Happy Holidays All!
I’ve been attempting to make a set of woodblocks for my son’s drumset and have been experiencing some problems. I am using some salvaged Ipe from a deck. For lack of finding any plans or pix on the web, I’ve settled on a cowbell type shape.
Problem #1- The glue (titebond 3) didn’t hold at the end of the block. I assume this is not an issue of glue/material incompatability based on the FWW article on glue strengths on various woods. Perhaps I spread the glue too thin and used too much clamp pressure so there’s no glue left to do the job.
Problem #2- Where the glue bond failed, the Ipe faces are warping away. My guess is this is due to the fact that these Ipe scraps were in someones barn and I didn’t let them dry long enough. Or the faces are too thick (approx. 3/8″)
Problem #3- I’m not satisfied with the sound. It sounds a little “dead”. I thought my Ipe scraps would be perfect due to it’s extremely high density. The sound improved when I cut a kerf through the sides. Should the faces be thinner? Should I just hollow out a board (it’s 5/4) and forget the glued up cowbell construction?
Luckily, my son’s B-day is in january so if I don’t get a set done in time for X-mas they can become B-day gifts.
Any advise on design or anything else you feel like advising about would be greatly appriciated.
Peace
Mark
Replies
marking,
My wood block for drumming was made of qtr. sawn hard maple. About 3"x6"x2" thick, just rout or mortise 1/4" from the top a 2 1/2"x5" hole.
Thanks for your reply.Hard maple sounds like a good idea. My Ipe finds are leftover deck boards and are 5/4 material (1 1/8"). I suppose I could route or carve out a 1/4" channel out of it. I've re-read your description and I'm not getting the jist. What am I mortising a 2.5" x 5" hole in?Edit: Wait a gol-durned minute! The Ipe in 3/4 not 5/4! which must have been the reasoning behind the glued-up design and not a hollowed out approach.P.S. to all- I DO realize I've misspelled "project" in my title line. I feel pretty stupid. It's a good thing I don't type for a living!
and sorry the pictures are so large. I was actually pretty proud of the fact that I got them off my cell phone via bluetooth and got them in
the message at all!peacemark
Edited 12/21/2008 8:33 pm ET by marking
Marking,I suspect you've figured it out but just in case; you start with a 2" thick piece of qtr. sawn hard maple...about 3x6 WxL. You want to run the mortise near the top (1/4") about the width and length of the block (2 1/2"x5"). I'd put it in a vise or wood clamp while chopping to avoid breaking the top piece. I'm not sure that is any clearer, Good Luck
Thanks for your posts, I've been wondering about own-made percussion blocks.Here's a pic for you both. These are ash drums I've made for my son. The other is a bubinga snare shell I just finished that is fixing to be drilled and jeweled-up with hardware.Cheers,Seth
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