Brief Explanation
Author: adam.rivera
Ξ February 26th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Uncategorized |
Building a Bodhran:
Thanks to Michael Vignoles who actually donated some tuning hardware to me. Please visit irelandwoodcrafts.com! I also purchased a set of Uilleann Pipes from him, which sound absolutely wonderful. Thanks again Michael!
Get a shell w/ a tuning ring (wittpercussion.com), tuning hardware (irelandwoodcrafts.com), a skin (Village Bazzaar or other various places), 18 6x sized brass screws 1/4″ long, screwdriver, tack hammer, tacks (Jo-ann Fabrics), nylon strap 2″ wide (Jo-ann Fabrics), wood stain, string and a meter stick.
Take the tuning ring and wrap a piece of string around its outer edge. Then cut the string to the length of that circumference. This will be used to evenly place the tuning hardware. Measure the total length of the string you just cut and divide that number by 5 (because I used 6 tuning pegs). Then use a Sharpie to make a mark at every interval you just did the math to get. Then wrap the string back around the tuning ring and use a pencil to make marks on the wood where the marks on the string land on the tuning ring. Where the ends of the string meet gets marked also.
Once the tuning ring is marked evenly in 6 places, place the shell upside down on a table and place the tuning ring upside down inside of it so that you can see the marks you made on the tuning ring as you look down on the shell. Use the tuning ring marks to reference the marks you make on the inside of the shell so that you have pencil marks that line up with the ones on the tuning ring. Then take the pencil and trace around the inner edge of the shell flush with where the tuning ring sits so that when the tuning ring is removed you can see where it sits when both are flat on the table.
Mount the tuning hardware using these marks and measurements you just made. I mounted the tuning ring half out/half in by referencing the line I traced on the inner edge of the shell. I did that so if I accidentally mounted the skin to tight or too loose I would be able to tune up or down if needed.
Now that the tuning hardware is mounted, stain the wood to protect it and make it look nice. After that is fully dried take your skin and soak it for a couple minutes in hot water. After is it soaked and stretched out (happens naturally in water), put it over the top of the shell with the tuning ring in place. This next part is almost impossible to describe with words but I will try my best…
Once the skin in centered on the top of the drum take one of the loose hanging edges and hold it against the outer edge of the shell. Then take the nylon strap and put it on top of the skin (which is on top of the outer edge of the shell). Tack it down with one tack centered in the nylon strap. Continue to move around the edge tacking along the way about 2″ between each tack all of which should be centered in the strap. The skin should end up mounted just tight enough (when wet) so that it doesnt flop around with any wrinkles or anything like that in the center of the drum head. After it is mounted go back around and tack more tacks on the top edge and bottom edge of the nylon strap. Look at the pictures I posted to get an idea of what the tack pattern should look like. You dont have to tack it in that particular pattern as long as it is kept in place well.
Then take a scissors and cut the excess skin off up to the bottom edge of the nylon strap. Wait for the skin to dry. Once it is dry use electrical tape around the outer edge of the drum head working inward an inch or two. This helps get rid of annoying overtones.
Presto! You have a new drum.
