Feel free to move this to 'Off Topic' or whatever, just thought that a construction question would go in a construction forum.
So I'm starting a kind of downtempo/psychedelia band with my friends (who are on sitar and harp respectively) and was trying to make some drums for accompaniment. I was thinking about making a djembe at some point. But since I haven't been working in a while (I'm 16) I don't have money for a real goatskin and the tuning rings, so I decided to go the DIY method.
Above is a gallon size pickle jar I cut the bottom off of. It's 6" in diameter. I was wondering what I should do for a head. I heard X-ray film is good, but I don't know how I'd mount it as I can't put some kind of lug system in as it's glass. I wanted to have a ring around the neck of the jar (which will be the base of the drum) and run ropes up like a djembe, but again, goatskin is kind of expensive.
Do you guys have any suggestions for drum skin material or other construction? Thanks!
Tags:
I've used x ray film, worked well for me, especially considering the very humid climate I live in. Some hobby stores carry premade rings, you need them slightly loose and some good rope. Finding rings the right size may be a challenge.
Don
Packaging tape. Really!
Get tight and in a couple of layers. And it's cheap.
Matt
This guy has some for $25-$35, I have bouht from him and he has nice stuff, he also sells goat skins.
http://www.wwdrums.com/products/Painted_Djembe_Drum_8_X_16-824-78.html
For the price of the skin, you might as well buy the drum.
Packing tape is a capitol idea:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/the-squared-eel-banjo-pa...
You might be able buy a rod at someplace like Home Depot, pound it into a round, wrap it with cloth and you would have a ring, don't know if the X-Ray film will bend under the ring.
Don would know. Cheers Ron.
i get a whole goat hide for $60au. it'll cover 10 drums easily..
if you lace to a ring on the underside of the jar the size of the ring is not too critical..
A plastic tube or a plastic 5 gallon pail might be more practical, cardboard round cement form.
cheers Ron.
The idea was to put together some sort of collection of things for a variety of sounds. The edge of the jar is a bit uneven and sharp now, yeah, but I was gonna fix that with some wet emery paper. I'll definitely have a five gallon bucket to bang on. Packing tape does indeed sound like the best option for this. I'll definitely buy a real djembe when I start up work again.
Do you think getting an old leather jacket from a thrift shop and cutting it up would work? Or would it stretch a lot?
tanned leather wont be much good at all imho, u need rawehide..
theres plenty of places u can get a hide pretty cheap, i've found its much more cost effective to buy an entire hide, do a few banjos, drums etc..
Ive been looking in to drums as well. Found this site for drumhead skins
http://www.mid-east.com/items.asp?Cc=Calf&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&a...
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