Lyndon Smith - Posted - 06/19/2013:  14:47:09

I recently mounted a calfskin head on my 8" rim in a non-traditional way (the excess was on the inside of the rim). Several people pointed out that there were two layers of calfskin over the tone ring and that this may impair the sound produced...

So, in the end I removed the head and refitted it.

I also fitted a calfskin on my 11" rim which I subsequently removed so that I could shorten the flesh ring. I then remounted that calfskin.

So, I have now mounted a calfskin four times! I actually enjoyed the process very much and it's not so difficult as long as you do not rush.

I let the calfskins dry for several days and then removed them (yet again) and trimmed off the excess and remounted them.

Now I have to work out if they are tightened enough. If they are, I will need to remove them (yet) again and lower the area at the heel to the level of the head...

Ready to Mount Calfskin...

Alfie Looks on in Awe...

Both Calfskins Mounted & Trimmed

jbalch - Posted - 06/19/2013:  16:35:40

Looks great! Well done.

Did you leave the reverse-mounted head on long enough to get an idea how it sounded?

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 06/19/2013:  17:33:16

Doing this job is always a bit of a pain, but worth it.

I just did something similar but now, a few weeks later, the banjo is really singing!

It still makes mistakes though!

Bill - Posted - 06/19/2013:  19:11:33

They are beautiful. How did you stain them?

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 06/19/2013:  20:01:23

jbalch: Unfortunately, I don't have a neck finished for the 8" so I never got to try the (non-traditionally mounted) head out. An experiment for the future, perhaps...

Bill: The calfskins were from Bill Miller a few months ago. I just checked his web site (banjoseen.us/) and he does not seem to have coloured heads available at the moment. I'm only guessing but the two calfskins I mounted look like they were dyed with Annatto, judging by the colour. It's a natural dye (that can be used in food). I just so happen to have a bag of Annatto seeds that I will boil the dye out of. I will then dye a goatskin head that I have and report back...

Lyndon Smith - Posted - 08/18/2013:  04:12:12

As promised, here's the result of an experiment in colouring skin heads:

Here's the white Clifford Essex Goatskin head that I dyed with Annatto. It's the one on the left and looks really nice.

You can boil the dye from Annatto seeds and then just soak the skin in it for 10 - 15 minutes.

Goatskin and Calfskin Heads

jbalch - Posted - 08/18/2013:  05:43:14

Nice!

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 08/18/2013:  14:16:29

It looks good to my eye. I have never heard of Annatto seeds.