Forum Activity for @jack-m

Jack M
@jack-m
09/07/25 04:03:05PM
4 posts

Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks Ken !   I'm about 3 hours north of Williamsport but wouldn't know where to look.  Could be an interesting trip.   I'm going to try locally first but finding vertical grain will be interesting.  I'll keep a drive to PA in mind if all else fails.

Ken Longfield:

I'm lucky here in central PA where there are many saw mills. Sometimes you can find short pieces that won't sell to well because they are only 3 or 4 feet long. You can get them for a really good price. Gotta love those Amish saw mills.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

 
Jack M
@jack-m
09/07/25 03:12:04PM
4 posts

Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

John, I knew about CBGitty but not about Ocooch so will check them out.   THANKS !

You could try looking up Ocooch Hardwoods for thin, very good quality wood.  They cater to laser engravers and scroll-sawers, but will cut to the sizes you want also.

Jack M
@jack-m
09/07/25 12:38:09PM
4 posts

Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks Shopdad, My poor Dad was a master electrician and dabbled in woodworking.  I'm a retired machinist/modelmaker.  My first dulcimer build will have a ukulele type head with cheapo machine tuners.   I plan on a fretboard that stops just beyond the frets with a separate bridge/saddle that rests on the top.  Wood seems expensive and hard to find in long lengths.   Next week I'll be looking locally for walnut, butternut, and cherry with vertical grain which will be a challenge.  I have Kimball's book and am looking at stuff online.      Shop is left over from a small business.  Have a couple of benches in the basement along with mill, engine lathe, laser, printer, home made CNC router as well as too many hand tools. Band saw, tablesaw, and home made thickness sander are in the garage.  I have a "go-deck" made for ukuleles that I will try to convert for dulcimers.  Been through tough times physically so going will be slow due to only standing for short time and then have to rest.  Brain says go and body says NO! LOL.

Jack M
@jack-m
09/07/25 11:55:10AM
4 posts

Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for letting me in the door.   I first learned of the dulcimer in the 1970s via Foxfire books.   I'm not really musically inclined but do enjoy listening and want to try dabbling both in building and playing.   So far, I've been spending time on YouTube and reading.  Now gathering some materials.  I'm equally comfortable in working wood and metal so dulcimers look straightforward to build.  This is a beginning for me.  Located in upstate NY a short walk from Lake Ontario and retired with my wife.