DRUMMER CAFE

Previously I have built an oak stave snare with photos and details posted here in the DC somewhere.  It turned out very nice. But it was a first effort learning experience, so I took that hardware and assembled a snare from a new Keller shell a la  J.Walker (which I use as a go-to everyday snare now).  Now I figure it is time to jump in feet first and try my hand at an entire segmented-shell kit.

The wife would not let me get the big new $6K lathe currently on display at my local WoodCraft store. But I am allowed to significantly update my router table.  I have spent way too many hours planning, scribbling, and scheming and have come up with the following:

1)   The main shop tools used: table saw, router table (w/ various bits), palm sander.
2)   It will be a 5-piece.  12, 14, 16” toms, 20x16 bass, 13x6” snare.  The tom depths are as yet undecided. However, I was planning on shallower depth toms (6, 8, 12” respectively), but am not completely sold there…I have wanted something a bit more musical, and a little less ‘”boom” (eventhough I really like the “boom”)
3)   I believe I have decided on a shell thickness of 3/8”.  Not too thick, not too thin.  Based on my calculations, this is the average thickness of shells that can be made from common  ¾” wood stock.  It also gives me the most room for error during shaping.  If you have ever tried to build drums, it is nothing if not an exercise in error propogation (and how to minimize it).
4)   The wood will likely be walnut, cherry, ash or a figured maple.  No final decision made there yet either. This decision may be made on price and availability.
5)   The finish will most likely be several coats of tung oil (simple).
6)   The hardware is still to be decided.

I will be setting up my workshop, router table etc. this weekend and will begin by making a few jigs and a test shell from MDF or pine to test the method and the fit.  ANY input to the depth of toms and preferred wood type would be greatly appreciated.

Let the games begin.  Bob

NYF,
Be careful what you wish for....!  Bob

Yea,
Ash might be the choice...I love my swamp ash telecaster. I always wondered wy more drums were not made from it...too pedestian perhaps. 

Question:

Does anyone have wooden hoops? you big wide $50 variety that one buys to put on their snare? If so, could you please post or send me the cross-sectional dimensions? Width of hoop x height? I imagine that they are about 1"x 1", but am not sure.  I am contemplating making some wood hoops for as part of this project. 

picked up and ordered some router bits today...and some test-grade wood.  Sawdust should start flying by the end of this week.

Thanks, Bob

I have never played a wood hoop.

What does a wood hoop bring?  Is it a look thing only, or does it change
the tone?  Does it change the tone only of rim shots, or of regular hits too?

Interesting.  They seem quite bulky, do they get in the way of playing at all?  I think that I would find myself trying to avoid rimshots the whole time!

OK, here we go.
All the calculations have been made, the jigs tested, the lumber selected.

I am starting from 2 2"x10"x10' long rough sawn ash boards that were sawn to 5' lengths to fit into my truck...




Those were turned into many (many) planks that measured from 4-5" wide, 1" thick, by 2-3' long (~4hrs of garage mill work)...



3 more hours of mill work turned those into suitable-sized beveled planks for gluing...

...the planks are now being glued up. Here is the 16" tom...






and here are the 13" snare and 12" tom glued and ready for shaping (next weekend)...




More images as I progress.

So, this stave set will contain the following:

13x6 snare, 12x6, 14x8 and 16x12 toms, 20x16" bass.

I will be making 1-2 extra snare shells out of this batch of lumber if anyone is interested.

Cheers, Bob

and after ~15 min of exterior shaping...



...a little water to raise the grain, and some final sanding will take the tooling ridges out. I really like this hunk of ash I chose...nice multicolor grain.  It will take me about a week to get around to shaping the other shells. More after that occurs.  I am taking rec's for lugs.  I am considering making them out of a harder wood and using cross-dowel type nuts, or maybe old-style slingerlands.

Making lots-o-sawdust, Bob

Looks really great.

I'm shop challenged.  Exactly how do you shape it down to the right diameter inside the right tolerance?

Wow.  Thanks for those pics.

Way, way, way, way  cool.