The wonderful one-hour drum
I got up a little too early, and a little obsessed. This was the result:
The head is ultrasuede. I have a lot of odd pieces from when sewing machine art was my current obsession. While looking for things to get rid of, I ran across my stash of purple, and its stretchiness made me think… Heh-heh.
So, for my before breakfast chore this morning, I sat down to prove it would work. Within an hour I had a decent sounding drum — for its 6 5/8 inch size — and sore fingers. The stainless steel hoop frame was originally intended to make pancakes perfectly round. It’s still close enough to round after stretching the ultrasuede as tight as was practical. The binding is hemp cord.
It wants a light-weight striker, and likes a quick, light beat. Kind of a happy-dance drum. 
I’ll upload a short sound sample as soon as I dig up an adapter for my good microphone.
Wow, that’s amazing!
I love your enthusiasm for your creation!
It’s a beautiful looking happy-dance drum!
I am inspired!
I am wondering what other stainless steel can make this drum?
Comment by Ana — 2009/12/10 @ 12:20 pm
I’ve heard of using stainless steel mixing bowls, but I can’t give up any of mine for that! However, coffee cans are great for small drums. I have one very ugly but great sounding one with a thin rawhide head. I hope to complete a more ambitious project soon. I’ve been constructing a drum frame out of steel hoops and paper maché. It’s almost done, and I’ve had enough practice with rawhide that I’m pretty sure it will turn out good.
Comment by admin — 2009/12/10 @ 11:36 pm
Love- love-love the drums! I can’t believe you made them- very cool, I like the bright purple one. You are very talented and I like your blog
Comment by Sheadakota — 2009/12/12 @ 8:03 am
Hello Again,
That sounds like some great ideas. I think it’s always much better to make them than spend money on very expensive things. Your drum frame out of steel hoops and paper mache sounds very clever. I like that. Interestingly I have been experimenting with paper mache latetly. I’m trying to figure out which is the best material to put around for the base of the drum?
I’m curious to make a small drum.
Comment by Ana — 2009/12/15 @ 8:36 am
You might as well use a coffee can as a base, unless you want a shallow frame. I started off my built-up frame with a strip of corrugated cardboard taped to the two steel rings. It might have been better to use plain, thin cardboard. That means more paper layers to build it up, but it might be more resonant. The corrugated cardboard has a deadening effect because of the air cells. I’m not sure how it will sound. Probably not too bad if I manage the head right, but it will lack the power of a solid wood frame.
Stability is important in a drum frame; you don’t want it to bend out of shape or break when the head is stretched tight. That’s why I started with the steel rings, and the corrugated cardboard was a quick-and-dirty way to stiffen it vertically.
I hope to have that drum finished by Christmas. Meanwhile, I put the head on another coffecan drum last night. This one is covered with one layer of paper, then fabric, both laid on in small squares with thin glue brushed under and over. Then a clear coating, punch holes all around with my antique icepick, and off we go.
Google around to see some drum sites for ideas and tips on construction.
Comment by admin — 2009/12/15 @ 10:28 am