....just another gon bop resto.

[Dangler]

Hola congueros
just thought i'd share some photos of a rough gon bop conga I repaired

these surfaced on craigslist less than a day after i purchased another pair of gon bops.At $60 I couldn't resist.

the quinto isn't too bad but this conga was unplayable

no turning back now

this jig left a few stave gaps near the base

[Dangler]

more pics

added another smaller piywood compression ring around the base,more threaded rod and a cargo strap around the center

glued and ready for stripping

belt sanded and filled

Watco red mahogany stain,a few coats of satin varethane a band repair and a new bleached cowskin from L & H and its boppin

Got great insight from these threads....thx

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5489

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4761

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5577

[Dangler]

...just a few more

attached some sandpaper to a plywood circle with a backing piece

giving the bearing edge a tune up

my circle cutter

i find the really dry sound of the original bleached cow skin on the quinto quite appealing,so if its not broke why fix it?

[Joseph]

Great job...Well Done!

I really like those plywood compression rings. Very innovative!

What kind of router bit do you have on that circle cutter?

FWIW
You might consider fabricating a band for the bottom of that shell.
Due to its location, it is the easiest to trace for a template.
That's where a lot of cracks get started.
I think it is the most important of all the bands.
Even the "naked" GonBops are made with a bottom band.

More FWIW
After I tuned up the bearing edge on a coupla GB restos, I found the curve on the outer edge to be rather sharp.
I made a template from another intact GB bearing edge, lined it with sandpaper and made a very smooth & even reproduction.

Cheers!

[Dangler]

I think I will make that bottom band Joseph,just have to find a piece of aluminum.

[niallgregory]

Fair play on the restoration man ! Great job , the drum looks beautiful ! . I wish i had to patience and the know how to take on something like this . If i can drag myself away from playing the congas at some stage i just might try

[Bongobilly]

Very innovated! Lot's of work for sure. Were you able to get the gap's at the end's tight?

[SalseroBoricua71]

*

[GuruPimpi]

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

As Congalou and you guys, I really dig your skills and courage to go and refurbish/make the tumbadores yourself!
A true inspiration!

PimpS

[congalou]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE !!!!!!!!

G.

[Mike]

Terrific job, congrats!
Definitely a rewarding, if challenging task.
Conga staves are certainly not easy to reassemble I reckon. Respect!

[burke]

Really nice work and a lot of great ideas for promlem solving [like the jig and the threaded rods for example] I hope I'll remember if I ever face a job like that.

Very cool.

[Anonimo]

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

[Mike]

Nice work . now come hard work maintain so it does not crack again.

Indeed!
I would strongly advise epoxying the shell exterior.

[Psych1]

Very very nice work. Old Gon Bops crack for sure but I think that is because of the type of glue used and the age of the glue. Often repairing one crack stresses the shell and other cracks appear. But what you did, taking all the staves apart and regluing, should solve that problem for a very long time - (I almost said "forever" but that might be too long). Great job!!