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Location: Alexandria, VA
Country: US
Country: US
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Thanks everyone. Chestnut is a really soft wood and commonly used just for soundboards but since I had quite a bit of it and recycling was the point, I went ahead and made the whole dulcimer of it, except for the tuning head and fret board, of course. It has a nice sound, fairly bold, but that could be because of the depth also, about 2 inches. I have a few boards with blackened nail holes and saw marks on them. I am thinking of making a very rustic scheitholt or something.
Marvin you've done an excellent job of 'recycling' there. Your walnut/chestnut dulcimer is a beauty. The majestic chestnut trees had all died out before I was old enough to remember them. I do remember seeing one or two with remnants of bark still on them. Many were still standing though and I'll never forget the sound of the 'nailers' (woodpeckers) on a frosty morning around here. It's just wonderful that you have preserved a piece of our heritage which is all but lost.
Impressive. I covet your skills.
Thanks Randall. Hey, check out this link to the Betsillworkshop: he made a wonderful dulcimer from rough timbers from an old house. http://www.betsillworkshop.com/images/The%20DeGive%20Dulcimer%20Story.PDF
Bill, Some of the joists I got were rather clear, some had some worm holes. My guess is that is was cut near the beginning of the blight. My cousin-in-law had them in his back yard! A friend has a larger table saw and he re-sawed them for me - in exchange I built him a walnut and butternut hourglass dulcimer that he wanted for a graduation gift. So with scrounging, bartering, etc. I have around $25.00 in the dulcimer - for strings, tuners and frets...and lots of hours, of course but that counts a pleasure, not work!
The chestnut looks good. You did a nice job on the construction. I have one I made from a chestnut rafter torn out of an old church built during the Civil War. It was so dry it was very hard to bend. Mine had worm holes in it. Keep up the good work.Ken
Wow, Marvin! You were fortunate, indeed, to be able to get that old chestnut.