Drum Components - Making a Full size Drum

Making a drum from its components

The Manufacturing process

Drum making has changed dramatically over the years. As a result, the original craftsmen, such as Henry Potter Ltd, have largely gone out of business. Specialist machines have replaced the craftsmanship and the fine artwork used as an emblazon is now a lost art.

Drum Components

A drum is made from 10 core components. In order these are:

1. 3 x Drum Peg legs (not shown)
2. Upper Drum Hoop
3. Upper Drum Skin
4. Drum Shell with emblazon
5. Lower drum skin
6. Lower drum hoop
7. Drum Rope
8. 8 x Drum rope tensioners
9. 2 x Snare lugs
10. Drum Snare

Shaping the Drum

During the original process, seasoned ash was used to make a drum. First, the Ash was planed, then secondly cut to size. Third, the wood was steamed into a curve, before finally the ends were spliced and glued together,

Secondly, each drum had Drum hoops made specifically for it. Consequently, eight holes were drilled in each hoop through which the rope will be passed at a later stage.

Lapping the Drum Skin

Thirdly, a vellum calfskin is dampened before being stretched over the thin hoops. Most importantly, the loose calfskin is tucked under the thin round hoops, through a process known as lapping. Therefore, when the calfskin drys its will shrink very tight to create a a taught drumskin.

Preparing the Drum Shell and Hoops

Meanwhile, the regimental emblazon is hand painted onto the drum shell. This is a high skilled and intricate process requiring both artistic flair and fine craftsmanship.

Tensioning the drum

Fifthly, The next stage is to hold the Drum hoops, drum skins and shell together. The drum rope is used to hold them in place like a giant sandwich. The rope is passed in a v shape from the lower to the upper drum hoop and then back to the lower. After that, It is then tied in a “pigtail” and the excess rope chained together.

After that, the rope tensioner are used to tensions the drum . These help to pull the drum skin tight between the two drum hoops.

Drum Snare

Lastly, the drum snare is added beneath the lower drum skin and held tightly in place by looping it around the snare lugs.

Pownall Bentley Miniature Drums

Pownall Bentley’s approach is identical to that of Henry Potter – the original drum maker to the British Army. Furthermore, you canread a more detailed description of how we make our own miniature brass drum