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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/295226
Jim D - Posted - 11/29/2014: 12:41:25
I've got a little circa 1960 Vega that I want to return to it's "hide head" state. When I took the torn Rogers off it some years ago, I put aside the flesh hoop. I prowled around in my shop and believe I've found it, but....
The Vega rim is definitely 10 7/8" o.d. The flesh hoop that I found has an 11 1/16" i.d.
Now I know that you have to allow room for 2 thicknesses of the head on each side, so some clearance is needed. Does that 3/16" difference sound like the right amount, or have I found the wrong flesh hoop?
Jim
jbalch - Posted - 11/29/2014: 13:08:01
Jim:
The flesh hoop should match and fit underneath the tension hoop on your banjo. I'd recommend comparing the flesh hoop you found to the tension hoop. Ideally it should line up with the inside diameter of the tension hoop.
Lyndon Smith - Posted - 11/30/2014: 03:19:27
The only unsuccessful calfskin head fitting I've ever done was because the flesh ring was too big. That is, the ends of the flesh hoop touched and held the calfskin off the rim. I filed the ends down a bit so that there was about 1/16" gap between the ends which allowed the calfskin to be in contact with the rim. That solved the problem.
Another little trick is to use some of the heat-shrink electrical wire covering to hold the ends of the flesh ring together. It works a treat...
existential_banjo - Posted - 11/30/2014: 16:23:08
The 3/16th inch should be ok. The thickness of the replacement hide might affect how well the flesh hoop fits. If it seems too large, you can trim it shorter while the hide is still wet: Unmount the hide, peel back the wet hide (which is still flexible) and trim the hoop. If it seems too small, you options can become desparate. Either just use it as is, or you will have to fashion a new flesh hoop.
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