Custom Built Drums

A snare drum, which made its first appearance as a tabor in the Dark Ages, features a distinctive sound which enables you visualize armies marching to war. From a tabor, its size gradually increased until it emerged in their present form in the 1600s. Using the right tools and a little perseverance, one might make a snare drum on your own.

 

Materials for this endeavor are: the drum shell, wood putty, putty knife or scrap wood, sandpaper and sandpaper block, foam (optional), 220- or 320-grit sandpaper (can be used wet), palm sander (optional), scrubbing pad, water-based dye, foam paint brush, air compressor, spray gun, polyurethane or lacquer, 600- and 2,000-grit sandpaper, buffing bonnet, rubbing compound, masking tape, pencil, two snare drum heads, combination square, ruler, 1/8th inch drill bit (brad tipped), cordless drill, drill bit the same size as the mounting stud, file, carnauba wax, and soft cloth.

 

Initial step is to prepare the drum shell. Order one from drum stores. The usual dimensions of a snare drum could well be 5 inches high by 14 to 16 inches in diameter. Scrutinize it carefully for gaps, which may be filled with wood putty. Any excess will probably be sanded and smoothed away. Place it on top of your foam while sanding to prevent scratching. You can then use the 220-grit, 320-grit, or the palm sander to make the outside of your drum smooth and blemish-free. Ensure that there won’t be any scratches. Finish it off by buffing the drum shell with a non-metal scouring pad until it is glossy.

 

Next, dye the shell with all the foam brush. Gently work the dye into the wood, applying three to five coats but allow it to dry first in between coats for a better finish. Once it is completely dry, buff any roughness left behind soon you feel no more rough spots. Use the air compressor to get rid of your scrubbed dye and blow off the inside as well.

 

Finish this off by applying either polyurethane or lacquer finish while using the spray gun. Let it dry for around 30 minutes then repeat the procedure three times. Leave it overnight then sand any roughness using the 320-grit sandpaper. Do this gently to avoid scraping off any finish. Then, use the 600-grit sandpaper to balance out the finish. Keep the sandpaper moist while doing this, and adding liquid or dishwashing soap in the water would help in making the lighter and darker patches of finish look the same color. Add a couple more coats of finish or as desired. Leave it overnight and repeat the last sanding process. Lastly, apply rubbing compound using a buffing bonnet made of lamb’s wool.

 

Prepare the snare drum to the drilling. Place the drum head and hoop on one end of your shell and while using masking tape and pencil, mark off the holes of your hoop. Do the same on the other end. Once all the holes are accounted for, use the one-eighth-inch drill bit to bore the pilot holes on the markings. Then make these holes bigger using the drill bit that is exactly the same as the mounting studs. If the hole just isn’t large enough, make it larger using a file.

 

Sand all of the edges while using the 600-grit then the 2000-grit sandpaper. Apply rubbing compound to polish the edges while using the buffing bonnet, then the carnauba wax to give it a glossy polish. Leave it for 30 minutes then install the mounting studs, taking care never to screw them in too tight as this can strip the threads. Install the lugs and slip on the first of your two heads, referred to as resonant head. Tune this using the keys and hit it with all the drum sticks. Repeat the procedure until the desired sound is reached. Then slip on the batter head on the foot of the drum. Tighten and test it too.

 

Voila! You now have a snare drum which you’ll proudly call your own personal.

How to Make “Les Paul Jr.” Snare Drum

 Mail this post