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Step 5Feeling the tension
To keep our blade nice and tight, we need some tension for it to pull against. That's why we needed to leave a little bit of our arms sticking out past the post. Now we can drill holes in each of the arms on the side opposite the blade and use something to pull them together.
Options:
1) In Da Man's original pattern, he used a turnbuckle. If I wasn't doing this ala dumpster that's probably the way I'd go. You can get a small one for only about $2.50 at box hardware stores.
2) A heavy spring. I've heard of people using this method, but frankly I'm not sold. It seems like it could introduce some ringing / vibration to the mechanics, which is something we could do without.
3) I just used a length of clothesline rope I had on hand. Just melt the ends so they don't fray and tie a taughtline knot and you're in business. With this I was able to easily get the blade tight enough to play a note on. (How to tie one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taut-line_hitch)
Blade installation:
(Don't worry. This sounds harder than it is.)
1) Slide the knot until it takes significant pressure to pull the arms down far enough to be the length of the blade.
2) Hook the lower blade attacher onto the bottom pin of the blade and pull it up through the bottom arm hole.
3) Hook the top attacher onto the blade and push the threaded side up through the hole in the top arm.
4) While squeezing the arms together, start the handle onto the threads and tighten.
Options:
1) In Da Man's original pattern, he used a turnbuckle. If I wasn't doing this ala dumpster that's probably the way I'd go. You can get a small one for only about $2.50 at box hardware stores.
2) A heavy spring. I've heard of people using this method, but frankly I'm not sold. It seems like it could introduce some ringing / vibration to the mechanics, which is something we could do without.
3) I just used a length of clothesline rope I had on hand. Just melt the ends so they don't fray and tie a taughtline knot and you're in business. With this I was able to easily get the blade tight enough to play a note on. (How to tie one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taut-line_hitch)
Blade installation:
(Don't worry. This sounds harder than it is.)
1) Slide the knot until it takes significant pressure to pull the arms down far enough to be the length of the blade.
2) Hook the lower blade attacher onto the bottom pin of the blade and pull it up through the bottom arm hole.
3) Hook the top attacher onto the blade and push the threaded side up through the hole in the top arm.
4) While squeezing the arms together, start the handle onto the threads and tighten.
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