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28 Nov 05 - 09:50 AM (#1615463) Subject: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,donalshea@hotmail.com Ive inherited a lovely goatskin bodhran from a friend of mine - its great to play but the inside of the skin is extremely sticky with grease and dirt. - what can I do to cean it without damaging it Help please :0) Donal |
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28 Nov 05 - 09:59 AM (#1615469) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze It could be that whomever had it before had used dubbin or similar and had put it on the inside of the drum? (If you do insist on putting it on the drum always on the outside!). Usually you have enough oil on your hands to keep the skin on the bodhran good anyway. I'd try to get it off with a dry cloth first (or paper towel) and then if that doesn't work then Try and use a damp cloth (not soaking) but remember if you put anything damp on a bodhran the skin will go very limp and will need to dry out before you play it. (Don't use artificial heat to dry it - just leave it to dry off naturally). I wouldn't recommend using soaps. Maybe (perhaps) a very light amount of vinegar mixed in to the water to lift off some of the dirt. But, make sure it's not too strong. Regards Ella who is sooze who is not responsible if things go wrong - in other words try all at your own risk! |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:02 AM (#1615473) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze ps... please ignore all the inevitable posts which will recommend violence towards your new found bodhran (razors/knifes burning with flames etc) :-) E oo is sooze |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:17 AM (#1615492) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Donal who is Jacare Thanks for the tips - I accept all risks (accepting risks and fearing the terrible consequences is part and parcel of being a drummer - sort of a tacit agreement you make with God when you take ownership of a bodhran. Why do they hate us so......?) |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:18 AM (#1615494) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Sooz Don't drag me into this! |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:21 AM (#1615498) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Donal who is Jacare Too late! |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:37 AM (#1615505) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Gedpipes masochists! ;-) |
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28 Nov 05 - 10:39 AM (#1615507) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu "...extremely sticky with grease and dirt." Grease? Wax perhaps? A common treatment used to keep the head supple. However, if applied too librally, it may take years to regain proper tension. After the dry cloth and damp (almost dry) cloth, I would suggest caution with any cleaning methods. Choosing a method also depends on the present tightness. For instance, various oils can lift dirt and grease quite well, but may PERMANENTLY loosen the goatskin, depending on the oil, what it is mixed with, amount used, applicator used.... You could contact a (the) maker. If google doesn't get you a (the) maker, try looking at http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/ Good luck and please let us know the details and results. |
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28 Nov 05 - 11:46 AM (#1615552) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: mooman Could be dubbin or leather dressing (apply only on the outside ever!) or Guinness residues! I'd second gnu's advice above, a slightly damp cloth and a bit of elbow should improve things. I wouldn't try any solvents or detergents for fear of damaging the skin. Peace moo |
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28 Nov 05 - 11:58 AM (#1615566) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Strollin' Johnny Yes, don't drag my mate Sooz in to this, she's a musician! :-) |
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28 Nov 05 - 12:04 PM (#1615570) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Tannywheeler Hubby builds/plays bodhrans. He has never encountered the problem you describe. He says to remember that the old joke about never feeding the "goat" anything but Guinness is just that: a joke. Might lemon juice(fresh squeezed) be any help?? Maybe diluted? It has cleansing properties. The problem is to cut the wax/grease and lift off the dirt w/out damaging the 'skin and its tension, if I understand aright. Are there any leather-care experts on the Mudcat or near you who could help?? Would "saddle soap" be wrong for some reason? Wish I knew more. Tw |
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28 Nov 05 - 01:14 PM (#1615592) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: open mike i once made the midtake of putting lanolin on my bodhran thinknig sheep and goats might be compatible---wrong i am such an optimist i think that the Society for Creative Anachronism people would be compatible with the Renaissance Faire re-enacters wrong again...different eras! anyway you might find that whatever it is, is not water soluable (as Peace says...I have found the perfect universal solvent, and I can't find anything to keep it in!) but good luck and let us know how it goes.. Is the origianl owner avaialbe for questions, or did you inherit it because they died? |
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28 Nov 05 - 01:21 PM (#1615595) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu Saddle soap... nope. T'would loosen the head. Ya know, this may sound strange, and I am talking off the top of my head, pun intended, but, is there any odor? Does it smell like Guinness? The lemon juice idea sounds interesting. Whatever you try should be on a small area about an inch from the egde on the least worn part of the head. Gosh, I am anxious to see how this turns out. I know if one of my babies were in this state, I would be pissed!!! |
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28 Nov 05 - 06:36 PM (#1615859) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Shanghaiceltic If the greasy layer is very thick try using a plastic scraper but very gently on a hard surface. Lemon juice would be a very mild degreaser, vinegar can be very acidic and could well affect the skin. Just wonder what the person had on their hands when they were playing??? |
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28 Nov 05 - 06:50 PM (#1615881) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Georgiansilver Can I suggest a paraffin wash and then apply a match to it....sort of flambeed Bodhran. Best way to treat them in my mind. (how do you put an acute accent on an e by the way?) Best wishes, Mike. |
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28 Nov 05 - 07:00 PM (#1615893) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Billybob My cousins father Michael Ryan from Galway was a wonderful Bodhran maker , after he made them he would bury them in the earth for some months!Wonder if this would help? |
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28 Nov 05 - 07:04 PM (#1615899) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Rumncoke You could try blotting paper and a warm place - or even a warm iron - just warm enough to feel, I mean. Put the poor thing on an ironing board and gently press the blotting paper down onto the greasy surface with the tepid iron. Leave to cool and peel off the blotting paper, hopefully with the greasy stuff as well. I got an oil (fish and chip grease) stain out of a suede jacket that way. If you hesitate to use so much heat and weight then try either flour or corn starch and rub a handfull over the skin, then lay it down and strew more over it and leave in a warm place - airing cupboard, perhaps, or at a foot or so distance from a radiator, turning to expose different parts to the highest heat. After a couple of days brush the inside with light but vigorous strokes with something like a suede brush, or even a nail brush used carefully. Don't get the flour wet!! It should absorb the goo - talcum powder would probably do the same if you don't mind the perfume - and the funny looks - or an absorbant earth if you happen to know anyone who makes dynamite - is it called something like keiselgur? Or the stuff that stops the runs - not Australia - the powder before it is made into the medicine. Anne |
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28 Nov 05 - 07:22 PM (#1615916) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: DonMeixner Put it down, back away. |
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28 Nov 05 - 08:03 PM (#1615940) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,hen harrier "stuff that stops the runs" - I think you mean kaolin but seems very difficult (if not impossible) to get! There used to be a kaolin & morphine mixture available which was extremely effective. Maybe the morphine element is why it's now hard to come by. |
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28 Nov 05 - 08:08 PM (#1615945) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Folkiedave My cousins father Michael Ryan from Galway was a wonderful Bodhran maker , after he made them he would bury them in the earth for some months!Wonder if this would help? |
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28 Nov 05 - 08:10 PM (#1615949) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Folkiedave For some reason the second half of that message never got through. 1. Leave it in the ground until it disintegrates. 2. Take lessons from Jon Joe Kelly of Flook. 3. Go back to 1. Dave |
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28 Nov 05 - 08:13 PM (#1615952) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Kaleea I wish you good luck! I have little experience with having to go through all the unfortunate above gyrations as the maker of my hairy bodhran reccomends that one does NOT use bodhran wax or anything else on his hairy goatskins, as they are quite thick & very well tunable. However-if one just has to use something on, perhaps a thin skinned non tunable head, try using only bodhran wax which is designed for use on a bodhran so it will do no harm. |
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28 Nov 05 - 08:18 PM (#1615956) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: The Fooles Troupe 1) Apply as much of as many of the treatments that will loosen the head to the point where it is unplayable 2) take to gig - leave in boot until needed 3) when a persistent player is annoying, distract him with drink while swapping the instruments. There - two birds with one stone! |
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28 Nov 05 - 09:13 PM (#1615986) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Big Al Whittle I seem to remember when I was a kid, my father once did that to my rugby ball to protect it from the elements. It was dubbin, but applied so thickly that it left your hand sticky and it attracted dust. As I remember I scraped it with a sea shell, after hearing about how Henry VIII used to wipe his bum with a shell. It worked in my case (and Henry's apparently). well its an idea..... |
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29 Nov 05 - 03:46 AM (#1616131) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze I'm another Sooze but not a Sooz but was a pretend Ella but is actually a Sooze.... Anyway, now that is cleared up.... Don't try the iron thing!!! I would not ever really bother with dubbin (or other similars) as there's actually normally enough oil in your own hands to eventually soften the bodhran up anyway. I have a fair few of the things now, and they all play lovely. The only time I'd ever use Dubbin would be on a brand new shop bought one where the skin is really really really dry - and only ever on the outside. Then, since I buy all of mine direct from the makers and they all practice the dark arts of goat preparation (best not to ask I find) then the skins are normally fab... That reminds me, it's about time bert got an airing at my next round of Bodhran lessons (I'm training up more people to the joys of bodhran playing) Do you know what make the drum is? Ella who is Sooze - Really!!! |
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29 Nov 05 - 08:29 AM (#1616270) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Donal who is jacare Okay, heres how its going: - The dry cloth confirmed that it was covered in something black and sticky (no news there), and so with some trepidation I tried the damp cloth - Its a tuneable skin so I just slackened it off totaly before I did it. The cloth was black by the time Id finished, the drum isn't clean but its a damn sight cleanER than it was, and I didn't fancy leaving getting it too damp and scrubbing at it till it was clean, so Im settling for small successes. Im going to wait till it drys, play it a few times and then go back for round two with the unknown filth! Aren't you just dieing to find out how it goes? |
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29 Nov 05 - 09:46 AM (#1616319) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Dave Hanson Well someone had to say it, a blowlamp or an oxy-acetylene torch would solve it very quickly. eric |
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29 Nov 05 - 10:30 AM (#1616338) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu ************************************************************** Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Georgiansilver - PM Date: 28 Nov 05 - 06:50 PM "....(how do you put an acute accent on an e by the way?)" ************************************************************** Alt + 130. Like this - é. |
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29 Nov 05 - 12:57 PM (#1616467) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Georgiansilver Thanks gnu..Best wishes, Mike. |
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29 Nov 05 - 04:54 PM (#1616663) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ned Ludd If it's tunable then saddle soap should work fine. You can alter the tension after the clean. If it's really bad then meths should shift it followed by saddle soap. Finally a light application of neats foot oil if you can get it. Worked for me. |
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29 Nov 05 - 11:32 PM (#1616906) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: NH Dave Ann suggested flour or starch, and I'd use Talcum Powder. Put it onto the back of the skin and then heat the front side a bit with a hair dryer or place it over a register until the talc absorbs some of the grease. Brush everything out of the back and doi it a couple more times until it is as clean as you need. Dave |
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29 Nov 05 - 11:46 PM (#1616916) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: The Fooles Troupe Fuller's Earth. Used to be used for milnery (hatters). |
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30 Nov 05 - 12:00 AM (#1616921) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Malcolm Douglas Also in the better kinds of cat litter. This is not a value judgement (I once bitterly offended the editor of a local "freesheet" by remarking, in all innocence, that his paper was just right for wrapping used cat litter prior to disposal. He took it the wrong way, and never spoke to me again; which couldn't have worked out better if I'd planned it) but a mere observation. Powdered chalk would probably work too, but I wouldn't advise it. |
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30 Nov 05 - 12:30 AM (#1616932) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: JohnInKansas Many commercial/cosmetic "talcum powders" contain significant amounts of "oils" of unknown kind. It gives the powder a better "feel," so they say. If you're sure it's just talc powder, it should be okay for the use here, although it may not actually be very absorbent. If it's a cosmetic talcum it might contain enough "flavor enhancers" to be less than the best choice. Common "baby powders," as an example, often contain rather large additions of mineral oil and occasionally in some brands a bit of aloe. One of the better neutral absorbents that's likely to be on the shelf in the kitchen probably would be corn meal. If it sticks to the crud, at least it won't be sticky while you wear the cornmeal, and the crud along with it, all off as you play. Fuller's Earth would probably be an excellent material, but in my area it's a bit hard to find at convenient retailers. It may also be finely enough powdered to get into any cracks/pores in the head material and can be difficult to remove completely without a solvent of some sort. It is often used in wood finishing, but almost always with a solvent. John |
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30 Nov 05 - 03:12 AM (#1616951) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze Well, what would you know, I picked up one of my lesser used bodhrans last night to go off to teaching with. And it had a similar problem, dry cloth worked in that instance. hooray! E. W. I. S. |
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30 Nov 05 - 05:43 AM (#1617041) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST The black plague spreads!...... |
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30 Nov 05 - 07:14 AM (#1617077) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze methinks it could be something to do with not being played and being kept in it's bag... I'm releasing my bodhrans from captivity now... This particular goat was probably feeling left out with it's new comer bodhran chum. E. W. I. S. |
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30 Nov 05 - 11:28 AM (#1617276) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Jacare The bag was indeed a bad idea - I am going to give my girl some air from now on - even if it is polluted and grey air. A clean bodhran is a happy bodhran. The rest of the session will be miserable, but they can be woed if you play nice. I miss Fagans :o) |
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30 Nov 05 - 07:34 PM (#1617627) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu Kept in bag a problem? Nope. Unless you have temperature fluctuations. Then, it is very bad! I keep my Hrans on the fireplace mantle and in front of the fireplace, because they are happier there. Except for the synthetic. I keep it in my truck in case I get an emergency call. Never been broken into. |
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30 Nov 05 - 08:34 PM (#1617664) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: The Fooles Troupe Black? sounds like some sort of fungal thing. |
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01 Dec 05 - 01:50 AM (#1617854) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST By-the-by, m'dear, Foolestroupe once gave me some instruction when I had a banjo question. She mentioned something about a steamroller running over the instrument in question solving any problem it had.....Tw |
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01 Dec 05 - 05:21 AM (#1617919) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: The Fooles Troupe SHE? Wasn't me... :-) It was only cause I got in first before all the other fools here. Honestly, I have been think that I may have to leave here - too much competition! |
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02 Dec 05 - 05:12 AM (#1618305) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Ella who is Sooze In my case it is temperal problems, we have lots of problems with damp at the moment (it's an old house with lots of bodge it and bash it style DIY which we are eventually fixing. But the room in question has been the worst affected. Dehumidifiers, heating on during day as well as night is working, next is finding the bloomin leak in the roof....:-( (x's lots!) I now have 2 happy bodhrans. And a house that is driving us mad with damp... well it did turn 100 years old this year. Bit by bit we'll sort it... E. W. I. S. |
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07 Dec 05 - 07:08 AM (#1621830) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu "Aren't you just dieing to find out how it goes?" Still am. Sooooo? |
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07 Dec 05 - 11:06 AM (#1621978) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Tannywheeler Sorry, Fooles. My bad. I find there's no chemical test for keyboarded posts which determines gender of poster. (Note to self: as you marvel at wisdom and laugh at wit, remember Fooles is a HE.) Tw |
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07 Dec 05 - 11:43 AM (#1622004) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu Try Member Photos & Info. |
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08 Dec 05 - 11:00 AM (#1622783) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: GUEST,Jacare It's fixed!!!! its fixed its fixed its fixed Hooray!! Thanks Guys :o) Still can't find any sessions out here in HongKong tho :0( |
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08 Dec 05 - 11:36 AM (#1622811) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: gnu What did you do? Just the damp cloth? Do you ever get to Shanghai? There is a Mudcatter there who plays Bodhran at a Celtic club. Try putting a request thread in for HongKong Celtic music sessions. Join up... doesn't cost anything. Then you can PM others in China. |
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08 Dec 05 - 07:18 PM (#1623239) Subject: RE: Bodhran help please!! From: Tattie Bogle Leave it alone: just play it, preferably in time and only when those you are accompanying are not bodranophobics. Don't play if someone says they're unaccompanied. Too much treatment can be as damaging as none! (Well, I confess, a small smear of dubbin on the playing side once every 2 years or when I remember!) Bodhranista (I like that term!) TB |