Please look at this ring I welded

[ruff]

Hello All,

This is my first post here. I've learned a lot here. Thanks!

Here is a ring I just welded up for an ashiko I'm about to complete. There about 3/16" to 1/4" space around the the circumference of the ashiko.

Is this right? Does it need to be tighter?

Ring.jpg (992.67 KiB) Viewed 232 times

Ashiko.jpg (817.87 KiB) Viewed 232 times

Thanks,

Ruff

[michi]

Looks perfect!

And welcome to the forum

Michi.

[rachelnguyen]

Hey Ruff,

I think it is going to be fine, especially once it is roped up. You will have room for the skin and it won't be too tight (or too loose.)

Welcome to Djembefola. Why not post some pics of the drum when you are done?

Rachel

[ruff]

Thanks for the replies. It's good to have such a great body of knowledge. I will certainly get some pictures up when I'm done.

Ruff

[shortypalmer]

the space you leave will be depended on the size of your rope. normally a skin does not make a difference unless it is really really thick or cow. when i use 3/16 inch rope i leave just enough for the rope which is a total of 3/8 and try to go a touch smaller so maybe not a full 3/8

[ruff]

Hi Shorty,

I welded this ring up after I spoke with you on the phone when I placed my order for a couple of thick goat skins. Thanks for the advice.

Hey everyone. I had a problem with one of the goat skins I received from Shorty. He put a new one in the mail right away without hesitation. Thanks!

[rachelnguyen]

Yeah, Shorty has awesome customer service. And it is great that he is here on the boards, too.

[shortypalmer]

I would suggest that you test your weld before using it. i try to break every weld i do over the edge of my work bench. i flip it over and try breaking it from the other side, if they dont crack or break they are good, i them flatten them out. my ring making process is a very multi step process. i first measure the circumference of the drum. i add 2 1/8 of an inch to the length of the circumference. i pre-roll my rings to a close size, i cut off the crimped part of the ring so i dont have to deal with it later. i roll out the precut steel to the desired length. when i make my cuts i turn my cutters 90 degrees so that the cut are perpendicular to each other and not parrell. i them put them into my vice to hold them ( i use a bar clamp in my vice). weld them, grind them, test them, flatten them, round them and do a finish grind with dremmel tool. the 2 1/8 i added to the circumfrence takes into consideration the fact that i need to add 1/2 inch to get to the outside of the ring and the thickness of normal rope and skin.

[ruff]

Well I got the head on. Man it was a tight fit. On the next one I think I'll make the rings just a little bit bigger. Right now I'm waiting for it to completely dry. Looks good so far.

[michi]

Tight is good, as long as the rings aren't so tight that you can't get them to come down, or the rope from the crown ring leaves grooves in the wood.

Post a photo please!

Cheers,

Michi.

[ruff]

OK. Here's a picture. The rings are roughly level. About 1/2" below the top on one side and 3/8" on the other. I had to use a mallet to get them to come down. It was not easy.

tightRings.jpg (1.12 MiB) Viewed 104 times

Thanks for looking.

[shortypalmer]

it looks fine to me. as always as long as it sounds good that is all that matters. i am curious about something, did you mean to put the loops on the direction you did or you flip the ring over by mistake.................smile.
been there done that
shorty

[ruff]

Upside-down?!! D#~%n it!

Oh well it's staying that way for awhile.

[michi]

Upside-down?!! D#~%n it!

Don't let it worry you, you are not the first

Incidentally, upside down seems to work just as well as right side up…

Cheers,

Michi.

[shortypalmer]

i was not picking on you for that. i have done it myself, only once that i am aware of. like michi said, it works. i would not change it. if it can go wrong or be done wrong i have been there.