Crusty - Posted - 10/13/2015:  06:58:00

Hey Dan, just about every machine shop has rolls of emery cloth in various grits for smoothing.  It's strong, flexible and effective and you can even use it like a shoeshine rag to quickly smooth things.  Give it a try - you may like it better than taping sandpaper.

Kaelri - Posted - 10/13/2015:  10:04:53

Love the neck/sandpaper/packing tape fitting technique. Maybe we can apply that here somewhere as we continue to work on this old house! I'll "File" it back in my old brain cells! Thanks for your extra thoughts on that same idea, Mike. 

Edited by - Kaelri on 10/13/2015 10:06:44

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/13/2015:  18:30:50

Dave,

Man has it ever! I need to do something special for this anniversary.... any ideas?

Mike,

I use emery cloth and love the stuff! What makes this tape technique so valuable is its thinness. Emery cloth would be too thick for this job.

Ellen,

I do hope you find it useful. For most things on a house though, the emery cloth would certainly be more durable.

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/13/2015:  20:40:21

Dan

Anniversary = party

I would think a "pot luck" party, with all attendees also bring a banjo or what ever instrument they would like to play.  What a jam that could be.  



Might have to do it in the spring so it could be done outside. 

Edited by - Dave1climber on 10/13/2015 20:43:47

kwl - Posted - 10/14/2015:  06:35:01

Dan, perhaps you could make a special banjo and raffle it off and give the money to the Lee Academy or some other worthy cause. I see a fret board with luthier tools and maybe some banjo parts depicted on it as inlays. Take most of the fourth year to make it.

60spicker - Posted - 10/14/2015:  09:24:05

We're bumping up against 300,000 reads. Another milestone and celebration!!!

kvdkieft - Posted - 10/14/2015:  17:39:49

Woking on a million!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/15/2015:  15:31:49

ON THE AMERICAN EAGLE

Todays Banjo 102 class.

This group was great! We had such a large time!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/15/2015:  15:58:11

Dave,

Now I do like that idea! Lots of food & music. Nothin' could be better!

Ken,

Hummmmmmmm..........

Terry,

It's amazing isn't it!

Kenny,

That'll certainly be a party then!

kvdkieft - Posted - 10/15/2015:  17:59:59

Let's plan the 1,000,000 hit party! It'll be here before you know it!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/16/2015:  07:15:02

Banjo 102 with Dan!  Always a Large time!!



Dan

When that party happens, I will be there.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/17/2015:  05:54:39

Kenny,

Can we have it (the party or at least one of them) over at your house?

Dave,

I hope y'all will be there. We have an invitation with your name on it already printed!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/17/2015:  06:25:51

SATURDAY

Here it is a bright, cold fall morning in Memphis, Tennessee, the home of that great banjo picker known as the Kang Elvis the Pelvis Presley. I'm sitting in the forth deck sky lounge with my ole' pal Eddie Coffey just waiting for the morning to warm up enough to go walking into town.

It's a great time to be posting as our guests from this trip are getting off the boat and the crew are cleaning and making up rooms for the new bath of folks who will be visiting with us. So we are here out of everybody's way. 

This first bunch of folks have been just great! Wonderful to visit with, teach and perform for. Couldn't ask for better!

Here is a photo from Thursday night with our cruise directors  Magen (L) & Becca (R) performing our boat hit, Fresh White Beans...

This was the sight of Beale Street Landing yesterday when we landed. I've never seen so much of the curlicue walkway. If you look closely and notice the dusky tanning of the structure you can see where the water was just a month and a half ago!

You can even see the water line even clearer on this photo of the American Eagle...

Yesterday Eddie, Rob (the engineer), one of the deckhands and I went over to Gus's Fried Chicken for lunch. I know I don't often talk about food here... but... Boy Howdie was it great! If you are ever in Memphis this is the place to eat! Best fried chicken I've ever tasted!

Yep there it was... lunch! Spicy fried chicken, baked beans & slaw... oh ya the fried green tomatoes had already vanished!

More Soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/17/2015:  07:02:43

Dan

From your two photos of the water lines, I would guess that the water was 35 to 40 feet higher that when your photos were taken.  Its hard to visualize just how much water that was.

Gus's Fried Chicken in Memphis looks like my kind of place, and on my list.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 10/17/2015:  08:12:28

Memphis has a lot of culinary delights to sample. Was there during Elvis week a few years back and left a few pounds heavier :) Have fun .. and let those banjos sing!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/18/2015:  12:50:06

Dave,

You are so correct in your guess. In Memphis a couple of months ago it was at 34 feet. Now it is at -2.84.

I do hope you'll get to taste Gus's someday!

Doug,

Thanks! We'll keep um sangin'!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/18/2015:  13:01:28

SUNDAY

MORNING

Sunday morning on the AMERICAN EAGLE.... Well I guess to be exact this is about Saturday evening too!

Eddie Coffey and I performed for a wonderful audience last night, but afterwards we had a real treat.

 This morning (on the other hand) was bright, sunny and cold on the Mississippi River. We're headin' to Vicksburg. So very nice, wish y'all were here!

Mike Shea from Lexington, Kentucky and a buddy of his from pulled out their dulcimers and we had a regular strang pullin' till near midnight!

These fellas were carryin' 2 (count um) beautiful looking and sounding Warren May  (from Berea, Kentucky) instruments...

 This morning (on the other hand) was bright, sunny and cold on the Mississippi River. We're headin' to Vicksburg. So very nice, wish y'all were here!

The Eagles' paddle wheel & wheelwash very early this morning. I never get tired of looking at this! 

A south bound coalbarge tow...

Oh Yes!!! Another great American Eagle Banjo 102 class!!!

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/18/2015:  17:00:08

A well played dulcimer is a joy, if it were me playing, people would run away!  



Roast some coffee beans on the aft deck on those cold mornings!!  



Another crop of budding banjoist's. 

Edited by - Dave1climber on 10/18/2015 17:01:26

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/19/2015:  17:15:12

MONDAY

BACK HOME IN TENNESSEE

3:33 pm on the dot, our trusty van (that had safely carried us from Vicksburg, Mississippi) parked beside my home in Paris. It is so good to be home! 

After all the "Hellos", clothes and instruments put away I opened up a box containing $65, a set of car keys and assorted other items....oops, that is another joke. Perhaps I'll tell it to you sometime!

Nope, instead, a box containing a new slow speed wet grinder that I had ordered from Grizzly was sitting by my door. You see my old grinder had died. This new one is one of those anniversary models (for those of you that are interested). Tomorrow I'll set the thing up and try it out. I'm kinda excited about this thing. I'll spend my opinion about it for you once I've given it a workout.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...

Well to be exact, back on the American Eagle.

Last night our new buddy Mike Shea joined us to perform I'll Fly Away on his dulcimer. The guests loved it! Thank you Mike! It certainly was great!

After the show we played till way late again. It's got Eddie and me talking about adding a dulcimer duet to our act! 

See Y'all Tomorrow!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/20/2015:  18:21:32

TUESDAY

We got lots of photos today...

I had the camera out and it seamed to follow me all over the shop. I won't script down a whole lot. Maybe the pictures can speak for themselves, we'll see if I can hold to that!

The mountain banjo got a bit further today. Each of these two halves need to joined better than just the glue joint. I'm inlaying these two butterfly cleats to keep the sides joined. Here they are being laid out...

Marking for the mortices...

Here the cavities (after being routed) are readied for the points to be chiseled...

One cleat glued and clamped, the other glued cleat being driven in...

As the glue on the cleats is drying a head is laid out...

I couldn't stay away from the grinder. Here I am loading the leather stropping wheel is loaded with stropping paste....

A chisel is sharpened on the side of the wheel. Note the water mark...

A 1 1/2" chisel is sharpened...

A chisel being stropped. 

I wound up sharpening most of the edge tools in the shop. I'm quite impressed with this grinder.

I got a nice edge although I ended up working the tools on a piece of 2000 grit sandpaper to get the razor edge I want...

On with some binding on the white oak guitar...

Glued and tied in place. Tomorrow the ends will be trimmed and glued...

Wet sanding with 800 grit sandpaper...

On to the buffing wheel...

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/20/2015:  20:37:40

Another busy day in the shop.  I have to believe that you do a lot of mental organization while having your morning coffee in order to get as much done as you do.

DEmery - Posted - 10/21/2015:  03:27:56

Hey Dan...., welcome back to dry land. I always scan down to see where the oak guitar is in the shop pecking order. Looks like it was "gagged and bound" for bad behavior. I have seen tape on newly installed binding but not rope. Your trick? I will keep watching. That ole' neck should hit the carving bench in the not too distant future. David E. 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/21/2015:  04:16:26

Dave,

I'm not sure about the 'mental organization'. I just kinda aim and shoot and keep shooting.

David,

No that's not one I can claim for myself. I saw it being done at the Gibson factory in Memphis. They used a cloth tape instead of a soft rope, but rope was all I could find in town when I went looking. Amazingly that is 100 feet of the rope there on your guitar.

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 10/21/2015:  05:42:21

Hey Dan! Love all the work and riverboat pics...Someday I'll take a trip on that river, but I'm glad I can live vicariously for now. Quick question on the mountain banjo - is there a structural or aeshtetic reason the butterfly joints are off-center? Does it make it more mountain-y? Hope my Dobsons are still knocking around the shop!

DEmery - Posted - 10/22/2015:  04:29:28

Well we will call it the "rope a dope Paris binding technique."  I would try to patten the process and charge a license fee for anyone that uses it. Dan when the prisoner is released; send me a couple of good photos for my file. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/22/2015:  04:54:56

Blaksee,

The butterfly's are off center because that is where the cracks are (or rather were, before the were glued up). They are also placed where they are because I want them to streangthen the 'tension hoop part at its point of most stress. Yes the Dobsons are in the shop and are being worked on too.

David,

I'll sure do it. Meanwhile here is a link to my Photobucket page where I store most of my photos that I use here on the Hangout: i1240.photobucket.com/albums/g...oao1g.jpg

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/22/2015:  05:32:17

WEDNESDAY

Yesterday was a mish-mash of of various projects. First one then the other. Several didn't make it to the post. I'd get goin' and just forget to use the camera...Kay sirrah kay sirrah...(I hope that was the right thing to say).

So here goes...

Off with the rope clamping of the binding...

I just got going good and who should come in but Cindy and Sarge McCain. They had an appointment. I'd forgotten about it. Good thing I was there...

Anyway they brought in this nice Bart Reiter banjo that they just bought, for capo spikes...

Here is Cindy with her Gold Tone trying out my little Snark tuner that hooks on to the brackets...

I rubbed out this rim on Tuesday so it was put together Wednesday and perhaps today I'll get it all put together, set up and ready to go...

Here I'm trimming the ebony binding on the White Oak guitar. This is very close work, fortunately this one worked out just right!

Semaj was in working again today. This young ma will do very well. This reminds me of Jimmy D'Aquisto and John D'Angelico's relationship...

Here he is sanding some (of what we call basic) banjo necks.... 

He just completed his first natural walnut & metal stain job. Couldn't ask for better!

Ebony binding being glued & clamped...

Today it's flip over and do the back side...

There tiz...

More Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 10/22/2015:  16:51:37

Dan I see why binding may not be your favorite chore. Lots of work for that step in the process. Looks easier to carve a neck. I have seen you knock them out with a blind fold on....  David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/26/2015:  07:40:59

David,

Wood binding is a slower chore and 'guitar' wood binding is especially slow. Banjo binding is not nearly as much a process and plastic bindings are a dream! But it is what it is and I enjoy all of the processes involved.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/26/2015:  08:34:39

WEEKEND

We made it through the weekend. And what a busy weekend it was! Besides lutherie work on Friday, I had a number of visitors in the shop. Seams like they were timed perfectly. Soon as one left another arrived. Slowed down progress but it was sure great to see all the folks!

Saturday was guitar building class day. By the way, we are discussing doing an evening inlay class this winter at the Lee Academy for the Arts here in Paris. This will be a great class for anyone interested in learn or improving their skills as an inlay artist!

And of course this coming weekend it the KEYS TO IMPROVISATION workshop & concert  with Tim May and me here at the Lee Art Academy.

Saturday was also our Annual ART JAM at Lee. I wish I'd a brought my camera. I was the M.C. for the live performance part of the event. I got to introduce everything from an Owl Show & Miss Tennessee to my great friends Wire & Wood!

They are my long time friends and comrades (L) Mark McWherter (guitar), Jeremiah Cole (Bass), Tabitha McWherter (vocals), Danny Conger (fiddle) & Russ Wimberly (banjo). This is a GREAT BAND with pickin' & vocals second to none, I hope you get to see them sometime!

On to Luthin!

Binding on David Emery's guitar continues....

Trimming the ends before gluing...

Gluing the upper bout binding...

Tied off...

Here is a little 1930's Regal guitar that has a few problems....

The bridge face is failing, But structurally it is in great shape. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but it's true.

It has a bridge saddle that is not compensated and so over time the tiny aria between the saddle and the face of the bridge has failed. At some time someone attempted to glue the saddle and the face together. It worked for a while but now it's time to fix the thing.

Because the original bridge is Brazilian rosewood and because the glue joint to the top is more than perfect,  it was decided to mill the top off of the bridge and then cap it with another piece of Brazilian rosewood.

Here I'm milling the top off...

This block was double stick taped to the blue tape (that is there to protect the top from epoxy) to help line up the repair block during gluing...

On with the epoxy...

Clamped...

There were also some very worn places in the fingerboard that I filled with a mixture of epoxy and rosewood sawdust. This is a repair that can be done on any stringed instrument where one does not wish to replace a thin fingerboard. This is not always considered a proper repair. Still in this case it will save the fingerboard on the instrument for many years. BTW that pattern in the background will help me locate the bridge pin holes for later drilling....

I use an old credit card to spread and level the epoxy...

Starting the other half of the binding...

Trimming the purfiling...

Saturday Luthing. We had three fellas in to work on their guitars, Zeb, Kevin & Jeff. Jeff told me to tell you that Chris was off filming some movie or something. I'll have to ask him about it next week.

Anyway  here is Zeb still laboring to perfect his neck joint...

Kevin & Jeff in the back room sanding. Kevin on his finish and Jeff thickness sanding his back and sides. Can you tell that this one was posed?

More later today!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/26/2015:  12:41:55

Looks like you had a good time Friday and Saturday, followed by progress every where you look!!  :-)

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/26/2015:  18:35:22

Dave,

Sure did. In fact it was a great weekend!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/26/2015:  18:40:40

MONDAY

Home sick today... didn't even go to the shop...

But being unable to just lay there and take it, I picked up my painting tools and finished a couple of small (4x4x1 1/4") canvases.

This one is called the J. M. WHITE 

And this one has no name as of yet. Any ideas will be appreciated!

Hopefully more tomorrow!!!

DEmery - Posted - 10/26/2015:  18:55:34

Dan...., you are back and the oak guitar is on the bench. Soon it will break from its blue ropes and sprout a neck. Christmas is around the corner.

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/26/2015:  19:50:42

Dan

Heres hoping that you are well soon.  The second canvas reminds me of an underground geologic formation.  It could be called Underground Geology.  Or Imagine.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/27/2015:  04:31:10

David,

Shore be!

Dave,

I like that! Debbie (my wife) said that it could be vewed from any direction depending on ones mood!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 10/27/2015 04:42:03

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/27/2015:  04:41:20

INVITE!

I'm so excited, I just started putting together a new facebook page called Banjo Dan Knowles. I'll be posting photos of banjos (mostly) and other instruments that I have built over the years.

The  first post features Tom Bergan's 9 string banjo d'amore Orpheus. This is a link to the page:facebook.com/banjoDanKnowles

And here are a few photos from that first post...

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 10/27/2015 04:45:20

Bufo Bill - Posted - 10/27/2015:  14:43:30

I forgot how beautiful Orpheus is. It was the first instrument I saw of yours Dan. Fabulous build and still one of my favourites!
Hope you are feeling resplendently well again very soon.
All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/28/2015:  05:37:22

Bill,

THANKS!

Kaelri - Posted - 10/28/2015:  16:59:45

Seems like everyone is on Facebook these days! I am not, but my husband is and he just followed you.  

I co-manage my Appalachian clogging group's Facebook page, but do not have one of my own! ha No time! We look forward to seeing those banjo pics as you post them there.!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/28/2015:  21:17:44

WEDNESDAY

You know, I didn't think I got much done today until I looked at my photos... ​ I suppose it feals like that because there were a couple of things I ment to get to and didn't and there were some interuptions...

Still all in all a good day.

My good buddy & Bass player Eddie Coffey's Regal received a bunch of attention today. The bridge cap was shaped. Here the first crack at it with a plane....

And here brought down to proper height with the Dremel...

Locating the bridge pen holes and marking...

And drilling...

Making up a little colored epoxy to finish filling the finger ware in the fretboard...

Heating the epoxy so it will flow better...

Applied...

Flattening with an old credit card...

Mounted the head on the little mountain banjo...

A little touch up work...

Engraving my logo on a tailpiece...

Done!

More soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 10/29/2015:  04:55:05

Dan

It's good that you are up and running again.  From the photos it looks as if you had a productive day.  Just the sort of things we like to see happening.

Will1717 - Posted - 10/29/2015:  06:01:12

Dan: Definitely a good looking tailpiece!

Bill Rickard

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/29/2015:  19:34:40

Dave,

Me too!

Bill,

You should recognize it! It was born in your excellent shop!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/29/2015:  19:52:56

THURSDAY

Only one day away. I am so looking forward to teaching and performing with Tim Saturday...

Back on Eddie's little Regal. Here I'm scraping the epoxy fill...

And marking the tops of the frets pre-leveling...

And crowning them...

And, and, and...

Polishing them...

Here I'm cleaning up the glue mess from gluing up a broken brace...

Clamps on, tomorrow clamps off...

Finishing up aging the head of the mountain banjo restoration...

Yep, she's ready for strings...

More Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 10/30/2015:  05:43:09

Dan I have watched your progression aging skins and owned a few; but you have the look down now. The process you went through (smoked them?) to get the base tone correct; then laying a little grunge in the space where it gets dirty naturally really works. It looks right. It isn't easy to get "premature old" that actually looks right. I like it. David E.  

Bufo Bill - Posted - 10/30/2015:  15:13:09

I agree with David, that head looks like it's lived on that banjo for decades!
All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/30/2015:  18:02:44

David & Bill,

Thanks! Yes smoke was the start but it went wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy on from there!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 10/30/2015:  18:08:08

FRIDAY

MOUNTAIN BANJO TIME

Strung and finished 'er up today. Here are some photos!

Tomorrow is the big, big day! Come on and have some fun with us!!!

See ya soon!!!