About to attempt my 1st MD kit,

[cray]

I just became interested in MD's about a month ago and decided to build my 1st one from a kit. The price was right and the wood in the kit was just calling to me. I build and fly R/C airplanes so the construction will not be all that different for me. Even though this will be my 1st Dulcimer I want it to be the best it can from the kit I am using. It's a wormy maple teardrop kit that should arrive tomorrow(11/4/09) so I'll have a better ideal what I have to work with then.
I have a few questions and was hoping someone could help me out so here goes.

1. Does the glue being used effect sound? Maybe some wood glue is lighter or denser when it dries?
2. Any tips on finishing wormy maple? I was just planning on an oil finish but also want the finish to really show off the wood with hurting the sound.
3. How much does the size and shape of the sound hole effect the sound?
That it for now.
thanks
Charles

[Karl O]

Welcome to our forum, Charles. You've come to right place for answers to your question. I have long been a fan of oil finishes. I have build 3 dulcimers so far and used boiled linseed oil on one and 100% tung oil on the other two. I think all three sound great and I really like the looks and feel of an oil finish. But there are others here who use every kind of finish there is and can expound on their virtues. If you like an oil finish, don't be afraid to go with it.

[KenH]

Hi Charles, welcome to our wacky family!

1. Does the glue being used effect sound? Maybe some wood glue is lighter or denser when it dries?

If you had micro-sensitive instruments measuring millionths of a decibel, maybe you could measure the effect of the glue type on the sound. But there are so many other variables that affect sound that glue type simply does not matter. Most of us, I think, use Titebond or a similar wood glue.

2. Any tips on finishing wormy maple? I was just planning on an oil finish but also want the finish to really show off the wood without hurting the sound.

IMHO Tung oil is the oil finish to use. Not glossy, not matte, it's just right! Again, unless you've got ultra-sensitive instrumentation I doubt you could tell any difference in sound - given the other variables.

3. How much does the size and shape of the sound hole effect the sound?

To a certain extent the size of the soundhole is the Volume knob on your dulcimer. The more area of sound hole, the louder it gets. Generally speaking we use something on the order of 3-4 square inches of total soundhole area. The shape of the soundhole oesn't matter enough to notice.

[cray]

Thanks for the replies, one more quick question now that I have the kit, is it common to use glue and small nails to put the soundboard and fretboard together? I was really supprised to see this in the instructsions.
charles

[clare dulcimers]

Which vendor's kit did you get? I think the Folkcraft kits use glue and nails to attach the fretboard to the soundboard.

I got the Musicmaker kit for my first build and their fretboard is scalloped and glued onto the soundboard.

Welcome to the group. The folks here gave me all sorts of good advice for my kit build.

[cray]

This was a kit I got off e-bay pretty cheap and I see why. The wood looks great. It's wormy maple and has more holes in it than I expected, but then, it's the 1st time I've seen wormy maple.
I bought a cheap kit so I would not loose much if it turned out bad, but I think this is going to take a-lot of work to make it right in my mind. first couple of things I noticed was how sloppy the fit is where the sides go into the end blocks at an angle to create the shape. Maybe this is done for a reason I don't know about, but I expected the sides to push into the blocks with a snug precise fit. I am really worried about the fretboard after seeing how the end blocks are cut. The tops, bottoms and sides are all 3/16 inches thick. I was hoping to learn how dulcimers are built from this kit, but this really seems different from everything I have read. I guess I have a-lot of sanding to do cause to me the top and bottom is way to thick. The soundboard on this one does not glue together in the middle to form a one piece top that the fretboard goes on top of. it is nailed to the fretboard in the middle and a leaves a gap where the fretboard is hollowed out. Not what I expected from a soundboard but, then again I am a noob. I know there are lots of different ways to build Dulcimers, anyone build them with a 7/8 inch gap in the soundboard under a channeled fretboard?

thanks
charles

[kwl]

Clare, you are correct. The Folkcraft kits come with two piece sound boards that are nailed and glued to the bottom of the fret board. I only have experience with Folkcraft and McSpadden kits so I can not say whether other kit makers used the glue and nail method.

[mrchips]

A properly prepared and glued joint dosent need nails, it just needs proper clamping until the glue sets. The trick is figguring out some way to clamp things where they dont move until the glue sets up. They include those nails as many people dont have clamps. Besides its not exactly easy to clamp half a top to a fretboard, espically after one side is already glued. Sometimes figguring out some way of clamping up stuff can be the hardest part of making or repairing something.

Nails are one way of keeping things in place while the glue sets. If you use them then you should drill pilot holes a bit smaller than the nail diameter if youre nailing thin wood, very close to an edge or most hardwoods. One way to positin things just right before dtilling the piolt holes is to stick the 2 parts together with double sided tape then drill the holes. Gently pry the 2 peices apart and remove the tape. Now apply the glue and gently drive in the nails and clean off all the excess glue.

With any kit you should read the COMPLETE instructions a time or 2 until you understand the whole process before actualy making the kit. Often dry fitting things first clafifys what needs to be done. With say hide glue you have only a couple or 3 min to get thongs positioned and clamped before it starts setting up. Having the clamps pre set real close goes a long way in making life easier with any glue.

Just take youre time and work slowley and carefully and the result with most kits can produce an insterment thats every bit as good as some of the better mds.

[jtisch]

Cray,
I am not so much of a dulcimer expert, so I am not sure how much I can help. Just happy to see another RC aircraft builder here. As for glue, IIRC from previous threads, Titebond II or III or luthiers hide glue seem to be the glues of choice.

Blue Skies,

J

[cray]

Thanks again for the replies.
I guess I was just getting after worried after reading a-lot of bad things about kit built dulcimers not sounding good and problems with fretboards.
I guess the nails or screws are not too uncommon after all. Not sure if it would effect the sound one way or the other.
I can't decide whether to just put this one together as it came and move on to the next one or re-do some things.

charles

[kwl]

Charles, this is just my opinion, since this is your first I would build it according to the directions provided. You can then try a different kit to learn other techniques. Best wishes on your project.

[clare dulcimers]

Charles, check this thread. mrchips & Gary Sager describes how he glues fretboard to a two-piece top with a channel inbetween.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21070

Search function is messed up now... they're rejecting common words like "fretboard".