warx - Posted - 05/01/2026:  09:08:55

My next build I would like to try a clean hookless (screws on top) look. I was thinking about starting with a 12" OD block rim that is 3/4" thick to hold a 11" rolled brass tone ring. I am thinking about reducing 1/2" at the bottom either with a taper or just a step below where the tone ring is supported. The step would be much easier since I don't have a lathe and do the outside with a bandsaw and inside with a 2" tall router bit on a table (from both top and bottom to cover the 3" height).

Edit; this would be a goat skin with a 1/8 round flesh hoop. 

Edited by - warx on 05/01/2026 09:14:56

Rim

 

dpgetman - Posted - 05/01/2026:  13:10:16

A fellow who does this beautifully is Ryan Navey or Carolina Banjos. You should check out his work for an example.

warx - Posted - 05/01/2026:  13:48:48

I love Ryan's banjos and the primary inspiration. Also, Cedar Creek does a similar construction but in resin.

Also trying to decide if a tension hoop of 1/2x1/2 cherry is strong enough alone or if I need to add some brass or aluminum - thinking if I put enough screws in there it will be fine.

srrobertsiii - Posted - 05/01/2026:  17:28:56

Don’t know how easy they are to access now, but, some time ago, Randy Cordle (aka Rudy) detailed his bluestemstrings.com banjo builds here, and two of them were banjos with hookless pots - the artisan mtn. banjo, and the mtn banjo nouveau. (Tho so named, neither looked like a traditional mountain banjo, however. They looked more like Ryan Navey’s banjos.) He gave pretty detailed accts of their construction too. Might be worth a look, if that stuff is still available.



And did you mean Cedar Mountain (and Tim Gardner) with reference to the banjo with the hookless pot in resin?

Edited by - srrobertsiii on 05/01/2026 17:29:52

warx - Posted - 05/02/2026:  08:21:03

Thanks! I’ll try to hunt those down.

Re Cedar Mountain - yes! Sorry, crossed up “The Battle of ….” and their name.

so far I’ve got a walnut (black and claro) 12” x 3” x 7/8” pot in final glue stages. Next up is to roll some 1/2 x 1/8 brass bar and round over the edge and TIG-braze an 11” ring.

Is it OK to use metric M4 screws on a banjo? :-) My other builds already moved to 12-24 from 8-26 threads!

warx - Posted - 05/02/2026:  11:50:14

I found some plans from Rudy. Interesting. This method actually seems more like my Magic Fluke Firefly banjo with a ring that gets pushed upwards into the head.

hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...12018.pdf

martyjoe - Posted - 05/02/2026:  12:08:49

I have used M4 metric stainless bolts for over 40 banjo builds. I also use stainless M4 sleeve nuts with them.

warx - Posted - 05/18/2026:  13:31:44

Update: got my rim and tension hoop ready. I will need to thin out the rim (pot) on the bottom to lighten it. Walnut with a claro edge and the tension hoop is hard maple and Wenge cap.

Next thing is whether to a regular no-knot tailpiece and use a single shoe for the dowel bolt.

srrobertsiii - Posted - 05/18/2026:  20:36:06

Looks great, Mike! Thanks for posting the pictures. Please keep us updated.

warx - Posted - 06/05/2026:  08:54:16

All finished

RB3 - Posted - 06/05/2026:  09:59:42

warx,

It appears that you're using socket head cap screws to apply the force to the tension ring. From both an aesthetic and a functional perspective, I think that's a really good choice.

srrobertsiii - Posted - 06/05/2026:  10:14:51

That’s a beautiful banjo, Mike! Well done! (And thank you for posting the pictures.)

martyjoe - Posted - 06/05/2026:  11:02:42

Looks great. Now you’re on the road to constant improvement!!