn't get much better.

Thanks for sharing. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/12/2014:  05:05:42

Dave,

It was a great year on the river! But it is wonderful to be home. We have a wedding to do down near Memphis tomorrow, then we are done for the year!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/12/2014:  05:33:20

THURSDAY

NECKIN' IN THE SHOP

Back in the shop. It is so nice to be able to write those words. 

Wednesday Debbie and I went Christmas shopping. We achieved a very great deal! Most of the shopping is done. Last night the boys in the band came over for a practice (getting ready for Saturday) and now this morning I'm doing yesterdays post (drinkin' my coffee and petting Sophie dog).

Fortunately I hadn't left the shop in too much of a mess so I was able to get right at it.

First out I prepared the peghead ears for Areoplane and glued them on....

After the glue has set up the peghead veneer is glued on. This is only the first of the peghead veneers which will be glued on this peghead. The next one will be brass and it will be aged and engraved.

Next I got into my supply of sawn ebony fingerboards. Shucks, these have yet to be run through the thickness sander. I've several banjos to prep for so I decided to run a bunch of them...

Next it was off to sawing fret slots. I really like the stainless steel Stu-Mac patterns. I've several of these along with a bunch of shop made ones. Stick 'um on the table saw and off to town ya go.

I use carpet tape to keep the fingerboards on the pattern. After cutting they need freeing from the pattern. I can usually cut two or three fingerboards with one application of tape.

After adding locating pins the fingerboard is glued on with epoxy...

More real soon!

Yanni - Posted - 12/12/2014:  13:42:49

I'm sure, if you tried real hard, you could get more clamps on that peghead Dan;)

Ian

Nels - Posted - 12/12/2014:  15:16:11

I don't know how you 'switch gears' so fast without breaking something! nice work!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/12/2014:  15:16:43

Dan

It looks as if many of the basic jobs in your shop could be turned over to Elves, and you can attend to other very more important things like drinking coffee and roasting coffee beans.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/12/2014:  16:55:28

Ian,

I must admit that I thought about it!

Nels,

It's really not all that difficult since I've been planning this for the last two weeks.

Dave,

In fact the elves have been trying to eliminate my job (the little buggers) for some time, but I keep chasing them off!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/12/2014:  17:41:36

FRIDAY

ON WITH THE BRASS VENEER

I don't feel the need for some long introductory bit to get y'all ready for the massive verbiage to follow... you see the title just about does it all. Still sometimes it is quite difficult to create this first paragraph. To make it so it leads everybody's mind in just the perfect direction. Most times even a thousand words can't really express everything that needs to be communicated...

even when there is little to communicate.

Still communication is really the issue, is it not? This need to reach out and touch another brain so far away. While we are on the subject of touching brains.. are brains really made to be touched or even massaged and if so by what or by who?

Politicians, lawyers, preachers, banjo pickers and add creators all are out attempting this feat of brain massage. Day and night it is attempted. Even light switches attempt this when they are turned off. And then again when they are again turned on.

While we are on the subject of light....

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

After loosening and removing the clamps I marked and drilled the access for the truss rod. That is my granddads old eggbeater drill. I like it much better than any of my electrics...

Then it is opened it fully with my Dremel...

Yep it works!

Next the brass overlay was laid out, cut out and then drilled for positioning pins. I'm using tooth picks for pins here. I can stick them in (during gluing) and never have to think about them again...

The brass is sanded with 60 grit on my belt sander and cleaned with acetone prior to gluing. Here the epoxy has already been applied and is ready and waiting...

BTW the big hole in the center bottom is for the truss rod access. It will be opened more fully later...

A caul is used to evenly clamp the brass...

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

MAKING WOODEN RIBBONS

This being the season of gifting, heres a little wood working tip.

 The last time that I was doing some hand planing I got to thinking about uses for my shavings. This being the time of gifting I thought that y'all might like this idea...

I first prepared a piece of red (pencil) cedar by truing one face. The quarter face is placed facing up in the vice. A nicely tuned low angle block plane is used to create some shavings. I suppose that white oak might be better or even some paulownia...

I wish I had my buddy Kevin's Leigh Nielsen plane, it cuts some real beauties...

At first I used tape to hold my ribbons down. Then I wised up and grabbed my hot-glue gun and life got so much easier...

The finished package...

More real soon!

kwl - Posted - 12/12/2014:  18:59:20

Dan, I really like the wood ribbon idea. Now if I could only get my plane to work that well. Well tuned planes a mystery to me.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/13/2014:  05:18:11

Ken,

Next week during the lutherie class I intend to do a section on sharpening and it will deal lightly with tuning a hand plane. Also Fine Woodworking has had several articles over the years about tuning too.

Today I'll be starting my students to working then heading off to Grand Junction, Tennessee to perform for a wedding at an antebellum farm/ plantation... should be a fun busy day.

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/13/2014:  06:00:19

Dan

Student elves loose in the workshop, what could possibly go wrong?  Think of the sorcerer's apprentice.   

I know the wedding will be fun.

maynardje - Posted - 12/13/2014:  12:42:50

Hey Dan---- Its been great to feel the river and the history of those old vessels from all your photos. Thanks for all that. Its also great to see Areoplane taking shape! I look forward to watching this build!

Jamie

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/13/2014:  19:26:13

Dave,

Hummmmmm......

The wedding was fun!

Jamie,

You are so welcome. This is one banjo that has me excited. I'm glad to be home for a good bit  so I can really concentrate on the building.

SATURDAY

WEDDING AT THE AMES PLANTATION

I just got in and settled from playing for a wedding at the famous Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee.  

Around 9 this morning Sam, Josh, Mark & I loaded up in the ole' van for a two and one half hour trip southwards. Knowing very little about the place we were going, we placed the reins into the hands of Sally (our trusty GPS gal)  who sent us over two lane roads, a one lane road and then to a narrow, twisty  gravel road. Just when we were sure Sally had tricked us, the plantations manor house came into view. Signs led us  around the big house to the stables. Later I was told that this building normally houses around 40 horses. Soon it would house the Chill Tonic...

I'll cut to the chase... it was a very beautiful and moving outdoor wedding. It was held in the courtyard of the stables. We performed Cat Steven's Morning Has Broken (imagine that with a banjo!) (too bad I didn't play the banjo on it). After the knot was tied, into the stable we went for the reception. We were able to play purely acoustically and that is wonderful. I really love being able to perform without the PA systems. So many nice folks were there and they seamed to enjoy our music.

After the reception we were treated to a tour of the Big House.

It was built in 1854 and last added to & remodeled around 1900. What a treat! It is still the heart of this 18,400 acre estate.

I feel so very fortunate to be able to see and participate in events like this.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 12/13/2014:  23:19:56

Seeing your shavings reminded me of a film someone once told me about and since other woodworkers tune in here maybe I can finally solve an old mystery. The film, as described, since I have never seen it, was about a Japanese carpenter. The opening scene, indelibly - or perhaps romantically - imprinted on my mind, takes place at dawn with mist parting. Trestles are set up at the top of a cliff supporting a long plank; the craftsman walks the length of the wood running a wooden plane the entire way. As he does so, the rising breeze from the cliff lifts one long curling, perfect shaving into the air!

(Does it ring a bell? It sounds too good to be true but I'm a sucker for striking imagery.)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/14/2014:  18:30:39

Curt,

I've never seen that one... but I wish that I had! Perhaps someone out here in Banjo Land has and will post a title.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/14/2014:  19:00:50

SUNDAY

I just finished doing a Skype lesson with a new student in Alaska. Who could have imagined being able to do this just a few years ago.

For those of you who think that Ole' Dan just works all the time, I'll proove you wrong!

Today I took a two hour nap. I haven't done that in a long, long time! Must have needed it.

I did go into the shop though and took a long look at the Aeroplane neck. I didn't intend to, but I went to whittlin', on the backstrap anyway.

First of the there's a bit of wood to remove before I can glue up/ on the backstrap wood. So here it gets laid out...

At least in these photos the peghead was...

Oh good here is the rest of it. The most difficult part of this whole job is fairing the curve transition between the peghead and the neck shaft. I've made some patterns, but I always go back to eyeballing it...

I rubber cemented a spacer piece of wood to the peghead face. This allows me to match with ease the cut on the back to the face...

After all of the cutting is complete I thickness sand the back of the peghead. I used to do this with a Safety planer but this is quicker and more easy for me to control...

Here I'm truing up the back of the neck shaft and refining the curve between the facets...

Smoothing in preparation for glue...

This is a four layer backstrap: walnut (facing the neck), maple, rosewood and ebony.

Here epoxy is being applied to the maple layer...

On goes the clamps and the clamping caul. This is a messy job. I hate trying to clean off epoxy so on go the gloves...

Clamped. Tomorrow or the next day I can remove the clamps and go ahead to refining the peghead shape...

More Luthing Tomorrow!

rubicon - Posted - 12/15/2014:  06:36:32

Looks like some real nice curl in that wood Dan

Crusty - Posted - 12/15/2014:  07:03:58

Hey Dan - never fail to wear gloves when working with unset epoxy because it causes real damage to the skin, and it's especially important for someone who's regularly exposed to it.

My dad was working on the hull of a small sailboat for the grandkids and he had more than a gallon of epoxy mixed up to cover and seal it when his gloves blew out part way through, but due to the cost of the epoxy he kept going spreading out and working the epoxy with his unprotected hands.  The skin damage to his hands was extensive and he had to cover his hands around the clock with a prescription lotion, then a pair of vinyl gloves and a pair of cotton gloves over that to promote healing.  It was about 10 years before he could forgo the gloves and still his hands remained dry, cracked, bleeding and painful until he passed.

Wear those gloves and even double glove if they're on the fragile side.  Even small but repeated exposures to epoxy over time can damage the skin, and think of the bind you'd be in if your hands weren't normally usuable.

maynardje - Posted - 12/15/2014:  09:59:46

Awesome Dan--- Love to see this coming together!

Jamie

DEmery - Posted - 12/15/2014:  14:52:26

Dan is that neck another piece of the maple used on St. Augustine and Shine? David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/16/2014:  04:37:57

Rubicon,

Thanks, yes that is some of the best I've ever had...

Mike,

Thanks for the story and the advice.

Jamie,

Well there will be a bit more today...

David,

Yes, that maple is from the same stock.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/16/2014:  05:02:21

MONDAY

Well it's Tuesday morning. Last week Debbie and I joined our local civic center so we could go and work out on their machines & swim. Last night after work was the first time. 

Today movement is slow. In a week or so this should be much better...

I took the clamps off of the Aeroplane neck yesterday and sliced off the excess veneers. This is what we will be working with. The brass layer is towards the bottom of the photo...

The Scarecrow & the Ship wreck made it to the bench yesterday. I'd like it to be in shape for carving perhaps by this weekend. It needs bindings and the heel cut.

In inspecting the neck before binding I found a slight hump in the side of the neck. It was around the first fret, forth string aria. I knocked down most of it with a big file and the scraped off the remainder...

Then recut the binding channel...

Mixed some epoxy. You'll mote the Fiebing's black leather dye. I add a tiny amount to lightly color the epoxy.

Because I'm using purflings with this I first taped both in place on the heel end, then applied glue from the peghead. Now here I've removed that first taping and am getting ready to glue the remainder.

Tapped. Today I'll bind the other side...

MORE SOON!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/17/2014:  04:44:45

TUESDAY

Today was back at teaching day and learning day day for me. Jon Eaton (fellow BHO member) and I will be shooting a video on Thursday of Auld Lang Syne. Jon wants it sung so naturally I'd like to sing it with the correct pronunciation. So I called up my piper friend Ed Smith who came over to the shop (after I was done teaching) and turned me into the student. 

When we go to recording I'm not sure that I'll be able to do the broad Scotts, but it sure was fun trying to wrap this hillbilly brain and tongue around it!

In the morning though...

I worked on the Scarecrow's binding. First I took the clamps off. Then I flattened it out with this big ole file...

Then scraped it smooth...

After flipping the neck over in the vice, I went to work on the binding for this other side. First off was to bend the purfiling for the bend around the fifth string cut out...

Checking the fit...

The binding was also bent then glued in. Next the binding / purfiling was trimmed and filed into shape.

The rest of the purfiling & binding  was glued into place and after curing was trimmed up. Today I'll to the heel cut so the neck will be ready for carving...

Here I am working on som design work for another project. This photo just had to be posted. You see it's all about the tie!

More Soon!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 12/17/2014 04:45:39

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/17/2014:  06:59:31

Dan

Teaching, building, designing, looks as if you had a busy, and productive day.  Nice four in hand.

Your works in progress always look much neater than my own.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/17/2014:  18:55:42

WEDNESDAY

Tonight I'd like to tell a story...

It is a story of a sailing ship, Christmas trees and generous captain.

The captain, Herman Schuenemann...

The ship was the famous "Christmas Tree Ship" the Rouse Simmons...

And the Christmas trees which never made it...

The year, 1912. Late November. Thompson Harbor near Manistique, Wisconson. Captain Schuenemann a man who was known for his generosity to the poor, loaded his schooner the Rouse Simmons with 5,500 Christmas trees. He was bound for Chicago. 

The people of Chicago loved the captain. They called him, Captain Santa and Captain Christmas. Never wealthy, he was known for giving trees to folks who could not afford them.

This year though, there would be no trees. 

On Friday November 22, 1912 the Rouse Simmons headed south from Thompson Harbor  hoping to outrun an oncoming storm. That evening the storm hit Lake Michigan and the Simmons. This was the worst storm in years with waves up to thirty feet high. 

The next afternoon she was spotted flying her distress flag and never seen again. She vanished beneath the waves with her captain and a crew of seventeen.

For years afterwards Christmas trees washed up on the Western shore of lake Michigan. Fishermen found them in their nets. Still no one knew where she lay.

Until October 1971.

Using improvised gear diver Kent Bellrichard discovered her laying upright in 172 feet of water.

Enter Terry Heaton, newsman.

(this part I'm sure Terry can tell better than I can)

Terry and Kent became friends and Terry became enamored with the Rouse Simmons and her story. So much so that he made a television documentary about Kent, Captain Santa and the Rouse Simmons.

A couple of months ago Terry approached me with the idea of making a commemorative banjo called the "Rouse Simmons". In this banjo he wanted to tell the tale. 

Since that time I've been reading everything and watching every thing that I could find. 

So now at last I'm starting the design...

This will be a resonator banjo. It will feature an image of the Rouse Simmons under sail inlayed on the resonator. 

Most of the photographs available don't have large amounts of detail. So I am pulling details from various images, including ones from the wreck...

About for or five hours is all this old mind will let me concintrate on the drawing, so I set up and chawed away on the Scarecrow's heel...

Last week while out shopping for Christmas presents in the Clarksville Hobby Lobby I found some orange pearl beads. They had obviously been stained. I hoped that the stain went deep. So I bought a dozen or so of these pretties for a buck.

Today I glued one to a block of wood, sanded it and here are the results...

No dice! The stain barely penetrated the surface.

Oh well... 

More Soon!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 12/17/2014 18:56:44

kwl - Posted - 12/17/2014:  19:08:24

Dan, that's an interesting story. One correction however. Manistique and Thompson Harbor are in Michigan, not Wisconsin. This is on the lower part of the upper peninsula. This should be one fantastic banjo.

60spicker - Posted - 12/17/2014:  19:43:30

One important thing Dan failed to mention is that he'll be using the trunk of one of the Christmas trees from the Simmons provided to us by Kent Bellrichard in Wisconsin. Dan can explain it better than I can, but he plans to use shaved circular cuttings from the tree to simulate waves on the resonator. So the banjo will be embedded with one of the trees from the wreck of the Rouse Simmons. Pretty amazing, I think.

I've been fascinated by this story for many years. I produced the first documentary about Kent's discovery almost 40 years ago, and I've always maintained an almost mystical connection with the story. It's not just what happened to those souls and the ship, it's the story of a family dedicated to providing Christmas trees to the poor in Chicago. And now it will be commemorated in a very special 5-string banjo created by the very talented hands of our luthier, Dan Knowles. I hope you all enjoy watching it come together.

If you're interested in more about the story, simply Google "Rouse Simmons" or "Christmas Tree Ship."

guitarman8491 - Posted - 12/18/2014:  04:53:42

What a wonderful story and a banjo being designed and built to memorialize it. No better luthier and artist to capture that moment in time then Dan. I look forward to seeing the finished banjo...cheers!

Kaelri - Posted - 12/18/2014:  18:11:19

How exciting to see this newest banjo project, the Rouse Simmons, take shape. The story is geographically close to home for me since I am in Michigan although I have never heard the story. Much thanks to you and Terry bringing this tale to the present. Looking forward to watching this one too!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/18/2014:  19:03:32

Ken,

Thanks. I stand corrected and embarrassed with my map reading

Terry,

I feel very blessed and honored that you have chosen me for this project. The story fascinated and touched me from the first.

Doug & Ellen,

Thanks and keep watch. But please remember , this one will take a while to fully develop. There is so much to tell and so little space. Like a haiku poem. 

Nels - Posted - 12/19/2014:  05:24:38

This is an interesting story...and an interesting concept in using material from one of the trees from long ago...the'spirit' will surely be felt in this banjo.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/19/2014:  19:23:24

Nels,

I'm sure you will be exactly correct.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/19/2014:  19:41:19

FRIDAY

Here it is Friday already, boy howdie but this week has flown by.

The next few days should be fun for this ole guy though...

Tomorrow is Lutherie teachin' day, Tyler Andel pops by for a neck carving.... Did I say Tyler was coming by...

Huh.. this looks to be an even better day than I figured.

I guess I'd better finish getting his neck ready for chawing...

The basic heel cut was completed a couple of days ago, so now the tension hoop notch gets made.

First I laid out the notch and went to hackin' with my Japanese pull saw...

Next chiselin' to finish the basic shapin'....

I've a dedicated drill press jig for slickin' these things up...

There tiz!

Lastly I cut a bunch of facets off the neck, this will save a whole lot of carving time.

These's the neck, ready for carvin'!

MORE REAL SOON

DEmery - Posted - 12/20/2014:  03:05:48

Dan what are the tuners going on this neck. It appears the tuner housing is inset? David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/20/2014:  05:04:19

Either Gotoh or Rickard. Yes the tuners are inset to add a bit of mass to the pegheag and increase sustain. Funny thing, I woke up dreaming about this banjo neck! 

cbcarlisle - Posted - 12/20/2014:  10:10:22

It Must have been a rough week, Dan, if you dreamed about necking with a banjo...

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/20/2014:  13:39:10

Dan

As busy as you seem to be doing wonderful banjo things, I hope that you will take the 24th and 25th off from work things.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/20/2014:  16:11:50

Curt,

Son, you've made me speechless!

Dave, 

I sure am. In fact I am leaving out for Louisville tomorrow to visit family for a couple of days.

dbrooks - Posted - 12/20/2014:  16:35:33

Dan, it will be good to have you and the family in our fair city. Have a great Christmas. 

David

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/20/2014:  17:10:03

SATURDAY

DECEMBER 20

Five days until Christmas... Sugar plums, chestnuts and such, but today in Santa's workshop the elves did play...well sort-a...

The first part of the day was spent working on the ongoing projects. Kevin on binding making. Zeb working on finding and milling back and side materials.

But before any milling or wood working really took place we did a short tutorial on hand plane sharpening & tuning. 

After lunch (and we did do lunch) Tyler Andel arrived and we had a neck carving session. 

First thing out the Scarecrow & the Shipwreck's neck was mounted in the carving jig and some serious fun began! 

Tyler wanted to try his hand at carving... it didn't worry anybody!

Here I am sanding. Even though I'm sanding, the true tool of the day was my trusty scraper. I sharpened it up just for this neck....

Was Tyler pleased with the outcome?

Sort-a laid together...

The happy camper cried only once and that was when he had to leave his unfinished banjo!

More Soon!

Nels - Posted - 12/20/2014:  19:58:57

Have a very Merry Christmas...or it could be a 'Banjomas' ?? naw, it's Christmas...can't change the name now.