MIMF

Steve, Thanks so much for looking for these things. I also found these, and the price shocked me, $3 per bolt. I've decided to try another way using square grounding strips that have 7 holes in them. This allows me to put a complete row of C-D-E-F-G-A-B at once. I just have to splay them a bit to gi...

Hi Chris, I've been contemplating not opening up the sound box. Knowing how clutszy I can be, it could mean the end of the instrument. I need to read, and watch a lot more before I try to do what is more than likely a Luthier's job. This instrument cost $55, which includes the shipping. I will proba...

Jim, I didn't bother with the lower part of the pins, since they are pretty much clean; no corrosion, just some discolouration from being imbedded in the wood. As for trying to get the back off by prying, that is absolutely not going to work. The seams are all very tight, with no seperating at all. ...

Made more progress. Yesterday I carefully wiped with water only, all faces of the instrument. I was totally icked by how dirty it was, especially the decorated front. I actually can see the design and lettering a lot better now. This morning I racked my beady brains to figure out how to clean up the...

I finally found a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oDbmjwG98U that deals with separating hide glue seams. It involved a spray bottle, old rag, and steam iron used on the seams. Now I just have to hope that the glue used on this instrument is hide glue. Clay, Will look into a wire twister. I thought ...

The eyelet diameter outer dimensions are way too big, as are the inner dimensions. In order to take 1/8 inch wide tines, I would probably need eyelets with an inner diameter of no more than 3/6 inch. Looks like I am going to have to just wing it, using blocks with strips of wood, and whatever the li...

Jim, Thanks, sounds like I have another construction project to do. I already have a lot of what you mentioned in the shed, so I may only have to purchase a minimum of things. Steve, Thanks for letting me know about instrument string wire tolerances. I noticed no one online listed anything other tha...

Guess I missed the description, and somehow made up what I thought I saw. Oh well, I tend to imagine things I need to get from places like Home Depot, only to find that my own mind invented what I am looking for, Kind of difficult to get something no one makes.

Jim, Thanks for taking the time out from your holiday to reply. Back near the beginning of my introductory thread, someone mentioned using water along the seams, and prying just as you mentioned. Apparently it is a very tedious task. I figure that once I get the pieces apart, I can clean up the old ...

As I said before, this is looking more daunting than ever. I have been trying to find replacement strings, but this particular Zither is not something anyone makes any more. I get the feeling I need to find a supplier of music wire string, or whatever they are called, and order the sizes in spools f...

I am not a happy camper. I just removed all the strings on the instrument to get a better view of it. What I found was another crack, though very minor above the sound hole matching the placement of the lower monster crack. As for the monster crack, I doubt it can be brought together without taking ...

Hi All, I decided that if I could not figure out what this thing is called, I would draw a rough picture of it, and see if anyone actually knows what it is called. I viewed the construction of a chromatic Kalimba on YouTube, and this is what the person who designed it, used to hold his thick music w...

And the last batch

Just got some pictures roughly processed. Now that I have a higher resolution photo of the front crack, it may not be possible to completely close that crack. I may be able to get it mostly there, which would help. I will have to await the experts opinions. Unfortunately this Frum only allows low re...

I just got my EBay purchase yesterday, a Zither. I am guessing it is a Schmit re-issue, possibly a Phonoharp 4/30 (No. 2 1/4). The label inside calls it a Mandolin Harp. I guess there are all kinds of Zithers. What I hope is that things aren't too far gone with this instrument, and that I can effect...

Steve, I thought I would move the part of this thread that deals with the Chromatic Kalimba, which is basically a type of piano, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere for such instruments. Guess I will leave it here, and when I start the Zither Mandolin Harp restoration, I will start a new thread fo...

Well, I tried using the flush cut router bit this morning. I did the ends first to try to prevent chip out, and then did the sides. One side went just fine, but apparently either I did something wrong, or the wood had an imperfection that caused a strip of wood to shatter off that side. Was nearly a...

Thanks Everyone. I m just waiting for the instrument to arrive so I can look at it, and take some pictures. It is a Zither type instrument, that has a label inside "Mandolin Harp" It is not from the late 1800's, but is rather a copy done more than likely sometime in the early to middle 190...

Steve, Oops! I am pretty bad at filling in all the parts on the Forums that I belong to. I'll get on it right now.

Hi Steve, I just watched another Luthier repair a guitar crack, and his method is so simple. But it does require building one of those thingumbobs. It seems the glue of choice is thin CA, and also Titebond. First this gentleman used the Titebond. To hold the crack sides in place, he used Neodymn mag...