Making first banjo. - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-29T08:04:47Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/making-first-banjo?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A74794&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Everyone,
So I decided to…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-15:2477478:Comment:751772012-10-15T18:04:41.247ZJason Stamperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JasonStamper
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>So I decided to make a new rim for my banjo. This one is a LOT thinner at about 5/16th of on inch. It is also more consistent in wall thickness and more round than the first (still not perfect though, and that's ok). I have also started working on the neck and the neck to rim connection. I put a picture on here, but I am going to try and get the fit a little better (any suggestions, I am currently using a piece of sandpaper wrapped over the rim). I think my next step…</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>So I decided to make a new rim for my banjo. This one is a LOT thinner at about 5/16th of on inch. It is also more consistent in wall thickness and more round than the first (still not perfect though, and that's ok). I have also started working on the neck and the neck to rim connection. I put a picture on here, but I am going to try and get the fit a little better (any suggestions, I am currently using a piece of sandpaper wrapped over the rim). I think my next step will be to cut the back of the neck down close to size, cut the headstock, and then the ogee on the neck. I was planning on installing the perch pole and fitting it to the rim before I did the rounding on the neck. What do you all think?</p> Hi Everyone,
So I decided to…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-15:2477478:Comment:750912012-10-15T18:01:29.531ZJason Stamperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JasonStamper
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>So I decided to make a new rim for my banjo. This one is a LOT thinner at about 5/16th of on inch. It is also more consistent in wall thickness and more round than the first (still not perfect though, and that's ok). I have also started working on the neck and the neck to rim connection. I put a picture on here, but I am going to try and get the fit a little better. I think my next step will be to cut the back of the neck down close to size, cut the headstock, and…</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>So I decided to make a new rim for my banjo. This one is a LOT thinner at about 5/16th of on inch. It is also more consistent in wall thickness and more round than the first (still not perfect though, and that's ok). I have also started working on the neck and the neck to rim connection. I put a picture on here, but I am going to try and get the fit a little better. I think my next step will be to cut the back of the neck down close to size, cut the headstock, and then the ogee on the neck. I was planning on installing the perch pole and fitting it to the rim before I did the rounding on the neck. What do you all think?</p> Hi Jason,
I htink your curren…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-08:2477478:Comment:748012012-10-08T16:05:14.976ZMatthew Mickletzhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/MatthewMickletz
<p>Hi Jason,</p>
<p>I htink your current rim looks great! I can be a perfectionist too, so one of my first e-mails to Terry after getting started on my tackhead kit from him was about the rim not be perfectly round. Bugged the junk out of me at first, but now I can't picture it without it and can't say I even notice it much anyhow! Like Terry said, it gives it character<br></br><br></br>Your rim is certainly hefty, almost bucket banjo-esque sans the back. I'd stick it out and see what happens. You…</p>
<p>Hi Jason,</p>
<p>I htink your current rim looks great! I can be a perfectionist too, so one of my first e-mails to Terry after getting started on my tackhead kit from him was about the rim not be perfectly round. Bugged the junk out of me at first, but now I can't picture it without it and can't say I even notice it much anyhow! Like Terry said, it gives it character<br/><br/>Your rim is certainly hefty, almost bucket banjo-esque sans the back. I'd stick it out and see what happens. You could always make another later and switch the neck onto it if it bugs you or the sound isn't what you'd like. I guess it'd be that easy considering that the link between rim and neck is fit with a peg on the interior of the rim, typically.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, my two cents only after putting together a kit, not doing one from scratch! :) Best of luck! </p> Ok, here is my current rim. …tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-08:2477478:Comment:749832012-10-08T15:51:25.851ZJason Stamperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JasonStamper
<p>Ok, here is my current rim. I figured out that I had 2 issues. First I did not make the scarf joint long enough so it made a bit of a flat spot inside the rim. Second, my piece I was wrapping ended right on top of the scarf joint. I thought it would be enough, but once it was shaped to match the curve of the rim I got a little flat spot on the outside too. My plan was to put the joint at the tail and use the more uniform opposite side for the neck joint. I did a slight round on the…</p>
<p>Ok, here is my current rim. I figured out that I had 2 issues. First I did not make the scarf joint long enough so it made a bit of a flat spot inside the rim. Second, my piece I was wrapping ended right on top of the scarf joint. I thought it would be enough, but once it was shaped to match the curve of the rim I got a little flat spot on the outside too. My plan was to put the joint at the tail and use the more uniform opposite side for the neck joint. I did a slight round on the outside edges only, kept all inside edges square. Will the flat spots cause any issues?</p>
<p>I may end up making a new rim anyway... I am a perfectionist. Though I should probably just go with this one and get to playing.</p> A 1/4" thick rim is GREAT for…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-08:2477478:Comment:747942012-10-08T04:12:20.545ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>A 1/4" thick rim is GREAT for a tackhead. I don't think there are too many "perfect" minstrel banjos. That's about 80% of the visual charm, to me. I started out making rims like yours and I had to try many things to make them round. So keep working at it. A steam setup is about a hundred bucks and a LOT of monkeying around to understand this crazy 'art' of bending wood.</p>
<p>A 1/4" thick rim is GREAT for a tackhead. I don't think there are too many "perfect" minstrel banjos. That's about 80% of the visual charm, to me. I started out making rims like yours and I had to try many things to make them round. So keep working at it. A steam setup is about a hundred bucks and a LOT of monkeying around to understand this crazy 'art' of bending wood.</p> Terry, I am still trying to d…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-08:2477478:Comment:748862012-10-08T03:16:19.412ZJason Stamperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JasonStamper
Terry, I am still trying to decide if I am going to be satisfied with my rim. It is mostly round on the top and only out of round on a few spots inside on the back edge. This will be a tack head banjo, so how important is it to be perfectly round, is there such a thing? Are small inconsistencies in rim thickness in a few spots going to be an issue?<br />
<br />
IF I was to make a new rim, still laminated, would a heavy 1/4" be ok for a tack head? I know you said thinner is better, but i did not know if the…
Terry, I am still trying to decide if I am going to be satisfied with my rim. It is mostly round on the top and only out of round on a few spots inside on the back edge. This will be a tack head banjo, so how important is it to be perfectly round, is there such a thing? Are small inconsistencies in rim thickness in a few spots going to be an issue?<br />
<br />
IF I was to make a new rim, still laminated, would a heavy 1/4" be ok for a tack head? I know you said thinner is better, but i did not know if the heavier rim was needed for the tacks. Just trying to decide how to proceed from here, thanks! Round them a little, not much…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-07:2477478:Comment:749712012-10-07T16:46:17.847ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>Round them a little, not much. Keep the flat, wide look. But your rim's kinda thick, so it'll look nice ... but no, don't ROUND it.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jason Stamper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/making-first-banjo?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A74716&xg_source=activity#2477478Comment74757"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Awesome, thanks so much that's just what I needed to know! Is it ok to round both inside and outside edges on the…</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Round them a little, not much. Keep the flat, wide look. But your rim's kinda thick, so it'll look nice ... but no, don't ROUND it.<br/> <br/> <cite>Jason Stamper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/making-first-banjo?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A74716&xg_source=activity#2477478Comment74757"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Awesome, thanks so much that's just what I needed to know! Is it ok to round both inside and outside edges on the back of the rim? </p>
<p>I must admit that while part of my motivation is to make an instrument with my own two hands, with two young boys, a house, and car payments, part of my motivation is cost (though I'd not trade my boys for anything in this world). So you advice means more to me than you know. Thank you very much!</p>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> I don't have any tips. I have…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-07:2477478:Comment:747162012-10-07T16:38:32.187ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>I don't have any tips. I have experience and my own way of doing it. I believe I have the advantage of having an artist's eye, which really helps. It's about a 20 step process but I can fit a heel perfectly in about 5 minutes. It used to take me all day. It's just experience. And if your compound works and is not noticeable, that's pretty good. All I can say is that the more you do it, the better you get at it.</p>
<p>I don't have any tips. I have experience and my own way of doing it. I believe I have the advantage of having an artist's eye, which really helps. It's about a 20 step process but I can fit a heel perfectly in about 5 minutes. It used to take me all day. It's just experience. And if your compound works and is not noticeable, that's pretty good. All I can say is that the more you do it, the better you get at it.</p> Terry: Do you have any tips f…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-07:2477478:Comment:749682012-10-07T16:01:55.347ZJeff Kangashttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JeffKangas
<p>Terry: Do you have any tips for cutting the heel to get a perfect match with the rim? I've made 5 banjos (still learning) and have found this to be the most difficult part of the process. Last time I got so frustrated that I cheated and used an epoxy-based gun barrel bedding compound. It's not noticeable and it produced a perfect match, but it's not period-correct. Thanks!</p>
<p>Terry: Do you have any tips for cutting the heel to get a perfect match with the rim? I've made 5 banjos (still learning) and have found this to be the most difficult part of the process. Last time I got so frustrated that I cheated and used an epoxy-based gun barrel bedding compound. It's not noticeable and it produced a perfect match, but it's not period-correct. Thanks!</p> Awesome, thanks so much that'…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2012-10-04:2477478:Comment:747572012-10-04T17:14:33.944ZJason Stamperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JasonStamper
<p>Awesome, thanks so much that's just what I needed to know! Is it ok to round both inside and outside edges on the back of the rim? </p>
<p>I must admit that while part of my motivation is to make an instrument with my own two hands, with two young boys, a house, and car payments, part of my motivation is cost (though I'd not trade my boys for anything in this world). So you advice means more to me than you know. Thank you very much!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Awesome, thanks so much that's just what I needed to know! Is it ok to round both inside and outside edges on the back of the rim? </p>
<p>I must admit that while part of my motivation is to make an instrument with my own two hands, with two young boys, a house, and car payments, part of my motivation is cost (though I'd not trade my boys for anything in this world). So you advice means more to me than you know. Thank you very much!</p>
<p></p>