From: "Kismet" <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 09:02:36 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Screen stretching help!


I was going to suggest something like Architects drawing paper, Building 
wrap or upholsterers paper....something that doesnt need streeeeetching but 
a gentle pull into shape.
Mathieu may be onto something with the drums...a stretchy fabric attached to 
a ring that is pulled over a slightly smaller diameter but taller ring until 
tight....a modern darabuka works like this (a third ring is used to secure 
the skin rim) with four screws pulling the skin rim over the drum 
ring....... Tablas, being larger, have more. A Djembe, the type that uses 
ropes uses two rings to clamp the fabric, the drum shell forming the third 
ring, with the top ring being laced to the drum shell...because a djembe is 
laced with one piece of rope it would be hard to get it nice and 
even.....its hard enough to get the drum skin even!!!!! so seperate pieces 
of rope MAY help. The intricate weaving on a Djembe is the tuning 
knotts...as the skin loosens the drummer or tuner will tie another row of 
knots to pull the skin down tight...you can use these to tighten specific 
parts of the skin..... An Indian Tabla on the other hand uses wedges of wood 
between the top ring and the drum shell....the more the wedges are hammered 
down...the tighter the skin adjacent to that wedge.....

SO! My untried and untested suggestion...... Cut a circle of stretchy fabric 
and sew a pocket around the edge, open a little at one point. feed in some 
extruded fibreglass rod....Oh OK a couple of those bendy rods from a 
discarded tent....I get them from Op Shops...thinner if small, thicker if 
big....gaff the two ends together and viola...the tension of the rods SHOULD 
pull the material into shape!...you could also soak some rattan cane and dry 
it into shape to achieve the same effect.....You could also use Mathieu's 
drum idea to pull it over another ring to taughten it even further......
Just an idea

D. 

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