Folkcraft comes through!

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

Just got the bottom to glue on yet. Don't anticipate any problem with that. I don't like top sound holes as they're too large, but Folkcraft has some Celtic rosettes that might work to cover the large holes. We'll see I guess. Live n' learn. 109.gif

phil
@phil
9 years ago
129 posts

Slow down Brian, you will get there. I think we all mess up on that first build, we get excited and rush things. but then it could just be meGrin.gif

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

Oops! My bad. The instructions DID say something about not putting a nail in the strum channel. I Need to pay better attention to things. Stay tuned for further developments. ( The top has been glued to the sides, and weighted down with several books. 2 hour minimum drying time. )

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

I'm getting quite frustrated with this project. At first I was going to make the sound holes in the upper bout the size of a nickle, but then decided to go to the maximum quarter size. Bad idea. I drilled the hole out (badly) with a series of small holes, and wound up having to sand it quite a bit to make it more round. The holes are now too big! I decided to can the idea for a fish shaped lower sound hole, and just drilled a larger hole, and two smaller ones in line.

Next I set up to assemble the top, with the nails provided. The instructions said to use a small drill hole to make putting the nails in easier. That didn't work very well. Also, I drilled a hole all the way through the strum channel. The instructions didn't warn me about this.

It will get done eventually, but probably won't be as nice as anticipated. So much for living room construction.

Patty from Virginia
Patty from Virginia
@patty-from-virginia
9 years ago
230 posts

Brian, it's okay. You're doing fine. I made a couple of boo boos when putting together my cardboard dulcimer. The biggest boo boo (poor decision) was using decoupage to affix the hummingbird cutouts. It became a sloppy mess and made the paint finish not look as shiny. If I ever make another one I am not going to decoupage cutouts. I would rather just have the paint. Although some have told me the color scheme looks too much like a certain canned meat productTongue.gif It's supposed to be WV colorsGrin.gif Hang in there. Post pictures when you canSmile.gif

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

I messed up big this morning starting out.35.gif Step 1: gluing the heel cap to the tail block. Had it glued, waited two hours, and guess what? The wood grain on the heel cap was going the wrong way! Tongue.gif So I soaked it in hot water for about an hour,63.gif used a chisel to pry them away from each other, then got started over again.Frown.gif All told, about 3 hours lost, that could have been put to more productive use. 102.gif

Since then, I've gotten the sides glued , and things are looking promising.Grin.gif

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts


Kenneth W. Longfield said:

Great news Brian. If you need any help as you work on your kit, let us know. I, too, have built a couple of their kits.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I hear their kits are excellent, so I would assume their building instructions are great also. I really don't anticipate any problems, as I've already checked the postings for dulcimer building. It's gonna be fun!

113.gif

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts


Susie said:

They are a great company. Looking forward to seeing your project all done.

Me too!

113.gif

Susie
Susie
@susie
9 years ago
483 posts

They are a great company. Looking forward to seeing your project all done.

Ken Longfield
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
9 years ago
978 posts

Great news Brian. If you need any help as you work on your kit, let us know. I, too, have built a couple of their kits.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ronald R Eaches
Ronald R Eaches
@the-preacher
9 years ago
2 posts

I have built two Folkcraft kits, they are very nice kits.

Have fun!

Patty from Virginia
Patty from Virginia
@patty-from-virginia
9 years ago
230 posts

I'm excited for you Brian!!! I can't wait to see your progress picturesSmile.gif

Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

I'm actually stunned that their deliveries are so fast, ( as advertised ). Seems like that with most places I order through the mail generally have about a six week waiting period, if not longer. Kudos to you Folkcraft. I bet the quality will be as good as everyone says it is too!

John Keane
John Keane
@john-keane
9 years ago
182 posts

I know that you have to be excited!

Jan Potts
Jan Potts
@jan-potts
9 years ago
411 posts

So happy for you, Brian! I am anxious to see how this one turns out--and, yes, we will be wanting a sound clip or video!




--
Jan Potts, Lexington, KY
Site Moderator

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke
Brian Beach
Brian Beach
@brian-beach
9 years ago
17 posts

I just got a confirmation email, that my black walnut traditional hourglass dulcimer kit should arrive by June 5th, if not sooner! I am so excited about this. It will be a dream come true. That is something that hasn't happened in a long while. I will keep you informed, as my project progresses.Smile.gif


updated by @brian-beach: 03/03/19 07:40:54AM