Thread: Turning SOLID TIMBER Drum Shells

Jon,

I have a vague recollection that the basic idea behind that jig had surfaced on one of the forums long before Koko ever appeared, anyways, while I agree that "as is", it doesn't lend itself to small diameter shells, I think that provided it is made and used correctly, it would work quite well, albiet somewhat slowly, although I doubt that turning on a lathe would necessarily be much quicker.

The design leaves itself wide open for improvements...........for instance, it would be possible to set the router cradle up with a cross-feed driven by the shell rotation and have it geared for a suitable feed rate.

I have to make some modifications to some gear and I'm thinking that the router jig will give me accuracy I won't obtain if I try doing it on my lathe.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Oh... just BTW... I've moved back to using a treadle lathe. We are not into easy, mate!

Sorry, hijack... Skew can you have a look at my thread please.... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/manual-lathes-49067-post507596

Cheers, Richard

BTW... Drums... my daughter would love that...

Just to let all interested know that i have recently began building custom stave drums with custom made solid brass lugs to accompany these snares.

I am also buildin maple drum kits to similar specs as those used on the Sonor Delite kits.

Will have website running with pictures and information shortly. Will also post some pictures on this site of completed work.

Will be using Australian outback timbers such as Rosewood, Gidgee, Mulga and other suitable timber sourced locally for snares. Will also be making full stave built kits in future.

Look forward to hearing from woodworkers and drumbuilders and drummers.

Over the last few months I have been making some large African drums.

I have post some information in the Musical Instruments section.

While I was searching around I found this old thread.
Since I seldom venture into the Woodturners section I thought some of you may not have seen my adventures.

The jig is my version of Koko's 'poor man's lathe.
The big rough drum shell is supported each end on bearings. The router runs along the top while the shell is rotated by hand.

It does a neat job on the outside.

I have tried to rout the inside but it was hard work. It would need some refinement to do a decent jobs.

I have a few more drums to make so any suggestions would be welcome.

Originally Posted by Scally

The jig is my version of Koko's 'poor man's lathe.
The big rough drum shell is supported each end on bearings. The router runs along the top while the shell is rotated by hand.

Whatever works, Scully.

I expect that a lathe would be quicker, with the option of a quick power sand to complete the job while it's still rotating on the lathe, but then there is the cost of the lathe (it would need to be a decent size for those drums) plus the turning tools.

The insides could also be turned after the outside if you made up a super-sized set of Cole jaws, see this posting from Hughie. But is it worth it? Looks like the drums have skins both ends so the inside won't be seen. Perhaps an accoustics issue, although I have noticed the inside of my son's djembe drums (made in West Africa) are quite rough.

Neil

I have tried to rout the inside but it was hard work. It would need some refinement to do a decent jobs.

I have a few more drums to make so any suggestions would be welcome.

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Scally,

If you have access to or can pick up a old radial drill something similar.Then you could do what a friend of mine was building.

He made up a giant sized hole saw out of a piece of steel pipe. One end fitted into the drill and on the other end he silver soldiered several pieces of tungsten carbide as cutters.

Mounted the drum blank in the/on the and used the hole saw to chew out the centre. It gave him a drum and a solid core for a smaller drum.