Dave1climber - Posted - 11/20/2015:  14:35:47

Does it never stop?  The paid vacation?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/21/2015:  04:27:19

Dave, 

It gets even better...

Here was last nights sunset as seen from the second deck of the AMERICAN EAGLE in Memphis...

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/21/2015:  05:50:01

Wish I was there, pickin', singin', having some of that famous Knowles coffee, and sharing some stories.  Work that feels like play.  

darlo - Posted - 11/21/2015:  10:53:27

dan
not read in a while would just like to say thank you so much , with so many negative things happening in the world it is so refreshing to see photographs of people being happy and enjoying them selves,pity most newspapers and media dont follow suit

kvdkieft - Posted - 11/21/2015:  20:17:12

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quote

:Wow!!! Nice trip thrugh history lane!! Congrats old man!!!! I can't wait to celebrate 1 MILLION!

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

SATURDAY

I just happened to look at the read numbers and noticed that at this moment we are 18 reads away from 300,000. That's an awfully big ole number. Back when we started this post (With much encouragement from David Emery) I could never have imagined that it would still be going on and that so many folks would still be reading it! I find it quite amazing and humbling.

It seams almost anti-climatic to just talk about yesterday and today... but I think that's just what I'll do...

Tomorrow when I get up we'll celebrate!

Here is a bit more on the white oak 000's inlay from yesterday & today:

The logo inlay has been cut, glued together (it is made from 7 pieces of pearl and abalone), then located and glued in place with Titebond. After the glue sets up the ebony is marked with a sharp white pencil...

A heat gun is used to soften the glue and release the pearl...

The cavity is routed...

And the logo is glued in place with blackened epoxy...

At this moment I'd like to speak to the passing of my friend and former student Jerry Beirley. He died earlier this week from a stroke following an operation. Guitar builder & player, airplane builder and pilot. Jerry was a kind, great soul. We'll miss him a lot.

Here is the class when Jerry was with us (L to R) Jerry, Kevin Bailey, Daiski Kiuchi, Chandan Jayne & Eric Sendajas...

Todays building class (L to R) Jeff Fletcher, Chris Groves, Kevin Bailey, Me & Thomas Bailey (not in photo) 

Here is the inlay. Its just rough sanded (almost completely though). It needs finish sanding and engraving...

Celebratin' Tomorrow!

 

 

---

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/21/2015:  21:30:09

Kenny,

Me 2!!!

SATURDAY

Here are a couple of shots from tonights AMERICAN EAGLE show. This is our next to last show of the season, it's hard to imagine that the season is almost over...

More Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 11/23/2015:  15:17:50

Dan are you on the boat or back building an oak 000 slot head? I saw the builder's mark inlayed in the head stock and it looks great. Hard to keep up with a performing, traveling builder. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/23/2015:  18:29:10

David,

Just got home this afternoon. It may take a day or two for me to get my workin' feet firmly planted. But the white oak 000 is on the high priority list!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/23/2015:  18:29:45

MONDAY

BACK HOME IN PARIS

THINKIN' ABOUT THE RIVER....

And so another tremendous season of pickin' , Singin' & and havin' way too much fun  is now complete... It's hard to believe... seams like we only started  yeaterday!

I'm home now.

In fact I just got up from a little after travel nap... soon I'll take a longer after travel nap!

What a great trip this has been for Eddie and me! So many wonderful people! What could be better, great folks, great food and a great river!

Yesterday (was it only yesterday?) on our way down from Memphis, Tennessee to Vicksburg, Mississippi on the Mississippi river abord the AMERICAN EAGLE we were privileged to lead  another DOTTING WITH DAN class. You'd a thought that we had a bunch of ducks they took to it so well!

After just a few minutes of work here was one of my students creations!

And a bit later in the morning our  BANJO 102 class counted their selves to Banjer heaven! All of these folks got it! How cool is that!

Here they are!

MORE SOON!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/23/2015 18:35:58

Kaelri - Posted - 11/23/2015:  18:41:25

I love Eddie's shirt! ha!

(umm, that is Eddie in front isn't it? )

Edited by - Kaelri on 11/23/2015 18:42:30

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/23/2015:  18:48:53

Yes ma'am!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/24/2015:  04:56:22

Dan..Well you have a grin ear to ear with your last class of banjo players..amazing..well not really... that aside from learning some tunes with you they all caught your contagious ear to ear grin!...Cheers!! Welcome home!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/24/2015:  06:26:28

Dan

"on our way down from Memphis, Tennessee to Vicksburg, Mississippi on the Mississippi river abord the AMERICAN EAGLE"



IS there a song in that line?

 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/24/2015:  11:32:24

Doug,

THANKS!

Dave,

There just might be...

Nels - Posted - 11/25/2015:  03:30:56

Dan and everyone, have a great Thanksgiving. Do you have a 'special' Turkey day Banjo?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2015:  18:42:54

Nels,

I've never been asked for one of them...HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2015:  19:05:57

WEDNESDAY

Just saw this special from our ole' bud Craig 'Frailin' Evans, seams that Folkways is offering this limited edition hat with an order of all 4 editions of the BANJO BUILDERS OF NORTH AMERICA...I may just have to order another full set so I can get the hat!!!

Today I did the backstrap for David Emery's white oak 000 and I figured that y'all'd like to see it, especially since it's the same thing on a banjo neck.

First off I glued a little 1/8" thick strip of hardboard  right next to the nut end of the fingerboard. This will give me the correct difference in thickness from the nut to the heel in the next process...

Trueing the thickness of the neck with a Safety Planer in the drill press....

Peghead and the neck trued. Just a bit of sanding and she'll be ready for the strap...

Thickness sanding the walnut backstrap...

Applying epoxy to the back of the peghead...

Clamped. I'll check it out tomorrow...

My Pharaoh banjo has needed some major attention for a while now. She has needed some new frets and the finish has gotten rather worn after almost 20 years. Also when I am out in higher humidity ares (like performing out on the river) the nitro lacquer gets to feeling kind a sticky, so now it the time for a change.

Over the last few years I've been building lighter rims and I like the response so while I was at it I thinned her down! 

And decided to change out the pearl on the bottom of the rim when several pieces came off during trimming on the lathe...

Here it is all ready for binding routing...

MORE SOON!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/25/2015:  20:42:19

Dan

Back in the shop and up to speed getting many things done, not finished, just some of the many steps involved in building and repairing of stringed instruments.

I would like to know how you trimmed the new pearl on the Pharaoh banjo rim.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/25/2015:  21:13:41

Dave,

First I cut off most of the excess with a Dremel cut off wheel, then sanded it quite close. Soon I'll rout all of it for binding & purfiling.

DEmery - Posted - 11/26/2015:  06:07:54

Hey Dan...., it looks good. Let me know when it heads to the carving bench in the next few weeks. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/26/2015:  07:07:35

David,

Most likely tomorrow...

DEmery - Posted - 11/26/2015:  07:24:43

Really...., faster than thought and an exciting next step. Shoot me a good photo when the neck gets attached to the body. I use those as screen savers. David

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/26/2015:  08:26:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

Dave,

First I cut off most of the excess with a Dremel cut off wheel, then sanded it quite close. Soon I'll rout all of it for binding & purfiling.

---

Dan

Have you ever used a top bearing straight router bit to trim the excess?  I was wondering about the possibility of chipping.

I meant to mention this before, the pearl on the Pharaoh is looking very nice.  

Edited by - Dave1climber on 11/26/2015 08:32:23

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/26/2015:  17:35:43

David,

I'll sure do it!

Dave,

When I rout for binding I'll se a router although I may use the Dremel to rout a basic ledge first.  The Dremel can spin much faster and so with fingers crossed and much luck perhaps there'll be no chip out...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/26/2015:  17:44:43

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Ours was spent with my in-laws and a wonderful time was had by all.

I came home, checked email and got these three photos from my good friend Jimmy Ogle. Jimmy is the manager of the Beale Street Landing in Memphis, the unofficial historian of Memphis (he even knew Sam Phillips) and is the much lauded explorer of the Memphis Underground.

A couple of weeks ago when we were in Memphis on the Queen of the Mississippi, he asked me to play for a group of ladies on top of the roof of the Beale Street Landing. 

Here are the photos...

More Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 11/27/2015:  18:58:41

Dan I recall you discussing some time ago thinning down that banjo rim. Did you turn it down until it thumped right; or did you take it to a specific thickness? I know you are a thumping sort of guy. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/28/2015:  05:06:26

David,

I thumped 'er.... It was interesting to hear the rim open up too!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/28/2015:  05:48:39

FRIDAY 

NECK CARVIN' DAY

As promised yesterday was the neck carving day for the White Oak 000. This is how it went down...

First I started out by breaking the clamps then trimming away the overhang from the backstrap. Here I scrape it to shape... 

Trimming away the backstrap excess...

Drilling away the waste before routing...

Routing the mortise...

Trimming the heel to shape...

Band sawing off the major waste... Don't do this at home kiddies! It's dangerous!

Here I'm using a 100+ year old spokeshave to get my basic shape. I found this tool twenty years ago in an antique store in Vineland, Ontario and is one of my favorite for neck shaping. 

Heel carving...

Rasping to shape with a horse hoof rasp...

Trimming the heel to final shape...

Finished...

   

Sam & Rachael's kids  (our grandkids) came over last night and a large time was had by all! Here Amber (our eldest granddaughter) paints with grandpa!

Painting last night with my grandson Calib

During the first several passes at the binding ledge on the Pharaoh. This is to basically gently cut back the pearl first before going to the binding routing machine...

Doing the final routing of the outside binding ledge. Today if I have time I'll hand rout the inside...

More Soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 11/28/2015:  08:20:57

Dan I saw the neck firs on Facebook. Big step getting the neck carved and it looks great. Nice series of photos. I pulled them down for my file like all the other projects completed over the years. Thanks so much. David E.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 11/28/2015:  13:35:02

David: have you seen the series that features banjo builders reviews by customers in the weekly BHO newsletter? If not check it out. With all your Knowles instruments you'd be perfect for writing a feature on Mr Dan. Just a thought.
All the best from Bill. :D

DEmery - Posted - 11/28/2015:  14:18:22

Bill I haven't seen it. Don't get banjo newsletter. If it is weekly; I assume it is a web format for the BNL? David E.

Kirk Jacobs - Posted - 11/28/2015:  15:13:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by DEmery

 

Bill I haven't seen it. Don't get banjo newsletter. If it is weekly; I assume it is a web format for the BNL? David E.

---

No it is a thing that Eric Schlange puts out weekly(?).  Like tuneof the week he is doing builders.

DEmery - Posted - 11/28/2015:  15:46:39

I need to check it out..., thanks. David E.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 11/29/2015:  07:55:09

David, it is the Banjo Hangout newsletter, it is free and can be subscribed to in the newsletter link at the top of the BHO Homepage. Check it out, you would be perfect for an article on Dan.

DEmery - Posted - 11/29/2015:  15:30:02

Subscribed...., thanks. David E.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/29/2015:  18:16:25

David, Bill, Kirk and anybody else who'd like to think about the above mentioned idea...

THANK YOU for even thinking that I'd be fitting on those pages. Should anyone wish to to do that, I bless them. If anybody chooses not to, well...   I bless them too!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 11/29/2015 18:17:48

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/29/2015:  19:09:03

Check this one out!

Dave1climber - Posted - 11/29/2015:  19:31:57

If I only lived closer, I would sign up right now.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 11/30/2015:  04:57:48

Dan the Pharaoh rim is going to look awesome..Everything you create is so unique...so much talent!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/30/2015:  20:37:07

Dave,

I wish you did live closer, I'd be proud to have you as a student!

Doug,

Thanks! I hope to post a few more Pharaoh photos in a minute...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 11/30/2015:  21:05:21

MONDAY

This week started out with a bang. If the rest goes like today it should be very exciting!

Ok you ask, "How can banjo building be exciting?"

Read on dear friend and see if before this post is over you don't agree!

...Well maybe binding on a banjo rim isn't your idea of lift, but seeing this banjo quickly get back in shape sure tickles me.

Here I'm binding the inside of the rim...

And a bit later, gluing and clamping binding on the outside...

After washing the heel with acetone to soften the finish I used several knives to remove the stubborn bits in the heel carving. I'm getting tempted to re-carve this heel and try to bring it up to my current standards...

After lunch Debra and I went over to a local lumber yard that is going out of business. One of my first jobs in Paris nearly 30  years ago was working there. I went just to see if they had any rubber bladder roofing left. They did not. But they had a whole lot of stuff. One of the owners was there (it helps that he is a good friend) and he was in a selling mood (Today was their last day of business). What did I buy you ask?

2 Larson storm doors

at least 1500 sheets of various grades of sandpaper

a bunch of sanding disk paper

assorted foam sanding pads

Sanding belts

Several rolls of emery cloth 

a couple dozen drill bits

a reamer

a dozen or so tap & drill sets

30 or so 1" good quality spring clamps

2 mops (2 mops?!?)

A nice wood shelf for sandpaper

several plastic bins for sandpaper

A display filled with perhaps 200 assorted dowels

A whole lot of assorted other hardware & building related stuff.

Oh yes Wyatt tossed in a folding ruler just like my granddad used to use!

AND I DIDN'T BREAK THE BANK!

Ok, so here I am putting the stuff away. I was at the shop late just arranging and figuring out where to put it all. 

See what I mean about exciting!

More soon!!!

DEmery - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:35:37

Dan I look forward to your response after the banjo goes back together to see how the thinned down rim performs. I am sure it will look great after a face lift. Congrats on the sand paper purchase. I suppose you can now sand away with no concerns of running short of paper. David E.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 12/01/2015:  05:52:19

Neck heel carving is great!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/01/2015:  06:28:54

Dan

Great progress on the banjo!

Its a bitter sweet day when a local business goes out because of the sale.  You can never have enough clamps.  

Steven M - Posted - 12/01/2015:  13:17:30

You know how to have a good time!!!

Nels - Posted - 12/02/2015:  03:34:59

I looked over the 'list' of items you bought at the lumber yard.....I didn't see a 'partridge-in-a-pear tree' !      they must have sold out with the rubber roofing...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/04/2015:  06:10:26

David,

I am looking forward to hearing this instrument back together. The thick rim (even after all these years of playing) had a rather dull thump. Now after thinning to an average of 9/16" it has a bright lively ring.

I'm gonna bet that it will be a long, long time before I buy any sandpaper!

Doug,

Thanks!

Dave,

How right you are!

Steven,

I always try to!

Nels,

No it was all gone.I did get an old fashioned folding ruler though! 

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 12/04/2015 06:10:53

Dan Knowles - Posted - 12/04/2015:  06:34:42

THURSDAY

Back in the day when the Pharaoh banjo was first constructed the peghead inlay was of the Egyptian Ship of the Sun. Unfortunately the sun part of the inlay was made of a large piece of brass. It wouldn't hold finish. So it was removed and replaced with some blue & white mixed epoxy and called the Egyptian Ship of the Moon (it may have been a first).

Now that the banjo is getting a face lift.

So I'm changing this piece back to the original intent.

I've chosen several pieces of gold mother of pearl and glued them together in a fan pattern. Here they are with the pattern of the sun applied to them and ready to cut...

Needless to say the piec was cut out and here the epoxy is routed out in preparation for the pearl...

   

In with the epoxy and in with the pearl... 

Now it's time to wait for a day as the epoxy cures...

Semaj was quite successful in creating fingerboards for a run of our Mini-Banjos. These are all made of maple & walnut. Here he's marking some maple before cutting and later thicknessing them before slotting. In one afternoon he was able to create 18 of them...

On the White Oak guitar. 

I'm working on fitting the heel to the body... First attaching the neck. Then trimming the inside of the heel before sand fitting. Beginning to sand fit the heel. About a thousand pulls should do it!

Sanding the inside of the Pharaoh's rim...

After sanding and rebinding the peghead. I'm thinking about working up and engraving some hieroglyphs on the sun...

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 12/04/2015:  07:17:51

Dan

I have several folding rulers, they are my favorite measuring tool.  The one I like the best reads left to right, turn it over and it reads right to left.  My father had one just like it, it was used so much that the joints wore to the point of having slop causing it to be inaccurate.

Is Semaj a new helper in you shop, or did I not remember him from an earlier post?

The peg head on the Pharaoh is looking good!  Progress on the oak guitar would seem to be at a critical stage.