Craftsman, musician, and living history practitioner Lewis Beck gives some advice on how to care for drums made with him during our drum making workshops, using steam-bent birch wood and ethically-sourced goat hide. You can check out all our workshops here.
CARE
• Do not leave your drum near any source of intense direct heat for an extended period.
• The drum head will contract and release depending on the temperature and humidity. If it sounds ‘slack’, simply place your instrument in a warm, dry place.
• Never leave the drum face down.
• Clean with a slightly damp cloth.
• If you feel like the outside temperature might over-tighten your drum, simply insert a damp washcloth, or spray it with a water bottle.
• Use Shea Butter, saddle soap or any other leather conditioner to keep it from drying out and protect it from cracking or splitting over time. Remember, add it sparingly!
Painting
Your drumskin is a brilliant canvas and will hold vivid colours with ease. Here are a few tips for decorating:
• Only start decorating when the skin is dry.
• The biggest killer for creativity is hesitation! Trust in yourself and your capability.
• Watercolour (Paint and Pencil): Beautiful, vibrant, and easily applied. Just remember to add water sparingly! Coat with acrylic sealant once dry after application.
• Acrylic: A good all-round medium. Apply in thin layers with precision. Coat with acrylic sealant once dry after application.
• Permanent Ink: Can be used precisely and does not require an acrylic seal. However, it is not forgiving with mistakes!
REPAIRS
We understand that damaging a loved instrument is a stressful experience, but by following these simple steps, you should have your instrument back to playing order in no time!
Before you start:
• What you need:
- Patch of goat rawhide
- Superglue
- Medium grit sandpaper
• Assess the damage to follow the correct repair guidance.
• Please Note: This repair may lead to a minor change in sound to your instrument
Tears / Rips (Up to 5cm length):
1) Cut out a section of the patch provided slightly larger than the area of the tear.
2) Lay the instrument face first on a level surface.
3) Apply the adhesive to the patch and press flat against the damaged area from INSIDE the instrument.
4) After the adhesive has settled for approximately 1 minute then lightly sand the affected area with the sandpaper provided. The mix of adhesive and skin dust should create an artificial scar.
5) Once dry, use the sandpaper again to even out any imperfections on the skin.
Holes (Up to 1cm diameter):
1) Cut a section of the patch provided to the size of the hole (Patch A).
2) Cut a second section of the patch provided slightly larger than the area of the hole (Patch B).
3) Lay the instrument face first on a level surface.
4) Apply the adhesive around the perimeter of Patch B and press flat against the damaged area from INSIDE the instrument.
5) After the adhesive has settled for approximately 1 minute, flip the instrument face up.
6) Place a thin layer of adhesive to Patch A, then place against the front of Patch B.
7) After the adhesive has settled for approximately 1 minute then lightly sand the affected area with the sandpaper provided. The mix of adhesive and skin dust should create an artificial scar.
8) Once dry, use the sandpaper again to even out any imperfections on the skin.
For any further enquiries, please email us at: Leofric.Designs@Outlook.com