Tackhead 1

[Anthony G Spangler]

Well, I have gone and done it now!  Up to this point I had a nice safe woodworking project, nothing to get too bothered about, but today I went out and tacked my first goat skin on the rim, using the excellent directions I found here on the forum.  OK, I took one shortcut, I was too impatient to get started to go out and buy the box set of "The Waltons".  ;)  I also had one oddly off center tack (see below).  Now, I'm fully capable of drilling that far off center, but in this case the tack dug in part of the way and then folded over.  I was a little surprised by that, but I'm pretty good at folding nails, too, so not too surprised.  Having never cut wet goat skin before, I have some rough lines, but I imagine I can find a way to clean those up.  What did surprise me was the very drum like sound the whole thing made every time I cut through the edge of the skin and it popped free!  It positively rings!

The whole operation went much smoother than I was expecting, and much less time than it takes to say all those Walton's Mountain good nights, the edge of the skin stopped wrinkling and moving around and set up hard and smooth.  The rim is down in the Underground Lair now to dry over night.

Thanks for looking!

Tony

[Bell Banjos]

Just pop it off and put a new tack in, it'll probably cover the old hole.

[Anthony G Spangler]

I was hoping I might be able to do that.  Thanks!

Bell Banjos said:

Just pop it off and put a new tack in, it'll probably cover the old hole.

[Strumelia]

Oooh that looks wonderful!   I love the colors and lines on that skin.  Very nice smoooth edges.

[Anthony G Spangler]

Thank you!

I had read of others staining skins with coffee to enhance the look of the skin, but after seeing it dried this morning I don't think I want to do anything other than the mink oil treatment!  :D

Strumelia said:

Oooh that looks wonderful!   I love the colors and lines on that skin.  Very nice smoooth edges.

[Steve Jeter]

looks great!   much much straighter than my tacks did the first few times,,, now I pre measure,

the skin looks good too,   I use instant coffee cause the skins I get a re just too white. your looks good,

[Anthony G Spangler]

Thanks, Steve!  Do you apply the coffee after installing, or soak the whole skin?  I think I'd still like to see what it does, on my leftovers, anyway.

[Anthony G Spangler]

Say, here's another question.  I've just about got a tailpiece whittled out, and it will be secured to the dowel with a loop of cord, most likely.  It's a little hard for me to tell from the photos I've seen, but sometimes the tailpiece seems to be suspended over the edge of the rim and sometimes it seems to be resting on the rim.  If it rests on the rim, will that hurt the edge of the goat skin?  Probably a silly question, but better asked now than later.

Thanks,

Tony