How to Build a Hammer Dulcimer Stand

If you're going to play the hammer or hammered dulcimer, you need to have a stand for your instrument. You could purchase a hammered dulcimer stand from a professional craftsman, or you could save money and build your own out of light lumber of any size--2-inch-by-2-inch or 1-inch-by-1-inch is easy to work with. This pattern may be modified to fit various sizes of dulcimer.

Things You'll Need

• Two 15-inch pieces of wood Four 23-inch pieces of wood Two 31-inch pieces of wood Saw Two piano hinges Pencil Wood screws Screwdriver Wood glue

Instructions

1. Lay the two 31-inch pieces of wood out side by side and place the hinges on top, each about three inches away from the ends of the wood. Mark the holes in the hinges with a pencil.

2. Fasten the hinges in place with wood screws. This forms the spine of your hammer dulcimer stand. Flip the two pieces of wood over so that they're lying with the hinges downward.

3. Place two of the 23-inch pieces of wood parallel to the spine of your stand, even with one edge of the spine. Slide the 23-inch pieces outward until they're about 15 inches away from the spine to either side. Make sure they are parallel to the spine.

4. Screw the two 15-inch pieces of wood into place between the spine and the 23-inch pieces. They should be perpendicular to the spine, edges even with the other pieces of wood.

5. Use a saw to trim the top (unattached) edges of the 23- and 31-inch pieces at an even angle. Save the scraps you trim off.

6. Lay the partially completed stand flat, hinges down. Place the remaining 23-inch pieces of wood across the angled tops of the 23- and 31-inch pieces. They should complete a basic "house" shape. Screw them in place. You may need to trim their inner edges at an angle to keep them from overlapping.

7. Leave the stand spread out on the floor. Use screws or wood glue to fasten the leftover scraps from trimming on to the outside edges of the slanted pieces. These will act as stoppers to hold your dulcimer in place on the stand.

8. Stand your new hammer dulcimer stand up, folding it at the hinges to form an angle between 30 and 45 degrees. Wiggle it to check for stability, and reinforce as necessary with wood glue and screws.

Resources

• A similar finished product