Thank you for showing how to do it. Most people say don't do with your medicine drumit but I always thought it is strange as it done with African drums. I used shea butter and my drum is even more beautiful than before. Thanks.
Thank you. I just finished making my first drum. White tail deer hide and a white ash frame. It’s still drying. I was told by the hide supplier that sweet almond oil was a good oil to use on it. I subscribed, I’m looking forward to seeing your online drum circle videos.
Thank you. An elk skin shaman drum I purchased recently has this buzzing sound going on (even with proper tension from sun etc) like there’s excess material somewhere or something. I hope oiling might help this
I fond a old Shaman Drum from the Himalayas and it was with a strange white dust coming out of it and i have oil it with Neem Seed Oil, that it is a poison to bacteria ... but after some time it get with mold all over ! I clean it with Camphor Alcohol and it seems good now ! Can you please speak more of mold issues in the drums , many thanks .
What sort of changes in tone can you expect after oiling? You only mentioned it (at the very end of the video), but since sound is so integral to the experience of playing, I'd like to know more.
A drum that is over dry will not be very resonant (because of it not vibrating well, as explained in the earlier part) and would go flat easily (because of absorbing more damp from the air).
Hi thank you so much for this video, sadly my drum is beginning to tear, it hasn’t torn yet, do you have a suggestion to repair or reinforce and prevent that tear?
Does this oiling also help prevent the drum from getting moist from for instance evening damp when being outside? Or when it rains and you're camping? And what about the drumframe? Does that need oiling too?
We don't use synthetic skins for ethical and sustainability reasons - the karma attached to plastic production and pollution, I guess you could say. We discuss this in depth on our website if you search for info on ethics of hide drums.
Only the parts made of leather should be oiled - for example the holes in the hide through which the strings pass are a very high tension point. Oil would not be helpful for nylon or plant-based string, no idea what you can do to extend the life of those...
I recently purchased the same type of drum, I was hoping to find an answer to your question here as well. I imagine we would oil the smooth inside of the drum. Guess I'll have to keep searching. Cheers!
i have bought an siberian drum from the altai region, the drum skin is goat and i asked the store how can i take care of the drum but he told me not to use any oil or anything. now i'm a bit unsure if i should oil it or not
Great video. Good information. Just got my first drum. Have a Question please - when you take the drum back inside to dry, are you leaving it wrapped in a towel or open to the air? How do you place it/set it for both sides and top and bottom to dry? Thanks
Thank you for sharing - drum makers told me not to oil but I had always the intuition to oil it slightly for the same reasons you mentioned - what do you think about beeswax mix like for saddles
Beautiful video! Gorgeous setting, loved hearing the birds & the rays of the sun streaming through at the end-wow! Thank you for confirming my instinctive care of my drums- great to know I am caring for them properly. I am sharing your video in my circles. Abundant Blessings.
I just made an elk skin drum at a workshop. They dyed the skin with beet juice before bringing the skin to the workshop, not sure if that is important to know. The skin developed a sort of salty looking crusty residue in one area (only on the face of the drum) the first night, while sitting drying. The people that led the workshop don't know what it is and aren't offering any help (extremely frustrating, I spent so much money and energy making this drum, I am just so sad). I can send pictures. I'm just hoping that you have some advice of what I can do to remove this. I haven't tried anything at all out of fear. Thank you so much for any help you might be able to offer!!!
If you could email us some photos or send then via fbook or Insta we may be able to help. Salt is used in the process of preparing a hide to rawhide, so might just be salt that could wash off with a damp cloth.
You saved the day! I had no idea. I just bought a very old native made hand drum and seemed fine. But after your possibilities and assertiveness dry as a mummy, the wood run felt almost parched. Oiled drum and end of the day it sounded 200% better!!!!
Hi, I’m sorry to ask for an out of topic question. I believe I left my drum on a damp grass, although it’s in it’s bag/ case, still the moisture got in and the drum skin/ hide is “loose” and sounded “dead”. Is there anyway to fix it? Is it still fixable? Apologies, for the dumb question from a first time owner. Thank you, much love.
Hello there, I used a light colored olive oil to moisturize my shamanic drum a few minutes ago and I am now worried that I may have used too much oil. I have wiped the oil off the best that I can with water but my drum still has some spots that seem to be saturated with oil. Is this something that will come out over time or is there something I can do to help pull the oil out naturally? I am worried that I may have damaged the natural look of my drum. Thank you so much for your time
Thank you for showing how to do it. Most people say don't do with your medicine drumit but I always thought it is strange as it done with African drums. I used shea butter and my drum is even more beautiful than before. Thanks.
Thank you. I just finished making my first drum. White tail deer hide and a white ash frame. It’s still drying. I was told by the hide supplier that sweet almond oil was a good oil to use on it. I subscribed, I’m looking forward to seeing your online drum circle videos.
Ah sounds a nice smelling oil, at least.
Thank you. An elk skin shaman drum I purchased recently has this buzzing sound going on (even with proper tension from sun etc) like there’s excess material somewhere or something. I hope oiling might help this
I fond a old Shaman Drum from the Himalayas and it was with a strange white dust coming out of it and i have oil it with Neem Seed Oil, that it is a poison to bacteria ... but after some time it get with mold all over ! I clean it with Camphor Alcohol and it seems good now ! Can you please speak more of mold issues in the drums , many thanks .
What sort of changes in tone can you expect after oiling? You only mentioned it (at the very end of the video), but since sound is so integral to the experience of playing, I'd like to know more.
A drum that is over dry will not be very resonant (because of it not vibrating well, as explained in the earlier part) and would go flat easily (because of absorbing more damp from the air).
I recently made a Bison skin drum, and noticed this issue lately. Sound is hollow and cold, never thought about oiling it. Thank you for this video 👌
Thank you! Best video I have seen on taking care of your drum.most helpful.. Namaste
Thank you.
Hi thank you so much for this video, sadly my drum is beginning to tear, it hasn’t torn yet, do you have a suggestion to repair or reinforce and prevent that tear?
Difficult at that point, but do send an email with some pictures and I may be better able to suggest something.
Does this oiling also help prevent the drum from getting moist from for instance evening damp when being outside? Or when it rains and you're camping?
And what about the drumframe? Does that need oiling too?
Do you need to oil your drum if you painted it ? If so how
I'd recommend oiling the unpainted side of the drumhead.
Hello. I don’t like the karma attached to animal products and wondering if you make non-animal product drums please for purchase? Thankyou🙏🕉️🙏
We don't use synthetic skins for ethical and sustainability reasons - the karma attached to plastic production and pollution, I guess you could say. We discuss this in depth on our website if you search for info on ethics of hide drums.
My drum has string laces on the inside. Do we oil them as in the video?
Only the parts made of leather should be oiled - for example the holes in the hide through which the strings pass are a very high tension point. Oil would not be helpful for nylon or plant-based string, no idea what you can do to extend the life of those...
What happens when you do it every day?
Then there would not be chance for it to soak in before using it again.
Do you also need to do this if your drum has hair?
Perfect. You literally answered each question as I was thinking it. Thank you
Super! Thank you.
I have a hairy goat skin drum do i need to oil it as well? I’m not sure because it has hair on it
I recently purchased the same type of drum, I was hoping to find an answer to your question here as well. I imagine we would oil the smooth inside of the drum. Guess I'll have to keep searching. Cheers!
I have the same question
Thank you very much😊
i have bought an siberian drum from the altai region, the drum skin is goat and i asked the store how can i take care of the drum but he told me not to use any oil or anything.
now i'm a bit unsure if i should oil it or not
Great video. Good information. Just got my first drum.
Have a Question please -
when you take the drum back inside to dry, are you leaving it wrapped in a towel or open to the air?
How do you place it/set it for both sides and top and bottom to dry?
Thanks
Thank you for sharing - drum makers told me not to oil but I had always the intuition to oil it slightly for the same reasons you mentioned - what do you think about beeswax mix like for saddles
Thanks so much for sharing. So helpful
Will oiling a drum, help retighten the ripples on a drum?
Beautiful video! Gorgeous setting, loved hearing the birds & the rays of the sun streaming through at the end-wow! Thank you for confirming my instinctive care of my drums- great to know I am caring for them properly. I am sharing your video in my circles. Abundant Blessings.
Thank you.
Thank you!
I just made an elk skin drum at a workshop. They dyed the skin with beet juice before bringing the skin to the workshop, not sure if that is important to know. The skin developed a sort of salty looking crusty residue in one area (only on the face of the drum) the first night, while sitting drying. The people that led the workshop don't know what it is and aren't offering any help (extremely frustrating, I spent so much money and energy making this drum, I am just so sad). I can send pictures. I'm just hoping that you have some advice of what I can do to remove this. I haven't tried anything at all out of fear.
Thank you so much for any help you might be able to offer!!!
If you could email us some photos or send then via fbook or Insta we may be able to help.
Salt is used in the process of preparing a hide to rawhide, so might just be salt that could wash off with a damp cloth.
You saved the day! I had no idea. I just bought a very old native made hand drum and seemed fine. But after your possibilities and assertiveness dry as a mummy, the wood run felt almost parched. Oiled drum and end of the day it sounded 200% better!!!!
Ah glad to hear. Hope its singing well now.
A really informative video. Clearly explained. Lovely setting too. Thank you.
Thank you.
Do you need to soak the backside of the skin?
I do front and back usually. Not as much as "soaking" but covering as per the video
As a 1st time owner of a medicine drummer, thank you for this informative video!
Youre welcome.
Mine is the same color as your, is that a horse hide? Thanks for your video
Yes, horse hide this one.
I also have a horse hide drum, made by me and hubby in drum making workshop. Thank you for excellant video! 🙏🏻
Thank you for the great video and info 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾
Hi, I’m sorry to ask for an out of topic question. I believe I left my drum on a damp grass, although it’s in it’s bag/ case, still the moisture got in and the drum skin/ hide is “loose” and sounded “dead”.
Is there anyway to fix it? Is it still fixable?
Apologies, for the dumb question from a first time owner.
Thank you, much love.
sun will dry it out and bring it back to life. setting it next to a fire will do the trick too
thanks
Fantastic
Thank you. Very helpful :) Lovely setting....
Thank you.
Hello there, I used a light colored olive oil to moisturize my shamanic drum a few minutes ago and I am now worried that I may have used too much oil. I have wiped the oil off the best that I can with water but my drum still has some spots that seem to be saturated with oil. Is this something that will come out over time or is there something I can do to help pull the oil out naturally? I am worried that I may have damaged the natural look of my drum. Thank you so much for your time
I have pictures but unfortunately I am not able to post them in the comments for some reason:( any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hey just finding these comments. How did you get on?
Thank you
You're welcome