The Instrument Workshop

The Instrument Workshop

P.O. Box 1060

Ashland, OR 97520

Telephone: 541 552 0989
Toll free (US/Caanada): 800 442 6038

Fax: 541 488 5846

Parts and Tools for Hammered Dulcimers etc.

This file lists parts and supplies available for owners and makers of hammered dulcimers, psalteries and similar small instruments. Specialty parts for these instruments are offered in this file, while listings of parts of more universal use, which can be found in other locations, are linked to. For other non-bowed stringed instruments, go to our homepage. .

Strings and Wire

Wire for strings is available in small and large coils, on spools, and as individual strings with a loop at one end (2 per pack). String diameters are given in thousandths of an inch. Thus 12 refers to a diameter of 0.012". For conversion to other measuring systems, and for the amount of wire on a coil or spool, see the table in the file on strings and wire. When ordering, state the catalog number followed by the diameter like 1633-14 for a small coil of phosphor bronze wire of diameter 0.014". You will find the listings of all available wire in the strings file. In particular, of interest to owners or makers of small instruments are the following:

Tinned Music Wire - a general purpose high tensile music wire with a tin coating, diameters 07 to 24

Roeslau Music Wire - a dull uncoated high tensile music wire, diameters 07 to 18

Phosphor Bronze Wire - grade A wire in diameters 08 to 32

Regular Spring Brass Wire - available in diameters 14 to 36

Technical Data for Wire - composition and tensile strengths

Conversion Table for Wire - size numbers, diameters in inch and mm, weights

Tools and Accessories

Specialty tools are listed in the tools file. More specifically, you will find there the following tools of interest to small instrument owners and makers:

Tuning Devices - tuning forks

Electronic Tuners - Korg tuners

Tuning Hammers - T-type and gooseneck tuning keys

Wire Handling Tools - wire cutters, string loopers, micrometers

Pins and Tuning Pins

Specialty pins can be found in the pins file. More specifically, you will find there the following pins of interest to small instrument owners and makers:

Zither Tuning Pins - blued and nickel plated

Hitch Pins .072" - pins of small diameter for smaller instruments

Hitch Pins .096" - pins of larger diameter for hammered dulcimers

Coppered Pins - less expensive pins of various diameters

Round Key Pins - sturdy pins that can hold the tension of two strings

Brass and Delrin Rods

Brass rods are used on the nuts of hammered dulcimers, and delrin rods on the bridges. These rods are available in lengths up to 30" (75 cm) in multiples of 6" (15 cm). For instance, to order an 18" piece of 1/8" brass rod, specify 1413-18 and use three times the price listed below.

Cat No	Description	List Price
1413	Brass Rod .125"x6"	0.88
1418	Black Delrin Rod .125"x6"	0.88
1419	Natural Delrin Rod .125"x6"	0.88

Soundboards and Soundboard Material

Sitka spruce and western red cedar boards suitable for soundboards in various thicknesses, 6" (15 cm) wide and up to 8' (240 cm) long, are available from our shop. However, the maximum length that can be shipped by parcel post overseas is 40" (100 cm). We shall be glad to quote for your project if you send us your requirements by e-mail. Some examples are listed below.
Sitka Spruce - The No.1 is our best spruce with close vertical grain. The No.2 spruce is not as perfectly vertical as the No.1 or the red cedar, but still makes perfectly good soundboards. It is of the quality used in most pianos.
Western Red Cedar - This cedar has close vertical grain similar to our No.1 spruce. Color variations occur typical of red cedar. Boards 8" wide are also available.
Set of Soundboard Material for Hammered Dulcimer - The sets consist of three to four 1/4" (6 mm) thick boards of various lengths, surfaced and edged, ready to glue together. The finished soundboards are 16.5" (42 cm) deep (front to back) and 3'4" (100 cm) wide. We use a combination of No.1 and No.2 for the spruce soundboards.
Shorts - Short pieces up to 24" (60 cm) long of No.2 and better soundboard material are offered at special prices, but are available only in small quantities as they accumulate as fall-offs from larger jobs.

Cat No	Description	List Price	Special
2224	Set of Sitka Spruce Soundboard Material for HD	99.00	55.00
3324	Set of Red Cedar Soundboard Material for HD	88.00	50.00
2264	Sitka Spruce Soundboard for HD	158.00	99.00
3364	Red Cedar Soundboard for HD	143.00	79.00

Shorts:

Cat No	Description	List Price
2202-1	Spruce Short 1/8"x6"x12"	8.80
2202-1.5	Spruce Short 1/8"x6"x18"	13.20
2202-2	Spruce Short 1/8"x6"x24"	17.60
2222-1	Spruce Short 1/4"x6"x12"	13.20
2222-1.5	Spruce Short 1/4"x6"x18"	19.80
2222-2	Spruce Short 1/4"x6"x24"	26.40
2227-1	Spruce Short 1.75"x6"x12"	28.60
2227-1.5	Spruce Short 1.75"x6"x18"	42.90
2227-2	Spruce Short 1.75"x6"x24"	57.20
3302-1	Red Cedar Short 1/8"x6"x12"	7.70
3302-1.5	Red Cedar Short 1/8"x6"x18"	12.70
3302-2	Red Cedar Short 1/8"x6"x24"	15.40
3322-1	Red Cedar Short 1/4"x6"x12"	11.00
3322-1.5	Red Cedar Short 1/4"x6"x18"	16.50
3322-2	Red Cedar Short 1/4"x6"x24"	22.00
3327-1	Red Cedar Short 1.75"x6"x12"	26.40
3327-1.5	Spruce Short 1.75"x6"x18"	39.60
3327-2	Red Cedar Short 1.75"x6"x24"	52.80

Literature, Plans and Books

For Literature, click here.

Prices are net, but include shipping by surface mail to any place in the world. The last column gives the cost by air to countries other than USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Cat No	Description	Surface	AIR Overseas
6791	Hammered Dulcimer Plan with Instructions for a 13/11 Hammered Dulcimer	16.50	22.50
96791	Instructions for plan #6791, 15pp	4.00	6.00

No discounts on plans and instructions. No additional shipping and handling charge.