Staining the wood

So this picture compares what my two earliest trial bars look like after one of them was treated with liquid Kiwi brown shoe polish. 



And if you are wondering why I keep playing my marimba bars with a screwdriver, it's because I have yet to find an alternative with the right hardness for those high notes.

I made some great beaters from the cross bars of a couple of coat hangers to substitute for dowelling that I cannot get in Shymkent.  To the ends of these I glued some very hard rubber balls that I got from a pet shop; the kind of ball a Great Dane would struggle to chew to bits.  I drilled holes in them and glued the balls into place.  However, despite being hard rubber the balls are just a little too large and large makes them give just a tiny bit.  Therefore they don't quite have the punch I am seeking.  I may have to make more beaters from more coat hangers and, if I can get them, some rubber engine mounts, which I hope will be available from a local auto supplies store.  Alternative I will twist some pieces of bicycle inner tube over the end of some heavier tool handles that I can get from the hardware stalls in the market.  I feel these might be a little heavy though, so if push comes to shove I have some beaters on order from a music shop in town where they actually can get most stuff....even a concert marimba might be within their means if you were prepared to pay through the nose!

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