Making a Copper Banjo Rim
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2022
- See how to make the rim (body) for a banjo from copper. Learn how simple shop-made fixtures can streamline the process of making multiple parts with wired edges.
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I really enjoyed working on this with you!
Steve, it was a joy for me, too, and I'm so glad I had the time to shoot and edit the video!
Steve, it would be great if you could do a video when you get one of these instruments done... 👍🏿
Steve, you have the best guy for the job, Ron.
I really enjoy watching your videos while I'm at work instead of working
Making learning a pleasure while actually relying knowledge - we're lucky to have this kind of meetings with You, master Ron. Always humbling and inspiring.
I'm so glad there are people eager to learn more about metalworking!
Ron.
Great fixturing once again. Slow and steady with the bead roller assures desired results.
Thanks for quite an informative demonstration.
Jere
Thanks so much Jere! Your support means a lot to me!
"Slow and steady with the bead roller assures desired results." Jere, it took me a few tries to understand that, ,I have learned and copied your techniques so Maytime that now they have become second nature for me, I have also copied your HF bead roller upgrade to the T, it works amazingly well, you and Ron are truly a wealth of knowledge, and a source of inspiration .
Another of your videos where you say " I'll mark this and leave it a little long and adjust it later by filing" only to accidentally cut it perfectly. Anyone else would cut it miles too long, file it too short and have to build it back up with weld. Loved the fixtures.
If it makes you feel any better, I did cut one ring too short, and I had to deposit some weld on the end of the wire to get a good fit.
Thanks Ron, I don’t care about cars at all, but I have learned a lot about sheet metal.
Great!
You sir, are a skilled craftsman and artist of the highest order. That man you’re working with is very lucky to be getting his training from the best! I think he should sell a line of banjos with your mark of approval and send you royalties. :)
Wow, thank you!
As a musician and an iron worker i can say .....this ma fkka genius!!
Always thankful for your sharing! Student from the early 90's in New Paltz NY. Thanks Ron
Boy, that workshop was a LONG time ago! Glad you still remember it.
The king of metal sheets 👍🇫🇮
Thanks so much!
Ron your fabrication skills overwhelm me. You make this look so simple. Another great video, please keep them coming.
Wow, thanks. I do have more videos 'in the pipeline'!
I learned how to work in a very sophisticated way. Great
Glad to hear that!
Awesome craftsmanship along with discussion/demonstration….enjoyed
Thank you very much!
Thanks Ron ! Nice to see you step out ! Like the last time we talk ! This makes me think of a Model a fender ! You are a true Artist Ron ! But you got to let go ! You have all the skills to make what your mind sees ! Let your mind Eye go ! We are in are 70s now be free Ron let go Like we where in the 70s ! Thank You For Your Help and Time ! Straight Ahead ! Mike ✌😎
Thanks, Mike. I'm letting go more and more all the time!
You are so amazing. I learn something new in each and every video. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
As usual - very informative and a pleasure to see a master at work. You make it look easy, undoubtedly due to your skill.....
Thank you! Cheers!
Ron....I feel like I am supposed to call you Mr Covell.
Mr. Covell, I admire your work so much. Even with such a simple piece, how you work is elegant.
In no way do I claim to know what im doing, but i have built many things. Just enough to appreciate your outward follow-through with your hammer strokes bringing the flange to the 90.
I know much of it is probably intuitive or at least second nature for you, but before I understood (in my words) the metal folds just like a blanket, and each stroke is just making, moving, or getting out the wrinkles; I made many mistakes with my process. I can be quite particular, especially with numbers, so learning that there's a difference between bending and shaping metal was beyond irritating. Copper was damn expensive for a college kid.
Thank you for all your tutorials. There is so much valuable information in each one.
Please call me Ron - Mr. Covell just seems too formal.
It pleases me very much to know that you have enjoyed my videos, and learned from them.
There are a lot of 'finicky details' to metalworking, and everyone understand it in their own way. If thinking abut metal 'like a blanket' is helpful, that's a good way to approach it.
Let me know if you have any specific questions in the future, and I'll do my best to answer them!
Fixtures are the way forward thanks for another great video.
Glad you like them!
Bravo Ron! The master strikes again. 😀
Wow, thanks!
I am a woodworker but love to watch people that do other trades. You are the best.
Thank you for the kind words!
I've learned so much from these videos! Probably never going to use the metal working aspects of that knowledge, but it is the knowledge about problemsolving that is extremely valuable! Thank you for making these videos available for free!
Glad to help!
You’re a Wizard.
Watching you work on these projects is something akin to learning the secrets of a famed magician. Thank you so much for sharing.
Wow, thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy my videos.
Master of the craft👌Planing is half the work wich truly shows in your great video, tanx Ron🙏👍
Yes, I gave this project a LOT of thought before I started.
The world is a better place because Ron Covell is in it. This is a cool collaboration.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Great video Ron. I'd love to know more about welding copper. Welder settings, which tungsten, where to source the rod, etc... Copper is such an amazing metal and working with it is something I'd love to know more about. I've been thinking about bead rolling copper art.
Great suggestion, maybe I'll do a bit more on this subject!
Ron is to metal working as Bob Ross is to painting. Masterful, mellow, and always always a captivating delight to watch as he does his craft.
Thank you for the high praise!
The Bob Ross of sheet metal strikes again! This video just gave me an idea to use in my shop. Thanks a ton!
I hope it works well for you!
I've been toying with the idea of making my own snare drum. Thanks for this tutorial!
Fantastic work Ron, thank you for sharing your techniques!
Thank you! Cheers!
Ron, well done!
You enjoy the craft, very well explained and in-detail.
Yes, I do enjoy doing this kind of work - and I'm so glad that many other do, too!
Neat and simple fixtures, beautiful work. Thanks for making this video!
I'm delighted that you enjoyed this video!
Just what I needed for one of my projects Ron! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Glad to help!
Brilliant fixturing. Really makes the process go smoothly.
Yes, the fixtures really helped a lot with this job.
Keep going Ron! You’re a joy to watch!
More on the way!
You make it look so easy, the mark of a master.
Thanks, and I'm very glad you enjoyed it!
You sir are a wizard. I am in awe of your talent!
Thanks for the kind words!
Copper is so much fun to work with. My boyfriend owns a sheet metal shop but they mostly do architectural stuff such as hand railings, custom gutters, flashings, wall cladding, etc. He often has me in the shop to make little copper trinkets and we have a lot of fun applying chemical patinas to the copper. Great video, thanks for posting.
Very cool!
Wow. Beautiful work with simple tools and techniques. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much!
Thank You for doing these... I learn something from every one of your videos.
My pleasure!
Excellent work, as usual. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and craftsmanship.
It's a pleasure!
love the videos!, your calm style keeps my attention the whole way to the end, no feel of need to rush it trough.
Awesome, thank you!
Great job as always Mr. Covell Thanks for the videos and information.
Thanks for watching!
Once again a great teaching from a great teacher👍👍👍
Glad you think so!
Love it that you’re always experimenting with new process. And even better that you’re will to show us along the way. 👍👍😎👍👍
Thanks so much!
Thanks Ron. I love watching you work. I'd never even considered welding copper but now I know you can.
Yes, there are not a lot of situations where copper is welded, but as you can see, it can be done, and if makes a very good joint!
As good as a banjo plays, wonderful skill in making and jigs for building.
Thank you very much!
such a craftsman, brings back memories sort of. I did some wired edge projects in high school in sheet metal & heating shop . I don;t remember much about it as it was just a few years ago . well maybe more than a few. thanks for sharing !
Very cool!
A lifetime of work and learning skills . Thanks for the look, learned some interesting things here.
Great!
Ron, You are so creative and methodical about every step. I love how you tought of the second half of have to take the wood form apart. That was amazing. That was a great job.
Thank you very much!
Ron, as always a joy to watch your highly educational videos and as always you make it look so easy. A trap for the unwary apprentice 😊 Thanks for posting and my thumb here and in the like above 👍
So nice of you
Awesome video Ron! Your experience makes it look simple. I wish I had the opportunity to work and learn with more old skilled tradesman like yourself!
Jeff - thanks so much! The magic of TH-cam is that you CAN learn from highly skilled people, from nearly any trade!
Excellent craftsmanship Ron. The combination of your ideas, techniques, and fixtures combined with the fixtures sent by Steve were fantastic and really showed truly great minds at work.
Thank you kindly!
Great project, you always give great explanations. Beading wheel openings is something I've struggled with but you've given me some good ideas, thanks for sharing
Glad to help!
Masterful Job as always Ron, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! God Bless!
Thanks for watching!
Disciplined pressure. What an exercise in patience and understanding the nature of the given materials used. Causes me to consider and appreciate the skill of the coppersmiths from India.
Thank you for the kind words. I have seen videos of some incredible work with copper done in India, and I am VERY impressed. I'm working on some circular brass parts for a snare drum right now, and I expect to be uploading a video on that project in a few weeks.
Just found your channel! I love it. It's giving off a "New Yankee Workshop" vibe.
Welcome aboard, and I hope you check out some of my other videos! I have about 85, on various subjects.
Coffee and Covell could definitely be my new Sunday routine. Great work as always Sir!
Enjoy!
Watching a master at work. One of the signs of mastery of a craft is to make it look so easy. Beautiful work Ron.
Thank you kindly!
Ron thanks for sharing. Nice job !!
Glad you liked it - more on the way!
You make it look so easy. Great job!
Thank you! 😊
I'm so glad I found this channel! You're an excellent resource for beginners and give such detailed advice that even experienced people are benefiting.
Many other channels are like "ok, so to weld this simple thing I'm using a $2000 shaping kit, an angle grinder I won't tell you how to use, and a gas-powered MIG welder...but if you don't have that, any welder will do I suppose [end explanation]".
And like, I just want to start by cutting and welding a metal sheet with simple techniques.
You make metal work accessible and you're so happy and pleasant to listen to!
I'm so glad you like my videos. Many more on the way!
Wow you never cease to amaze! Learned quite a bit from this video, never tried welding copper yet and the jigs you come up with are so well thought out. Thank you Mr. Covell
Glad you liked it! I'll be posting another video on a copper-based project on the 17th.
Just amazing. Everytime I think "impossible" and than you do it with such ease. Can't believe it. Head's of to you.
Wow, thank you! I hope you mean 'hat's off', since you probably look much better with you head attached!
10/10 master craftsman at work
Thanks so much!
That was awesome to watch! Copper is such a nice accent to a project.
It really is a nice accent!
Thank you for sharing you knowledge on metal working, it has helped me just on a few little project I have done.
Great to hear!
I love watching your videos! I especially enjoy your patience, attention to detail and calming voice. Chilling and learning at the same time :)
It pleases me very much to know that you enjoy my style. A lot of TH-camrs are pretty hyper - which does grab a person's attention - but that's just not for me.
@@RonCovell So please, never change! :)
Superb upload Ron. Your gentle presentation is unique on the internet. I never tire of watching and listening to your explanations. Keep up this marvelous work.
Wow, thank you!
Thank you Ron. Part looks excellent.
Thank you!
you could have said "yeah I can make those rings for you", but you didn't you showed him how to do it. Unselfishly passing along your knowledge to all of us, THANKS RON....
You bet!
great work as usual Ron - i am not about to make anything like it, but always keen to follow what you are doing
I'm glad you enjoyed this video. More to come!
Thanks Ron. This tutorial will help with my next project.
Great - what's your project!
@@RonCovell vw hot rod. Copper oval fuel tank. Brass tank hold downs & brass and aluminum fuel cap. Was trying to find more information on working with copper. Your video was a whole bunch of answers. Thanks
Excellent video once again mr. Covell! Many great tips and tricks in there you simply cannot learn from a book. I especially like how 'simple' the springback calculation and the formula for the rim to wire thickness is. Thank you for sharing. Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sure, i learned not something but alot - like everytime, thanks to you my friend. 👍
Glad to hear that!
fantastic tutorial. as always, lots of little nuggets to file away in the "how to" section of my already overstuffed cranium. i love the fact that these simple techniques can be applied to a variety of other applications, and that understanding these techniques, regardless of (as a coworker commented) how "boring" the topic may be.
i would love to see additional disciplines make suggestions for projects. they could only increase our knowledge base and skill level. thank you for everything that you do. your willingness to share your expertise is greatly appreciated, and although i most likely shall never make a banjo, this video showcased several skill sets necessary for multiple aspects of fabrication and sheetmetal working. thank you so much, a million times over, for what you are doing.
I truly appreciate the kind words!
Amazing work!! You are a sheet metal expert!
Thank you! Cheers!
Always look forward to R
Great!
Awesome stuff Ron! Thanks for posting! 👍🏻
You bet!
Another interesting, unusual, and most importantly successful project and process. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.
I'm so glad you liked it!
What a video! Pure brilliance, every bit of it. Everybody should see this. That was a savage trick with the extra wires.
Yes, the idea of using extra wires to gain extra angle on the flange just popped into my head - but it certainly worked well.
I have learned a lot. And this was very timely for me. I need to be able to make steel rings for the doumbek and djembe drums I already am making.
Pulse I am making my first homemade instrument. I am trying to build a Contrabass canjo. This will help make “cans” for Experimental musical instruments.
Eventually I wish to make India water buffalo skin Naqqara Nagara Iron drums and Elephant drums. Elephant drums are basically oversized kettle drums with water buffalo skin heads.
I have already been using many of the things I have learned from you to make parts for my steampunk model airship and to make small metal puppets.
It sounds like you are doing some great work! Many years ago I made rings for a local fellow who was making Djembe drums. They were 1/4" steel, and were a bear to bend. I adapted my lathe to do the ring rolling, since it was so difficult to bend the material by hand.
@@RonCovell Right now I do it by hand over a piece of pipe but I am only using 1/8 steel rod. I take them to a friend to weld and then I grind them.
wow ron! even though i really enjoyed your other videos i went in thinking how interesting can a cylinder be because of the thumbnail but i’m in awe of the inventive fixtures and problem solving and precision! beautiful craftsmanship!
There's more than one way to skin a cat!
Another very usefull video....this technique could be used for a lot of projects. Thanks Ron !
You are very welcome!
That was a pleasure to watch as usual, Ron. And nice to see someone bring out the speed brace rather than a cordless impact wrench.
Glad you liked it!
I was like did he just bust out a speed handle, oh yeah.
I was thinking the same thing! Folks seem addicted to cordless whizbangs, I wonder how many people even remember the speed brace!
A bit late to the party but what a treat this was, thanks so much for sharing!
Hey, the party is still going on, and we're so glad you enjoyed the video!
That is a great looking job that you did , number 1 work.
Some good metal working tips too .
I'm so glad you liked it!
Hi Ron,
As usual... nice, precise, well thought out and well presented.
Joe
Thanks so much, Joe!
That's cool. Thanks Ron.
You are very welcome!
Your video is amazing. I wish I had the talent and patience it takes to make a banjo. My banjo was hand made by a man in Oregon. He was a great banjo maker. I can't believe the sound. I appreciate such videos as yours.
That's great!
Love banjos. Love sheet metal work. Its not fair that I can only like this video once.
Thanks a million!
I’ve heard of wire beading, but never seen it done. Thanks for the demonstration.
Glad it was helpful!
I make motorcycle and car parts and really enjoyed this take. I've been doing it fifty years, but learned some new techniques today. The wiring was what I came for and it was excellent. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it! I have revised my edge wiring techniques several times over the years, as I learn better and better ways to do it.
Beautiful workmanship 👍, thanks for sharing.
It's my pleasure!
I love your videos. You're the Bob Ross of sheet metal :)
Wow, thanks!
As Chet Atkins once said, “You never hear anyone say, ask the banjo player to move his Porsche”. Nice job. 👍. I loved your use of the speed wrench! Real Hot Rod work. You are the “Master”!
I've never heard that Chet Atkins quote before - priceless!
I'm delighted that you liked the video.
This is an EXCELLENT video! You have me thinking about building my own snare drum shell. Thank you once again! (I like the Lazze Videos too).
Go for it!
Beautiful Sir!
Thank you!
Es muy lindo trabajar con cobre muy noble material !! Gracias por tus enseñanzas Ron !!! greetings from argentina!!!
No trabajo mucho con cobre, ¡pero es un placer trabajar con él!
Excellent video. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
I'm surprized that the MDF jig resisted so well, usually, I use hardwood or plywood with the working edges reinforced with epoxy resin.
Very nice job as usual
very good tutorial.
There is no question that MDF is a soft material, but for small runs of parts, it often has sufficient durability. Certainly using plywood or hardwood would make a stronger form, and epoxy would make it even more durable!
Fascinating, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!