josiahtyree - Posted - 11/14/2013:  15:46:51

I am building a tackhead banjo so  I have piece of deer skin for a head I am getting the fur and stuff off i've asked people how to prepare one and i've heard about bleaching and tanning so i wandered how long do u bleach and tan a piece of hide for a banjo head and how to evenly stretch the head on the banjo once it is built.

-JT

Jim D - Posted - 11/14/2013:  16:22:46

There was a series of books written back in the late '60s called the Foxfire Books. Volume 3 was about old time banjos. Either that volume or another had a section on tanning hides. You might see if your local library has those books or if they can get them for you via interlibrary loan.

Good luck and welcome to the Hangout.

Jim

Noah Cline - Posted - 11/14/2013:  16:50:29

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim D

 

There was a series of books written back in the late '60s called the Foxfire Books. Volume 3 was about old time banjos. Either that volume or another had a section on tanning hides. You might see if your local library has those books or if they can get them for you via interlibrary loan.



Good luck and welcome to the Hangout.



Jim

 

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That was in #3, too. It showed a couple of different methods from different people that were interviewed.

josiahtyree - Posted - 11/14/2013:  16:57:57

Do you have to tan the hide or just bleach and be done.

buckholler - Posted - 11/14/2013:  19:21:48

Its hunting season, I'd go visit your local taxidermist and see if he/she can tan it up for you. It shouldn't be too much for a small piece.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 11/14/2013:  20:02:47

That's why God invented Google.

ravedog - Posted - 11/14/2013:  23:00:37

if it's a tanned hide it's useless....the tanning makes the hide soft and flexable.
if it's a fresh hids.scrape the hair off. soak it and strech it on a piece of plywood or a frame
till its dry and hard. a little bleach in the water will kill fungus and bugs.
if it's a tanned hide it will be like trrying to play a marshmellow...!

derwood400 - Posted - 11/15/2013:  03:16:13

I agree.  I'm by no means an authority on this, but I'm pretty sure the skins used for banjos, drums etc. are not tanned.  They are only scraped, cleaned and dried as Ravedog mentioned.  I have a friend/co-worker who is a taxidermist.  I will try to ask him a bit about this, today if I get a chance.  

mike gregory - Posted - 11/15/2013:  05:34:18

RAWhide, as previous people have answered.

You do not want a soft, flexible head.

I shall start a rumor, and people will eventually believe it, because, hey "I saw it on the internet!"

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Back when banjos were first being made and sold to children, if the child misbehaved, the parents would threaten to ruin the beloved banjo with the phrase "I'll tan your hide!"

Parents who were unable to afford banjos for their children, would use the same threat, but would follow it up by beating the child's buttocks, to that the child would be unable to borrow any playmate's banjo, and sit there picking and grinning, since sitting would be too painful to allow grinning.

Eventually, Mylar(TM) replaced rawhide as a banjo head material, and the phrase was only used as a reference to the beatings.

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Frailinaway - Posted - 11/15/2013:  17:44:42

 I believe it!  After all, I read it on the BHO, it came from Mike Gregory who has an unblemished reputation for truthfulness and it has the ring of truth!  What better proof could a poor banjo player ask for?

mike gregory - Posted - 11/16/2013:  21:31:05

Hey, I seen it on the internet:

Click here for details: banjohangout.org/topic/274082