gottasmilealot - Posted - 08/16/2015:  16:07:09

I'm installing a new skin head on an existing flesh hoop. This particular banjo had the flesh hoop wrapped with 3/8 inch white cloth or tape before the old head was put on back in the early 1900s. Others I have done do not have this wrap. Is the purpose for the wrap to prevent the hoop from rusting through to the skin?

Edited by - gottasmilealot on 08/17/2015 05:48:29

jbalch - Posted - 08/16/2015:  16:42:53

I've seen a few old steel flesh hoops that were cloth wrapped.  I think you are right - it was probably done to prevent rust stains on the hide.

purevl - Posted - 08/16/2015:  16:57:08

I recently replaced the skin on an old Buckbee. There wasn't enough room for a square brass hoop, so after sanding the copious amounts of rust off the original I spray painted it white. Hopefully it helps prevent it from rusting and staining again. So far, so good.

jbalch - Posted - 08/16/2015:  17:22:53

Tyler, I use 1/8" round brass rod to make hoops for old banjos like that.  It works great and sometimes fits better than the square stock.

rcmoore - Posted - 08/16/2015:  18:17:55

I've seen old hoops wrapped that way, and I too thought that it was to prevent rust from showing.  But there may be another reason.  I once had some skin heads that just would not stay in the round hoops.  I remembered seeing those wrapped hoops.  I thinned some Titebond with water, wet some thin cloth strips with it, wrapped the hoop and let it dry.  Never had another problem with those skins slipping from under the hoop.

Bob Moore

rudy - Posted - 08/16/2015:  18:31:27

quote:

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Originally posted by purevl



I recently replaced the skin on an old Buckbee. There wasn't enough room for a square brass hoop, so after sanding the copious amounts of rust off the original I spray painted it white. Hopefully it helps prevent it from rusting and staining again. So far, so good.

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Not even 1/8" square brass?

As to the wrap, I can definately understand how the the wrap may have been done to intentionally introduce a surface that would resist the head slipping around the flesh hoop.  It seems to me that 1/8" square brass would work really well,though.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 08/17/2015:  07:40:41

Just another "wrapped FH" sighting. The last banjeaurine I bought had its hoop wrapped...and I've seen a few others in the past. I didn't re-wrap it, simply cleaned it up and re-used it.

I have never experienced "slippage" at all with any sort of FH. I prefer 1/8 round wire, brass, coathanger, copper (8ga)...they all work fine. Most of my Stewarts have had 1/8" iron wire...very soft. I think if you wanted to eliminate rust, aluminum wire would work fine.

Bart Veerman - Posted - 08/17/2015:  09:03:34

Wrapping makes for a nice filler if there's too much space between the flesh hoop and the rim especially when the rim is out of round.