
How Drums Are Made
How Drums Are Made
How do we make my Drums we've been asked . So I thought I would put little of the process on here.
To make a good quality drum takes time , If you were to come and make one with us then you'd be here most of the Day . But we want you to leave with something you cherish , Something that has element in that are important to you .
Your Drum is going to be your companion , your teacher .It's going to help you in your shamanic work so you need to get it right for yourself .
All Drums are Handmade . But we don't make all the components . for these we use reliable sustainable resources . We buy in the hide , Frames and the metal rings .
Deer-hide comes from a reliable source . We ensure the hides are from well kept herds , The frames from sustainable woodlands and our metal hoops come from a local blacksmith.
Hide tanning takes a while to do . We don't tan my own hides , We don't have the space here . Although we have worked with tanners in producing rawhide it a backbreaking process that take hours of cleaning the hide and ensuring it is preserved to it optimum best .
Neither do we make the frames . We don't have the equipment to bend wood . so they are made for me by another Drum maker . And again from Sustainable woodlands
Once you have all your components together you can begin your task of making your drum .
As each drum is possibly made for its owner to use for shamanic purposes. We will create it within sacred space . this involves preparing the area we gong to work in . Smudging all components particular to honour that deers life and expressing gratitude for allowing us to use its hide .
We start usually with the frame.
They are high quality so you don't have to do much with them . you can leave them as they are or you can change the colour on the inside using wood stain , we even had someone use plant based material to enhance the colour of the wood using Elfwort leave to give the inside of their drum a nice greenish colour . In this case we wonder how it has aged and if the colour has change.
Because most people make their drum for a specific purpose we allow time for them to customise it . There is time to paint inside the drum anything you want . so always best to have an idea before you arrive . It's best to be simple something that represents what you intend to use the drum for . Whether it Reiki symbols , Runes ,.Representation of Sami symbols and rock art , something that represents you . we had request form Cats to Dr Who Tardis to be represented within this space .
But when I make a drum I tend to Paint on the inside what the drums call us to do
We make most of our drums using a metal hoop to lace up the drum .In my opinion this add to stability and reduced the chances of the drum loosening in inclement weather . All Hide is subject to moisture and will absorb moisture which makes the skin a little loose .But you can soon tighten it up again . the beat way is to use a hairdryer and gently warm the inside . traditions you might want to warm it by a fire . but be careful not to leave it to close . and of course never leave your drum to close to a heat source unattended .
These metal frames can be decorated and covered in ribbons , or material of your choice to suit you
Of course you'll need a beater . So that's usually the next process in a drum making day. Again wood for the handle is either from pruning our tress or collected from local woodland .
We cut leather to shape sow up the beater , stuff with Sheep's wool ( again from local sources and people I know who are happy to sell me a fleece rather than it going to land fill).
So the next bit is attaching the Drum head .and cutting it out . along with a rawhide strip to string up the drum . we get the metal hoop in place temporary held with stain , Then lace up the drum . You need to ensure that the edges are level and the metal ring stays in place . Once laced into position the job of tightening the drum begins but going round and round time after time pulling the lacing tight and the drum head tight as well . It's a tricky job because you might snap your lacing or there is a chancier you pull too hard the eyelets you have made might tear .
T he sound that the drum will have will be raised on the amount of tension you put in it , the thickness of the skin and the size of the drum frame .
Once satisfied with he tension on the drum . You then need to create something to hold it with . so again we male a handle from the hide .
It takes around a 2 to 4 days for all this to dry out Sometimes a bit longer . You need to ensure the drum is in an airy place not to near a source of heat .
Once dry you can add thing to your drum . anything you might like to hang off it such as Feathers . ribbons thing like that . If you want to paint it you can usually using acrylic pain or inks . I believe oil pain can be used but you would need add an agent too it to dry quicker . However painting the skin can sometimes change the tone of it . But before you do this we would recommend you sit with your drum , you get to know it , you wake the spirit of your drum . which is a Mongolian ceremony to help you connect with and to work with your drum and I believe you can find an outline of that on my page Dunnwooddrums .
So Thanks for asking how I make my Drums. It's given me to opportunity to say how theses drums are produced and the work that goes into them . That we honour and respect all our components and their sources. We make them with and intended purpose in mind. And can make them hopefully to suit individual requirements .
To find out more there's lots of stuff online , Lots of books on Drum making , Shamanic Drumming and Creating your one drumming circle .
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Your drum is made using natural resources . Each drum is made with the Greatest respect given to the Animals and materials used.
Being made of organic material your drum will be sensitive to temperature changes particularly moisture. You can resolve this by warming your Drum gently by a fire, radiator or with a hairdryer.
Do Not leave unattended or for a long while near a source of heat or directly on the radiator
To reduce the effect of moisture you can keep your drum in a bag .
Ours are hung on the wall
It has been recommended to me buy other drum makers that the skin can be sealed by oiling , waxing or applying a moisture proof spray if desired .The type used for Walking boots ( I do not personally recommend this method. I have never felt the need to apply any of this and it will give the skin an oily look )
If you wish to paint your drum we recommend Acrylic Paint, Acrylic inks or oil paint.
(Again this could change the tone of you drum slightly.)
Oils take a long time to dry and it might be better to mix with a special drying agent available at most art shops
We have added a piece of spare skin on the back which you can experiment with paint and water proofing
Whatever you do with your Drum we hope you thoroughly enjoy your new Drum and build a wonderful relationship together.