bornold - Posted - 03/04/2014:  12:50:11

I have very poor woodworking sills, but I may give it ago!  What are the tools I need!

Thanks!

Jonnycake White - Posted - 03/04/2014:  13:13:23

Do you want to spend the minimum on tools and the maximum on time and effort, or vice versa?

For a mountain banjo with minimal tools, I'd start with a coping saw, a back saw, a hand drill, a try square, and a 4-in-one wood rasp (has flat and convex sides, each side has fine and coarse teeth), plus about four sheets of sandpaper glued to a flat board for truing things up, and other sandpaper for sanding and finishing.  This assumes you can buy your lumber cut to approximate dimensions (width and thickness).  For a mountain banjo you'll also need a screwdriver.

Since you said mountain banjo, I'm going to assume fretless so you won't need fretting equipment.  But a small round needle file would be useful for slotting the nut and the bridge.

If you're going to use wooden tuning pegs, a reamer and peg shaver are really nice to have.

After that, to make the job easier and quicker, I'd add a bandsaw and a well-set up and sharp hand plane (about a 9" one).

bornold - Posted - 03/04/2014:  13:25:26

Ok, So I have a Hand drill, back saw, try square, and a screw driver. When they come out of storage I may get to work after obtaining some more tools.

The one thing that is REALLY boggling my mind is how to make the neck rounded. Do ya just sand sand sand and sand some more?

Fathand - Posted - 03/04/2014:  13:28:45

Use a rasp to round the neck. You can also start out with a drawknife and or spokeshave.

A hand held portable jigsaw would be a help if you can borrow one.

bornold - Posted - 03/04/2014:  13:39:59

I do have a jig saw, but its not very good.

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 03/04/2014:  14:18:22

I'm fairly certain that you can purchase kits over the internet that include all the parts already cut to size, with holes and such already in place. You then just piece it together, sand, and finish, plus do the strings and bridge, plus add the head (which would come with the kit). I don't recall where I've seen the kits, but I know I've seen them somewhere. You might want to do it all yourself, but I just wanted to mention other alternatives if you're so inclined. Good luck. I've never been good with my hands in terms of making things, but I've always envied those who could.

Steve Jeter - Posted - 03/04/2014:  14:30:01

a surform will do wonders on the neck, you will have to rasp it smoother afterwards ,,,, I wouldn't go for a kit,,, they are not that hard to make

Dan Drabek - Posted - 03/04/2014:  16:32:33

The first thing you need is a good set of plans and instructions. You can't do any better than the ones offered by Rudy, who is one of our BHO members:

bluestemstrings.com/pageFPMB1.html

DD

JRushing - Posted - 03/04/2014:  16:49:20

The second thing you need to do is come on down to Eupora,
Mississippi and I'll show you everything you need to know first hand. Your more than welcome anytime.

bornold - Posted - 03/04/2014:  17:53:18

quote:

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Originally posted by JRushing

The second thing you need to do is come on down to Eupora,

Mississippi and I'll show you everything you need to know first hand. Your more than welcome anytime.

---

Thanks for the offer, but that pretty far!

JRushing - Posted - 03/04/2014:  18:50:09

Sorry friend but if you aren't willing to drive a couple hours to learn the art of banjo building first hand from someone that does it for a living then maybe you should go ahead call it quits altogether. Maybe take up whittlen'

When I was first learning to build instruments if i had an invite like this from any craftsman in a 10 hour radius I would have been camped out behind there shop.

You can learn off the Internet but its a bit like eating fish with alot of bones. You have to do alot of picking through the bad stuff to actually get a few good parts.

Dan Drabek - Posted - 03/04/2014:  18:58:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by JRushing

Sorry friend but if you aren't willing to drive a couple hours to learn the art of banjo building first hand from someone that does it for a living then maybe you should go ahead call it quits altogether. Maybe take up whittlen'



When I was first learning to build instruments if i had an invite like this from any craftsman in a 10 hour radius I would have been camped out behind there shop.



You can learn off the Internet but its a bit like eating fish with alot of bones. You have to do alot of picking through the bad stuff to actually get a few good parts.

 

---

Before you get too worked up, you might want to find out if he's old enough to drive.

DD

bornold - Posted - 03/04/2014:  19:53:20

Yes, I'm only 15, and I have yet to obtain a permit. But I'd walk there if I could ;)

d13design - Posted - 03/05/2014:  01:23:42

I went for the "minimum investment in tools but maximum time and effort" approach and got there in the end - but my god it was hard work. My toolset was a pretty basic home maintenance set but I managed to get by with:

• Electric jigsaw (a bandsaw would have been a godsend but more than I could afford or have room for)


• A couple of different hand saws, including one thin enough for fretting


• A handheld router, that also fixed to a workbench


• A hand drill (again, a drill press would have been much more accurate - I might go for one of those cheap contraptions that you fit your hand drill into next time)


• An electric hand sander


• A bunch of rasps and files (I went for cheap ones from eBay so I got through a few sets)


• A cheap plane and chisel, although I didn't end up using these too much


• A mitre saw for the blocks for the rim

And then a screwdriver, adjustable wrench, rubber mallet, etc for putting it all together. A decent straight edge with measurements and a simple maths class style protractor helped as well. As I said, it wasn't a huge investment in terms of money but it took a fair few hours, spread across evenings and weekends for almost 12 months) to get there, especially shaping the rim by hand with rasps!

Pretty pleased with the results - I'm actually glad I spent the extra time on things now as the sense of satisfaction is great.

I'd also echo Dan's comment about the plans, I couldn't have got anywhere near this without the information on Rudy's Bluestem Strings website. Ken LeVans articles are also fantastic (banjohangout.org/archive/251301) - a little ambitious for those just starting out but full of tips, tricks and inspiration that I found useful.

Hope this helps.

Dave.

First build FINISHED!

Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 03/05/2014:  05:25:40

I used to round all of my necks with a sharp knife.  I still do it that way on fiddles and mandolins, now I use the stationary belt sander to rough out banjo necks.  A god knife can be used both to carve away wood and to scrape wood smooth if you hold the blade perpendicular to the wood surface and push or pull it along parallel with the grain.  That is still how I even up my necks and smooth out any bumps left from the belt sander.  This does not work as well with a utility or X-acto knife, a real knife with a stiff back is miles better if you keep it sharp.  

Zach

bornold - Posted - 03/05/2014:  06:40:20

Thanks everybody!

JRushing - Posted - 03/05/2014:  08:41:23

I was just giving you a hardtime man. You can contact through my email BackwoodsBanjos@gmail.com and ill help you if I can.

I do some workshops in New Albany around May for the past few years. That's quite a bit closer to you. You should come check it out. I usually bring several of my own and other builders banjos. Including a nice old mountain banjo.

I thought I got my license at 15, and the permit at 14. Dang I'm getting old.

Good luck