Shelf Liner Left Marks

Hi Folkfan: I may try a possum board at some point - I have a small lap so keeping my dulcimer from tipping when I play near the "ends" has been an issue in addition to the slipping, (I had tipping problems even with the shelf liner), so a strap is probably my best solution.

folkfan said:

Hi Strumela, I never left the shelf liner on my dulcimer after playing - I don't know why it would stick to the dulcimer back, maybe the heat from my lap or the type of finish? I decided to start using a strap so I made one last evening (now I just have to install strap buttons when they arrive.)

Strumelia said:

Folkfan, maybe if we make skirts out of shelf liner... lol!

My possum board has shelf liner glued to the back of it. The lifts that hold the dulcimer up off the board are shaped like shallow L's and the part that touches the dulcimer back are felt lined. No scratches, no slides, no sticking to the board. And I can angle my legs comfortably. Plus in case of extreme need, one of my possum boards has strap buttons. How's that for covering all bases.

I second that Jan! Dusty, that's funny. I'll have to remember that one

I too have had the marks on the back of my dulcimer. I clean it up and then used Johnson Paste Wax. I know some of the old dulcimers had feet on them for playing on a table. I'm just wondering if that will make a come back and the use of a possum board to solve the sliding problems. As Frank said you would need to keep the possum board from sliding. I should use a strap because I do have the buttons. Now that warmer weather is here bare skin seems to keep my dulcimer from sliding around.

Dusty, thank you for the best chuckle I've had all day. So far.

If I were a dulcimer, I would say, "Strap me down and tickle my strings!"

Seriously, I had so much trouble getting my dulcimer to stay in one place until I installed a strap. I know it's not for everyone, but with a strap you don't have to worry about sitting at the exact same height to create a flat lap or anything like that. You can adjust the dulcimer anyway you like it, even tilting it up ever so slightly to allow the back to vibrate more (thus obviating the need for a false back or possum board). And tilting the dulcimer also solved the tennis elbow (strummer's elbow?) I was developing early on.

By the way, how do you make a possum bored? Just read him War and Peace !

The shelf liner stuff only damages the finish of instruments if you leave it attached or stuck on the instrument or store it in your case with the instrument or lean the instrument on the shelf liner on a stand. It's never a problem if you only lay it on your lap while playing. Always store the shelf liner separately from the instrument.

I second trying DR. Duck Ax Wax. To keep the dulcimer from sliding you could use a possum board (a board that lifts the dulcimer off your lap and gives a increase in volume) and put the shelf liner on the possum board.

Other options include putting something under your left foot (or both feet) to keep your lap level (there are lots of suggestions on this site, everything from Thistledew Acres folding footrest to footrests made from recycled plastic bags full of bags. My dulcimer doesn't slide off my lap because it's usually pushed up against the knee brace velcroed onto my left leg. I would think that any strip of material velcroed above your knee would accomplish the same thing...if you need something for the dulcimer to "push against" as you play, just fold over the top edge of the material like a cuff and your "dulcimer dam" will now be twice as high. Something adjustable like a belt or short strap might also work. you could put the strap/belt through a tube of material that would be soft and not harm your instrument and you could have different colors of tubes for whatever you were wearing. I'm thinking about something like a tube made from an old pair of jeans or a hand towel, etc. Be creative! I have never used either a strap or the shelf liner squares and haven't found them necessary so far. There may, however, be something out there that works like the shelf liner but doesn't affect the finish on your instrument...I'll let others address that. And, by the way , folks may have better luck with removing the marks with a product like Dr. Duck's Ax Wax which is good for cleaning and lubricating instruments and can be purchased online from music supply stores.

Thanks for the advice Joe. I was wondering if there was something I could use to seal the finish. I may end up adding a strap button since I will not use any rubber/plastic material again.

if your satisfied with how the back looks now...apply a little paste wax perhaps. strap buttons are very easy to

install. I prefer one at the tail piecewith a rawhide loop that slips over the scroll.

kiwi clear paste wax shoe polish is a really high quality product. I wouldn't leave home without it

I have been using 2 squares of rubber shelf liner (the textured kind you can get in a roll and cut to fit) one on each thigh to keep my dulcimer from sliding on my lap. It had a tendency to stick to the back of my dulcimer but I never thought much about it. My dulcimer has a very light satin finish with a slight sheen. This evening after playing I took a close look and noticed that the rubber liner left a pattern of little square dull spots all across the back. I am fanatical about my dulcimer so I immediately panicked. My first thought was lemon oil -- I rubbed the area with a soft cloth dipped in the oil but it did not have an effect on the dull spots. As a last resort I rubbed the areas with a magic erase sponge dipped in oil. After quite a bit of careful, gentle rubbing the spots seem to be gone. I am hoping the liner did not remove some of the finish and will take a close look again in the daylight.

I really liked the way the shelf liner kept the dulcimer from moving but I definitely do not want ro ruin the finish so I will no longer use it. I previously tried a peice lf leather chamois but it did not work. I know many use a strap - I may give it a try if I cannot find a suitable material but I would have to get buttons added.

Looks like

I will be searching around for some kind of safe non-slip material to use in place of shelf liner --any ideas would be greatly appreciated.