Brice Alms - Posted - 05/01/2017:  13:14:57

I have seen minstrel banjos with drawings on em, what do I use to draw something on my goat skin banjo head, and how can I erase it.

jwold - Posted - 05/01/2017:  13:54:18

They've been writing on parchment for thousands of years. Pencil is eraseable, it might start peeling a bit so go easy on the rubbing. Otherwise you should be fine with just about any writing utensil.

Muskrat - Posted - 05/01/2017:  16:50:29

The best ones are painted on, but I don't know what kind of paint. Maybe, enamel?

Also, I've never seen banjo-head design on a goat skin. It's usually calf skin. The color is more consistent.

Edited by - Muskrat on 05/01/2017 16:53:37

Brice Alms - Posted - 05/01/2017:  17:26:31

quote:

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Originally posted by Muskrat

 

The best ones are painted on, but I don't know what kind of paint. Maybe, enamel?

Also, I've never seen banjo-head design on a goat skin. It's usually calf skin. The color is more consistent.

 

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 It actually may be calf skin on it, I'm not 100% sure.

banjonz - Posted - 05/01/2017:  20:18:08

Sharpies will work. Come in a great range of colours. Mind you, they are permanent!

jeffnles1 - Posted - 05/02/2017:  03:55:45

Sharpies tend to bleed around the edges over time.

banjonz - Posted - 05/02/2017:  12:49:01

quote:

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Originally posted by jeffnles1

 

Sharpies tend to bleed around the edges over time.

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Didn't know that!

Brian T - Posted - 05/02/2017:  17:09:53

Pencils, graphite, would be OK but they smudge and smear unless sprayed with a matte fixative.

The sort used over chalk,Conte' and pastels.  That means also that it isn't coming off.

I expect that you can use artist's acrylic paints and a good brush or two.  You get what you pay for. 

Good brushes actually perform, cheap brushes don't lay the paint on as you might hope.

Polymerized acrylics can be washed off with acetone, that 's what I use in a clogged airbrush.

BUT I have no idea what that would do to a calfskin head.

Mooooo - Posted - 05/02/2017:  18:32:54

quote:

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Originally posted by Brice Alms

 

I have seen minstrel banjos with drawings on em, what do I use to draw something on my goat skin banjo head, and how can I erase it.

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do a mock-up with vellum or clear plastic and tape it on your head underneath the bridge to see what it looks like, then you won't have to erase it.

Edited by - Mooooo on 05/02/2017 18:35:47

Meles_Meles - Posted - 05/02/2017:  20:01:20

For a skin head, perhaps one could try a tattoo? :-)

Edited by - Meles_Meles on 05/02/2017 20:02:16

BDCA - Posted - 05/03/2017:  11:28:23

Do your design on a piece of paper, then either scan, reverse the image and and print with a laser printer or copier.

Cut the excess off the drawing and tape it to the head along all the edges using a good quality blue masking tape. Saturate the paper with acetone and carefully rub the design into the head with a spoon or burnishing tool. Th remove and you will have a perfect copy on the head.

Bob

Uncle Freddy - Posted - 05/08/2017:  19:46:09

Artist's acrylics do work well. I've used them not thinned at all; I imagine if they're too thin they might bleed a bit. Using a lot of paint will add weight and damping to the head, which may change the tone, which could be good or bad, depending.....
Keeping the paint close to the rim will minimize tonal effect. One thing about paint is it will sit on top of the skin (unless you use really wet paint, or paint when skin is wet; I wouldn't recommend either, unless you want the bleeding effect), and can be worn off with playing. I play clawhammer, and tend to whap the head with my thumb in one place; the paint there is quickly showing signs of being worn away. But I like the way that looks...

I've also use iron-on t-shirt transfer paper. Fun stuff- you can print any image, text, etcetera from your computer onto it (with a regular inkjet printer), then transfer the image to your banjo head with an iron. It does add weight to your head, which may not be right for your instrument, but the possibilities are endless!

Fred

Brian T - Posted - 05/08/2017:  22:25:47

Don't thin artists acrylic paints with water.  Thin them with artists acrylic paint medium.

This is nowhere more important than with the consistency needed for airbrush.

Water is for cleaning up.

Muskrat - Posted - 05/15/2017:  12:21:53

quote:

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Originally posted by BDCA

Do your design on a piece of paper, then either scan, reverse the image and and print with a laser printer or copier.

Cut the excess off the drawing and tape it to the head along all the edges using a good quality blue masking tape. Saturate the paper with acetone and carefully rub the design into the head with a spoon or burnishing tool. Then remove and you will have a perfect copy on the head.   

-Bob

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Wow, this is great Bob. It sounds like you've actually done this. Have you?