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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/224792
poorboyslim - Posted - 01/06/2012: 12:29:39
I have built two tackhead banjos that play wonderfully in a humidity free environment. But one little biit of humidity shift, and the heads on both banjos sink to unplayable. Both heads are of calfhide. I soaked them pretty well through before tacking them on, and stretched them while soaked. I stretched them very tightly, using a complicated system of clamping the heck out of them with those awesome blue hand clamps, tacking them down, then trimming the excess. Did I get them too wet? Using the wrong rawhide? Is there some tissue layer on the rawhide that should have been scraped off during the process?
I am building another tack head, and thought I would ask for advice this time (third time's a charm). Anybody out there know anything about which kinds of rawhide, or how wet to get it when stretching, or ANYTHING helpful?
thanks in advance
Poorboy
jbalch - Posted - 01/06/2012: 12:38:48
I am linking this to the Hide Heads group. Maybe someone there will reply. Good luck with it!
banjohangout.org/group/hideheads
Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 01/06/2012: 13:01:47
I find that waterproofing the hide does tremendous things for stability. You didn't if you did that or not. I use rain and Stain spray leather show waterproofer (from Rack Room Shoes). Couldn't be happier with the result.
Fathand - Posted - 01/06/2012: 14:35:40
I don't know about rawhide, I just use calfskin banjo heads for $9 -$15. If it gets damp and loose you can switch to a taller bridge or take a hair dryer to it for a few minutes.
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