Timber choice for drum sticks

[DaveTTC]

My nephew wants to make some new drum sticks. Oh i have the lathe and the chisels. Guess it will be me doing the job.

I have heard long grain timber has better tensile strength.

What would you recomend

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Simplicity]

Hickory ??

And I didn't really think about it much either
Mouth before brain day lol

[springwater]

Yeah I think Hickory is preferred but I'd think any springy wood would do. Coastal tea tree comes to mind which i can get for you and I also have some Spotty Gum but may be a bit splintery...don't ask how I know that :oo:

[DaveTTC]

Ok. Love to try some coastal teatree

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Sturdee]

Dave,

All you wanted to know and more (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_stick).

Peter.

[DaveTTC]

Hickory maple and oak


Do we have any aussie tibers on par?

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Scally]

My drumming mates go through drum stick pretty quick.

Hickory Maple and Oak are too good for them so I only make my sticks with them.

Any of the "Tassie Oak" are fine.

I like Spotted gum when I want more weight and power.

[Gabriel]

How thick do you need the blanks?

[DaveTTC]

Not sure. He plays in a band sometimes. Sometimes he gets 2 hr from a set sometimes he gets 20

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[DaveTTC]

Is Karri a western aust timber. I seem to remember that being somewhat flexible. Would that be any good?

not that i have any

I do have some tassie oak drying sticks. Not sure if any of them would be thick enough. Chances are yes

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Gabriel]

I have heaps of Karri .... unused floorboards.... could get some to you no worries if it helps

[DaveTTC]

Cool. Are you coming to the gtg

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Gabriel]

Planning on it..... but would that be soon enough??

[DaveTTC]

Yeah that should be fine as not likely to back home before the 10th. Unless you happen to rendavue with simplicity before then as i will be seeing him on the 9th in Ballarat I think

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Gabriel]

Will see if I can then, we are both on the road a lot for work so shouldn't be difficult to catch up with him somewhere.... leave it with me

[DaveTTC]

Cool. Have not worked with the stuff in about 15 years. Will be good to test it out and see how it fairs

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Gabriel]

They're 19mm boards, so hopefully that's thick enough, I doubt laminating would be any good for it

[Sturdee]

Not sure. He plays in a band sometimes. Sometimes he gets 2 hr from a set sometimes he gets 20

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Dave,

This (http://resource.takelessons.com/how-to-make-your-drumsticks-last-longer/) may be of interest, especially the wood hardening suggestion.

Peter.

[DaveTTC]

G'day thanks Peter. Interesting read.

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[AlexS]

Silver ash is a good Aussie replacement for hickory in many uses - should be OK for drumsticks.

[DaveTTC]

Good to know. I will try and source some ad a sample for him

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[rustynail]

Dave, I have been playing drums for over 50 years and making sticks for a bit less than that.
We are blessed with some of the best timbers for the job in the world. Almost all our native timbers
lend themselves to one style or another. Some not so well known species but excellent performers are Mulga and Brigalow. Both can be fire hardened at the tip if required or a chemical tip hardener can be used. These treatments are often necessary for heavy rock work, but these days synthetic tips,or for that matter, synthetic sticks are commonly used. Good sticks are produced by using split rather than sawn timber. Sticks should be paired from the same blank. Use a magnifying glass to visually inspect blanks before turning and again when they come off the lathe. Sticks should be weighed on a sensitive scale for accurate matching. All dimensions should be accurate.
And here is the big one... No sharp angles, radius out of all profile and angle changes, this helps to produce a long serving set of sticks.
You may also wish to master the art of ear plug manufacture.

[DaveTTC]

Guys some excellent infomrmation. I asked my nephew last night
"How long till I get some answers do you reckon?"

He said "this time of year, maybe a few weeks"

You guys are awesome



Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Simplicity]

I've become a pack mule
Bugger
And I did nothing nothing

[DaveTTC]

I've become a pack mule
Bugger
And I did nothing nothing
Wait till you do smething. This is just rhe beginning

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Simplicity]

I won't do nothing then

[DaveTTC]

Thats what they tell me

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Simplicity]

Lol

[DaveTTC]

😉

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[artful bodger]

Mmmm Drumsticks, chicken drumsticks....yummy.
How about using some "Jichimu" , which literally translates into (chicken wing wood).
Then you could have "chicken wing drumsticks".:D
On a more serious note, Tasmanian Horizontal Scrub might be an interesting option. It is very hard to break for one.

[DaveTTC]

What i Tasmanian horizontal scrub?

Repliconics. Got something for you to being to the gtg

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[rustynail]

When I was learning, I had an old teacher that had spent most of his working life as a jazz drummer in New Orleans. I asked him once, "What are the best sticks?" He replied, "The ones you have at the time." Guess that says it all.
He taught us to play both left and right handed. Not too many of those around these days.

[Christos]

.....You may also wish to master the art of ear plug manufacture.

Should already be in the garage as part of woodworkers kit. :innocent:

[springwater]

Did I miss the dimensions needed to turn a drum stick from?

[DaveTTC]

I think it varies. I could fo almost any drumstick from a 4 x 4 I reckon

Gabriel has sent some 19mm stock

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[springwater]

I don't reckon anyone's cut a 4 x 4 out of the tea tree I know and no way it's gunna cleave straight. I may get a 2 x 2? Have we got a length nominated?

[DaveTTC]

I think thevdample is 350. Mabe 400

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[springwater]

Ok we're away, thanks Dave

[DaveTTC]

I gotta pick up neds head this weekend too

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art