Mallets

Today I went to Dallas and Company and bought some super balls. I will try to drill some 1/4" holes in them to make some softer mallets. I already have the 1" wooden balls to make the hard mallets. I hope to do this tonight after dinner. We got several different kinds of the balls because some are softer than others. I will take some pictures of anything I do and then begin posting those as well.

Shopping trip

I was disappointed that the new woodworking store did not have any rosewood or purpleheart. It is a great store though. I did pick up some 1/4" dowel and some 1" diameter wooden balls to make the mallets for the xylophone. Later I will make some soft mallets using the 1/4" dowel rod and some 1" super balls. I think I will also make a tuning frame so that I can tune each bar to our piano. It will just be a simple box with adjustable sides so they can be made larger and smaller to hit the nodal points on the bars. I will order some purpleheart on-line when it becomes available.

The Plan (originally posted 11/26/2009)

I have decided to try and build a xylophone. I am surprised by how hard it is to find good information on doing this. Most everything says just pick a material, cut it to varying lengths, and start beating on it. There are some websites that try to get you to buy their "plans" but I am wary of that. Several books are referenced, but they are all out of print and were never popular with libraries. I have found two resources that I am going to start with. The first is the website Making Music Fun, the second is the Dec. 1990 issue of American Woodworker magazine. I do not actually have a copy of the magazine yet, but I have placed a bid for one on eBay. I have also placed some books on hold with my local library, but they are mainly on marimbas. There is a new woodworking store opening in Champaign tomorrow and I am hoping to find some reasonably priced Honduran rosewood or at least some purple heart to make the bars from. I will continue to post my progress and maybe some day this information will help some one else who wants to make their own xylophone.