Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/265135
blindsniper - Posted - 06/17/2013: 11:01:46
Hi there,
Any pointers on how to make these things? The exchange rate is killing me. I have no option but to do it myself
Will appreciate any hint and tips
regards
Ian
Fathand - Posted - 06/18/2013: 09:36:47
Hex shoes are one of the simplest designs, buy Hex Stock. Drill in the 2 directions, saw off to length then tap for threads.
Jonnycake White - Posted - 06/18/2013: 10:01:40
I've been making a set of hooks out of 5/32 stainless steel rod - heat it up red hot, bend it by hand and with some light hammering to get the bend as sharp as possible. I drilled a hole at the bend angle in a piece of 1/4" thick iron bar, heat the rod up, stick one end through the hole, bend it over, heat again if necessary, and then pound the shaft down onto the bar with a light hammer. The metal darkens up from the heat but then it can be filed, sanded with 400 or 600 grit, and polished up nicely. It is fairly easy to cut threads with a standard 8-32 die, and this gives the advantage of using standard nuts rather than the expensive banjo nuts with the odd thread pitch. I think the long nuts used for joining threaded rod are available in that pitch and would work well, and you could fancy them up by chucking them in a drill press and shaping with a file. Both the hooks and the nuts will look home made - which IMO is a good thing.
I've also used brass rod in the past to make hooks.
I've used Randy's (Rudy's) basic method to make brass L-shoes from 3/8" x 3/4" brass bar stock (360 alloy).
Edited by - Jonnycake White on 06/18/2013 10:05:15
Jonnycake White - Posted - 06/18/2013: 10:14:34
Some pictures of my process:
rudy - Posted - 06/18/2013: 10:15:07
I've used a combination of shop-made raw brass tension band and shoes with commercially available hooks and nuts for the past few banjos, and really like the contrast. Here's a shot before the shoes and tension band were polished and patina finished to darken them.
Post patina:
Edited by - rudy on 06/18/2013 10:21:38
blindsniper - Posted - 06/18/2013: 10:37:47
Thank you everybody for the wealth of information. I shall start by using the hex bar. I managed to find some brass and steel hex bar for the job. Now to source the thread cutting taps and dies. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Ian
