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Hello all, I'm working actually on plate creation, here is some drawings.

G.

Looks like this design is for a cast metal plate?

Same design on Cuban congas just turned upside down...but nice none the less...

Hey Bongo !

I will make that in Brass and try in resin too.

Mechanically, to minimize the stresses on the shell, I think this is a better design than the Cuban plates which have 2 bolts on top and one on the bottom. Also to minimize shell stress, you want the distance to be a short as possible from the shell surface out to the axis of the tuning rod. You also want to make sure that a wide variety of wrenches will fit easily for tuning, without hitting the heads of the mounting bolts. For that reason, you may have to space the two bottom bolts further apart than it looks like in your drawing. Not a problem for fiberglass shells where you don't have to worry about drilling the shell through a stave joint, but too wide could be a problem for stave wood shells.
CAD is nice, but you might want to weld up a rough prototype of your best design to test the wrenches and shell-to-tuning rod distances before you go to the work of casting a whole set.

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Nice clean design. Not sure if a cast is as strong as rolled steel and welding, some metals person would be able to tell. If the plate is extended down a bit it will guard the entire length of the nut and tuning wrenches will not scratch the wood finish. Also distribute the stresses over a wider area which is always good.

thx, Marcus

Nice design Congalou,

It always worried me the amount of potential leverage on the plate and the distance between and closeness of the holes.
What software did you use to draw it?

Dice

Hey guys !

Dicemand, I personnaly don't know the software, I'm working with a guy who make the design I ask him.

About the dimension - holes, I have used dimensions I ever used on other plates and I'm shure it's works and don't stress too much the shell.

Marcus, about the strongest, the plate is 6mm thick, I think it will be enough !

I want to print in 3 dimensions, make a mold and make the plates in brass. Do some guys ever try this technologie ?

G.

Galou,

Brass looks nice, will need polishing and isnt as strong as steel. Maybe there are some bronze alloys which could be used.
There are some very strong aluminium alloys and titanium steel alloys which they use on aeroplanes and F1 cars - probably expensive but will mean you can design thinner and lighter.

It is people like you who want to experiment who advance the design of congas - keep up the good work Mate

Dice

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You are right leedy, but this plate will be very massive, tension on plates are huge and with a thick skin, it's f...ing huge !!! but I think it will be all right.

I feel that it will be all right, compared to all kind of plates I have seen.

What is cool with Brass is that I can make a mold for it. don't need to weld, the plate will be one massive piece.

I think it will be OK but you are right guys, we are never too cagey... I will test in extreme conditions.

G.

Hello Congalou, Hello all.

The hardware of the congas and bongos made by Finnish Percussion was made of brass.

You can find some informations on Finnish Percussion here.
http://www.instasite.fi/fpkotaja/index.php?o=2

And more pictures here. (This tumba is not mine and I don't know the owner)
http://www.zikinf.com/annonces/dispannonce.php?annonce=550296



Regards.

Philippe

PS: I'm always very interested by your work Congalou. And very jealous to!

Congalou,

Your work and postings are well apreciated. I am grateful and have learned many good points from you.

There is a nice blog entry about Finnish Percussion at "Tony's Conga Adventures" from March 2011. If you search the site it will also confirm the Brass hardware and its high quality.

phil manapany wrote:Hello Congalou, Hello all.

The hardware of the congas and bongos made by Finnish Percussion was made of brass.

You can find some informations on Finnish Percussion here.
http://www.instasite.fi/fpkotaja/index.php?o=2

And more pictures here. (This tumba is not mine and I don't know the owner)
http://www.zikinf.com/annonces/dispannonce.php?annonce=550296

Finnish Percussion (tumba).jpg

Regards.

Philippe

PS: I'm always very interested by your work Congalou. And very jealous to!

Thanks !!!!

Yep ! FP plates seems very good !

And the brass rim is super nice too. Thanks guys for this super photos !

G.