Posted by rot-n-dobe on Monday, March 15, 2010
well i am still waiting to get the tension hoop back for the "gold banjo". i have a friend brazing it, i had to cut it down to fit this pot. then i will send it out to have it gold plated. in the mean time, i have decided to try an ebony banjo. if it turns out well it will probably be my last.
i bought two ebony boards off ebay. one i ripped down to 1 5/8" the cut those down to 6.5" on the long side with a 60 degree angle. i made twelve of these. as you can see in the photo i have one glued up and another set waiting to be glued. you may also notice that i used dan knowles clamping method, hose clamps. (thanks dan) these blocks are 1" thick so i will only need two for the main body of the pot. i do however plan to use a thin maple stripe and then an ebony cap.i used recorcinol glue for this because it is dark and will blend well with the ebony and they use it in making micro-lam beams due to its strength. i will use this on all the permanent parts.
while waiting for this to set i started working on the neck. this was an ebony 2X4. i ripped this down the center and then trimed about 1/16" off of one side for the center stripe. i then cut a 2" strip of curly maple and split that down to about 3/16" 2 of these, then glued these all together for the neck blank.
today i glued up the other pot ring, then went to the garage to do some work on the neck. i trimed off the remaning wax coating and squared it up to a 2X2, cut the top of the peg head angle and used the scrap to make "ears" to widen the peg head to accomodate my peg head design. if you have read any of my other blogs or checked my photos, then youve seen this design. it is a cross between a paramount and an orpheum. i really quite like the old style designs but at the same time wanted something origional, so this is what i came up with .
so, now i am at a stand still. waiting for the gold tension hoop and waiting for glue to set. this is where i spen my time in front of the TV but not really watching. i am problem solving! the wife says she can hear the wheels grinding and its annoying! i do not have a lathe so im figuring a way to round this pot once it is all together. i do have a band saw so the outside will be fairly easy. i have a router, so im thinking of building a table and some jigs. also, i know a guy a couple towns away that has a spindle sander. im sure i would allow me to use that again.
i am planning this as i go, so dont really know what i'll end up with. at the moment im thinking a tunnelled 5th and some kind of hillbilly inlay with related carvings. that could change as i progress but im really kind of liking that idea.
i bought a mastertone style tone ring and a notched tension hoop that i will be using on this banjo but i like open backs so there will be no attempt at a resonator.
i am sure this wont compare to dan knowles banjo's but im am making this for myself and considering i do alot of the work at the dining room table i think it will be ok. it got up to 50 degrees today so soon i will be able to spend more time out in the garage, this will make the wife a whole lot happier. will post more as i progress.
thanks for looking,
steve
5 comments on “at a stand still”
Jane C Says:
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @12:33:08 PM
Well most of that blog was way over my head, but fascinating nevertheless. Why will it be the last you will make? You seem to enjoy it.
Jane C Says:
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @12:33:11 PM
Well most of that blog was way over my head, but fascinating nevertheless. Why will it be the last you will make? You seem to enjoy it.
Grumps Says:
Friday, March 19, 2010 @2:06:25 AM
Would you repeat that please Jane?
rot-n-dobe Says:
Friday, March 19, 2010 @5:32:20 AM
jane, i do enjoy it but 1) when this banjo is finished i will have 5 keepers and a practice banjo that i will also keep. 2) an ebony banjo is suppose to be something really special and so is a tunneled fifth, this one will be both. also i am actually making the pot on this one, something i have not done before. dont know what else i would shoot for. 3) i really want to learn to play and building takes all my time. i dont build to sell, just for myself, it is not in the end product but rather in the doing. now ive done it, several times.
Jane C Says:
Friday, March 19, 2010 @11:41:13 AM
Fair enough Steve, I look forward to hearing you play it. Grumps it was a slip of the finger
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