Group Discussions
Fret wire
I'm having problems cutting slots for frets. I have a saw with .023 kerf and my fret wire just slips in and falls out, it's not tight. Are there...
@Caleb Dan Bennett started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Managing Demand
For those of you who sell your dulcimers as a business... Maybe you can provide some advice.My preference has been to have a short queue and be...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 14
Worm Holes
I have a commission to build a pair of my little backpacking sticks for a guy who works where I buy some of my wood and his father. He wants me to...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 9
What Does Your Spouse Think?
I've been wondering for some time what our luthier's lives are like at home: So....Does your wife or husband support you in your building of...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Making a Davis kit dulcimer playable
Well, it seems a lady nearby has a Davis dulcimer she built from a kit many years ago, and wanted me to help finish it up for her. I came over...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Selling to Overseas Customers?
Since I marked my items as being available anywhere, a good portion of my orders have been outside the US. I have been a little surprised by this....
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 2
Salvaged Timber
I think I may have started down one of those paths that are hard to get off of :)Step one was when I ran a chunk of rough beech that was given to...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 21
Here's a Delight!
I finished this Thomas hourglass dulcimer replica just this afternoon, and sent her on her way to the new owner. Her name is "Delight", which comes...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 10
Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer
While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show repairs of dulcimers. One of our members contacted me about reattaching the peg...
@Ken Longfield started 11 years ago - replies: 17
Wood choices and new bandsaw
I just bought a new to me, 1993 14" Delta bandsaw. It has a bigger motor, cool block guides, an upgraded tension mechanism, and a 6" riser block....
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 9
Guitar kits
Okay, okay... I know tis is a dulcimer building site. But I have this brother-in-law who is a guitar player and he says I need to make a "real"...
@Ed Gaunt started 11 years ago - replies: 6
I need some advice re: shellac drips
I'm hand-brushing shellac (premixed, from a can) onto my new walnut dulcimer, and although most of the finish looks absolutely great, I'm having a...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 14
Mulberry
My wife wants me to make a ukelele for her out of mulberry. Many years back, I used mulberry for a dulcimer or two and can only remember not liking...
@Dale A Penrose started 11 years ago - replies: 10
Finishing Mahogany
I was wondering what the easiest way to finish mahogony is. Use oil or apply laquer or similar finish?
@Caleb Dan Bennett started 11 years ago - replies: 16
Shipping the finished product
I got kind of a shock when I shipped my first dulcimer actually built for a customer. I dropped it off at a service that packed and shipped it. It...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 11
Dulcimer wood
I am selling ready made dulcimer tops, one is redwood and is on Ebay right now. I can also make ones from cherry, walnut, sassafras, sycamore and...
@Robert Worth started 11 years ago - replies: 2
Wound String for Octave?
At 19" VSL I find that 0.20" ones pop before reaching d'. The smallest I have found are 0.18" ones that can get to d' but are just on the verge of...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 4
My first machine!
I started on the fretboard and the peghead, which is walnut. The whole thing will be walnut except for the top, which will be redwood. I sawed...
@Mark Runge started 11 years ago - replies: 0
Calculating VSL
We bought an old Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer last night that is complete except for the bridge. There are no markings as to where it should go....
@Monterey started 11 years ago - replies: 12
finish on poplar
I am getting ready to assemble an instrument, all yellow poplar ecept for a black walnut fretboard overlay. I know poplar is a rather plain wood,...
@Bill Robison started 11 years ago - replies: 11