reskining conga head - help

[Isaac]

Yes, I agree with Jorge.

If any kind of skin can take the punishment
- it's mule skin. It's as stubborn & strong
as it was when it was alive!

~ ISAAC ~

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and dealing with life's little mishaps!

Alafia Abure Isaac!
Definitely someone with knowledge of congas and skins, as well as mounting techiniques and experience!


As for mounting the skins, absolutely, we've all had our little 'regrets' and most have learned from them. Great Props out to the brothers that have contributed to the learning curve on this thread. I'm sure that we've had to adapt techniques as time passed, however now with this new technology, bam! We can share them immediately!

I would like to offer the following, the stringing technique I learned from Abure Olsongo, the 'spatchala (?sp)' I can't remember exactly where I picked that one up, but very safe when cutting the skin!



Edited By onile on 1160489041

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... e_Skin.JPG

[onile]

Olsongo's stringing the skin technique for mounting the skin....

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... hnique.JPG

[OLSONGO]

Bingobongo, if it is a superficial nick or a through cut I also recommend with a needle and thread to saw the cut as the skin is leather hard and then apply the epoxy. God forvid, but if the cut seems to get bigger, you can always put it on a smaller drum using the string technique.

Suerte OLSONGO

[Diceman]

I recently changed out a couple of Isaac's mules, and couldnt have done it without this forum. I copied all the advice I could from this site and others, and all the advice from Isaac, Onile and Olsongo gave me the confidence to go for it. Thanks brothers.
One thing I did do,which I picked up from here, was to turn the tubs upside down on plastic sheet, which slowed the drying of the flat skin and allowed the wrapped part to dry quicker and so wasnt pulled out as the skin shrank.
Incidentally after two weeks they are beginning to 'sing' a little better, and one thing I noticed-they have great resonance especially when they are tuned down below where you would normally have them. I am thinking of experimenting a little in musical situations.
Bad luck, Bingobingo, I only managed to gash my thumb, so now me and my mules are bloodbrothers . But it will heal. I hope yours will be ok, but as Isaac says mules will be still stubborn even after they become drums
Thanks again brothers, couldnt have done it without you and thanks to this great carin', sharin' forum

Diceman

[franc]

bingobongo,
hope all is well!!! you mounted the outside rim too low. you should have let the rim at least a half an inch bellow the top of the conga, then cut the excess at top of conga head level. you would have less problem when cutting the excess. remember that when dry as the skin tighten the rim with the excess skin will keep on lowering. just my two cents. my best to all in the forum!! ???

[bingobongo]

I'm glad to say that despite all my efforts to make a mess of mounting the new head on my conga, nicking the head and mounting it too low on the drum, it still sounds amazing. Big thanks to Jorge for your detailed instruction on how to save the head - the epoxy resin worked a treat.

I'm also glad to say that using Olsongo's 'spachula' technique, mounting the tumba went without a hitch and I will post some pictures when I have time.

I agree with Diceman, the resonance of the mule skin is more powerful compared to the buffalo skins they replaced - as I'm sure my neigbours would testify

Thanks again to this forum and its members for all their advice.

Bingobongo

[Isaac]

Congratulations !!!

~ Isaac