Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: RichM
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 04:02 PM

10W30 in the summer, a heavier grade in winter...

;)

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Bedubya
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 03:49 PM

What about beeswax? My bodhrani wife uses it and it does a fairly good job of staving off humidity problems (unless it's really wet out). SInce it's not liquid it doesn't soften the skin, and it doesn't seem to affect the tone in the least. Anybody else use it?

Bruce

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 03:38 PM

Bloody 'ell, Caz! A Bodhran? You'll be getting a banjo next... then a melodeon... then a life?! ;o)

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Tig
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 10:33 AM

Mine got a small amount of guiness (put on by those who know) when it was new some 25 years ago and played fine until I was daft enough to let someone treat it with neetsfoot oil last year. Then it spluttered, spat and created until I managed to get it off again!!!

It took quite a few weeks until I was really happy with it so if you must oil it only put a tiny bit on. Only

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 08:29 AM

"There is a bagbalm in Gilead
That makes the cows go "Mooooooo"

Good old hymn............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 08:26 AM

Real men use Bagbalm! But then they never read directions so this message is a waste of time...

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: clansfolk
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 05:21 AM

I bought a bouwdhran - dear Liza dear Liza - I bought bodherran dear Liza - a bowran

Oh good dear Henry dear Henry dear Henry - Good dear Henry dear Henry Good?

With what shall I play it dear Liza dear Liza with what shall I play it dear Liza with what?

Try a knife dear Henry, dear Henry dear Henry, Try a knife dear Henry try a knife

There's a hole in my bodhran dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a hole in my bodhran dear Liza a hole.....

Oh good dear Henry etc etc......

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: ChaosCat
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 04:08 AM

I've been playing mine in all sorts of climates for some seven years, and do quite nicely- For the first year, I just misted it every so often when it got too tight. Since then, once a year, I rub it with either a leather conditioner or just plain old hand lotion. (Not much- enough to make the skin supple.) At that point, I have to let it sit a day or two before it tightens up enough again to play. But other than the once a year treatment, it gets tuned with guinness- and fire. ~gryn~ No kidding. Guinness when it's too tight, fire when it's too loose. It seems to love it.
I should include one side note- I went out of my way to find a ~calf~ skin bodhran, which is less common, and the skin is richer and more supple in general that my previous goatskin drum, and might respond a bit differently than goat.

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 01:55 AM

I've never put anything on my bodhrán and it still sounds great.

Rich

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: GUEST,Canuck
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 03:43 PM

Under NO circumstances should vegetable oils be used, as there exists the possibility of rancidity setting in :(
and btw, neatsfoot is the only modern english survival of the old english neate [nay-a-tuh] = cattle

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 02:22 PM

Thankyou Mudcatters, for link and useful advice.

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Peg
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 10:49 AM

I used mink oil (available wherever shoe polish is sold).

I was told it should be oiled once when you first get it, oiled again about two weeks later, and oiled again ten years later...

You may find it necessary to apply moisture to loosen it up at some point, or apply a slow, gentle heat source (I use fires generally but a hair dryer or stover works) to tighten it...

Best not try Spaw's method! (A creative one though)

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 09:36 AM

Soak it for several days in neatsfoot then apply a liberal coating of kerosene and naptha at 4 hour intervals and then an acetone bath after three days. At this point I suggest leaving it in your backyard by the barbeque pit until an ignition source becomes available.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: MudGuard
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 09:31 AM

Make your salad in the bodhran, and you do not even need extra time for applying the olive oil to it!
But be sure not to use vinegar on your salad...

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: gnu
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:47 AM

Thanks alison. I just learned how to search with reasonable dexterity and will move on to blue clickies next. Should be 'Cat in just a few short years.

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: alison
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:40 AM

Here is the thread

but put bodhran in the search box and set the date to 1 year.. there are others....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: gnu
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:39 AM

NOOOOO !!! Play it for a year ( or more ) before you try any treatment. There was a thread about this not too long ago with a lot of good info. I will look for it and post it.

For this year, use a moist cloth to evenly apply water - go slow and learn how much you need. Too wet to too dry too many times can tear the skin at the tacks.

Back in a bit, if I can find the thread.

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: alison
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:38 AM

do a thread search for "bodhran" there has been a lot of advice on this recently.... there is definately a thread in the last few months....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:31 AM

I just wetted a cloth with it and rubbed it into the skin. Got a bit worried at first coz the skin softened to such an extent it was unplayable. As soon as the excess dried out though it was fine and has been since. Not sure about olive oil. I'm not realy a bodhranist and there are plenty out there who will advise you better. Have you tried Hobgoblins site? I think I got the idea for neatsfoot oil from there.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:00 AM

Watch it DtG. ;)

How much and how long do I rub this neatsfoot oil on the skin (Bodhran)? (would olive oil do I'm just making a salad)

Subject: RE: Help: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 06:47 AM

I heard neatsfoot oil is good. But then again someone told me sulphuric acid was better.

(Only kidding about the acid btw - don't try it for real..:-))

DtG

Subject: Do I put some type of oil on my new B..?
From: GUEST,caz2ufolk
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 06:00 AM

I have just bought a new Bodhram. I am keen to learn this wonderful instrument but before I do, I would be grateful for any tips that you Mudcatters have on how to look after my Bodhram. Thanks!