Doug Berch

4 Responses to “Dulcimer Finishes”

1. Randy J. Arnold says:

   January 26, 2009 at 11:50 PM

   Very interesting post, thanks.

   Grant Peterson, who makes Rivendell bicycles, wrote a piece on customer expectations of handmade frames. I stumbled across it several years ago. Your post reminded me so much of Mr. Peterson’s post that I wanted to share, but unfortunately I’m having a hard time finding it again. I’ll keep at it and hopefully get a link to you soon.

   I agree with you. The further we as a people move away from craftsmanship, the more machine like our expectations. The one key element missing is heart and soul. A machine can not create anything “awakened.”

   It reminded me of something I recently read, by Wm. S. Coperthwaite in the book A HANDMADE LIFE: In Search of Simplicity.

   “Industrial production has been a boon in providing many needed things at a lower cost, but unless we are alert we’ll let the machine start teaching us design. For instance, machines can be used to create any form of chair we like, but commercial interests can make more chairs (and more money) if the simplest design *for the machines* is chosen for the production. So we are surrounded by furniture to fit the needs of machines. …Industrial production has so controlled the design of chairs that we now have a difficult time imagining how the form night differ if a chair were handmade.”

   Thanks again for another great post.

   Randy Arnold

   Reply
2. Doug Berch says:

   January 28, 2009 at 10:42 AM

   Hi Randy,

   Thanks for a great comment. I remember many years ago I was playing a a somewhat crude fretless banjo that belonged to a friend. A boy came up to me and asked if I could play a “real” banjo.

   What struck me was his choice of words. He said “real” as opposed to store-bought, fancy, professional, etc.

   My response was that what I was playing was a real banjo and that if it wasn’t real I wouldn;t be able to play it.

   He said “You know what I mean.”

   It really struck me how, without even thinking, and object that did not have the slick signs of commercial manufacture did not register as real or valid. Amazing!

   I like the quote you put in your comment. There are a few relatively non-critical design elements in my dulcimers that require more time and hand-work than I sometimes think they are worth; subtle details in how the peghead connects to the body, etc. I just wouldn’t be happy if I left them out to save some time.

   All the best,

   Doug

   Reply
3. Denise says:

   January 15, 2012 at 4:00 PM

   Doug,
   I was recently asked by a friend to paint Noah,s Ark with a rainbow on his dulcimer. I have been trying to find out what kind of paint I would need to do this artwork for him. I would really appreciate any information you could share with me on this subject. I would think it would need to be a special technique in order for it not to rub off of the slick surface on the dulcimer. Thank you for any tips you can give me.

   Denise

   Reply
4. Doug Berch says:

   January 15, 2012 at 10:37 PM

   Hi Denise,

   I am not sure what the best paint would be. First thing would be to find out what type of finish was already on the dulcimer and then research what is compatible.

   Usually drawn or painted decorations on an instrument get applied early in the finishing process. The wood is sealed with shellac or another sealer depending on the finish to be used. Then artwork is applied and the rest of the finish is applied over that.

   If you find out what finish is on the dulcimer you could paint with the appropriate paint and then add more finish over your artwork to protect it.
   I hope this is helpful,

   Doug

   Reply