Percussion Maintenance & Repair
The aim of this page is to help you keep your percussion in tip-top working condition and to prolong its working life.
Drums
Drums with 'Traditional' Type (e.g.,
rope) Tensioning
'Toys'
Ensure
that the threads on tension rods or other
nuts and bolts of any drums are lubricated. Use a proprietary
brand such as LP Lug Lube™ as this is designed to cope with
high pressure and repeated use. Petroleum jelly, such as
Vaseline™ is another readily available option.
Make sure that all tension bolts, nuts and washers are present
and work properly. Be careful to check for cross-threading
which will make adjustment a nightmare, and will only get worse
with time, especially where higher tensions are required such as
with congas or timbales.
Ensure that all items of hardware attached to the shell e.g., nut
boxes, are secure.
Check the drum heads for signs of damage e.g., warped or bent
rims, and splits in the head. Once the drum heads have been
removed check the bearing edges for cracks in the shell or
bearing edge deformities.
Gently rub a bit of candle wax around the bearing edges to help
smooth movement of the skin over the edge. Always ensure that
all lumps of wax are removed before fitting the head.
Where natural skin heads are used, always check for holes,
scratches or problems with 'scar' marks. Nearly ALL skins will
have some scarring, but they should be checked for strength.
Some players like to apply a 'head oil' to their congas to
prolong life. However, care must be taken if you choose to use
these as the head may 'soften' slightly and sound slightly dull
for a while. A 'head treatment' may be applied to the area of
the skin which passes over the rim of the drum. This area
undergoes most stress and strain and is prone to earlier cracking
if not looked after properly.
ALWAYS de-tune natural skin heads after use, otherwise they will
stretch and need replacing sooner than necessary. They are NOT
cheap!
Drums with 'Traditional' Type (e.g., rope) Tensioning
These are more difficult to check for deficiencies
in the bearing edge, unless you are familiar with and have the
necessary tools to perform the tensioning techniques (e.g., 'mali
weave' for traditional djembes). Learning this is useful for
increasing the life of the skin, since you can de-tune the drum
slightly after use. Check the ropes or thongs for 'chaffing',
splitting and other damage, including loose knots.
With bodhráns, in addition to the above it is always a
good idea to rub clear dubbin (waterproofing agent for shoes)
into the playing surface of the skin. DO NOT coat the inside
surface as this will make tensioning of 'non-tuneable' models
almost impossible.
Check the exterior finish for deep scratches, evidence of cracks
or other damage. Apply a coat of polish to the shells and
fittings to maintain a good finish.
'Toys' come in
a variety of sizes, and materials
(including metals, woods or plastics). They can also be made
from straw, seed pods, gourds and string.
Check all of these for chips, cracks or faults especially
on
wooden items such as wood blocks, hand drum frames or vibra-slaps™. A good quality wood glue will take care of
these.
For metal objects a light rubbing with a cloth moistened with
WD-40™ or equivalent light grade lubricant. For cowbells,
it is especially important to rub the INSIDE of the bell where
there is often less protective coating and this can easily go
rusty without being noticed (unless you frequently look up the
inside of your bells!!).
Chrome articles will benefit from being polished. Check
frequently for corrosion or flaking. Check tambourine jingles
(particularly those which are made of thinner or softer
materials) for 'key-holing', where the side that presses against
the metal pin holding the jingles in place, wears (see
below).
Diagram of Key-Holing in Tambourine Jingle
(click image to enlarge)
There is little you can do to stop this, but it
helps to be aware so that you know approximately when you need to
remove/replace the offending jingles, or eventually replace the
tambourine.
Check shakers and other hollow items for wear, cracking or
splitting. The CAREFUL use of glue or tape can help to control
these and keep the instrument in working order. BE AWARE that if
you use such methods of repair you may produce INCREASED muffling
in the repaired item.
For natural wood objects (and drum shells) which have NOT
previously been varnished, apply a wood preservative such as
linseed oil. AVOID getting it on the drum skins.
ALWAYS try to store your percussion in dry conditions, preferably
in cases at room temperature. AVOID storing in very hot, cold or
damp environments.
ALWAYS take time to case your percussion for transport to and
from venues. If you pack more than one item in a case, ensure
protection against damage through rubbing or striking other
pieces of percussion during transit. More damage can occur
during transit than during a gig.
The potential list is endless. We hope you have been given a 'taster' and supplied with a basic strategy to keep your instruments working and in good condition. If you have any specific questions, please Contact Us.
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