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Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:31 am**

Am trying to add a 4th drum (conga) to my 3 drum setup, but wife is drawing the line at Family room storage that exceeds current 3 drums, bongos, djembe.
So... thinking about day storage of the drum in our attached garage which is uninsulated against our northeast winter. My plan-- depending on your advice--is to construct a portable insulated box for the garage into which I could place a conga, with the possibility of placing a small light bulb in the bottom of the box to create a certain amount of heat. I play daily so the drum wouldn't reside in their more than a day when I would bring it inside. After practicing, back in the box. What say you? And does anybody have any idea of how much insulation (if any) would be effective under these conditions?

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:16 pm**

I used to leave my congas in the car overnight after getting home from a gig (I was young at the time... gimme some slack.... :;): ) Anyway, When I brought them in the next day the temperature change would start some serious condensation on them. They would be all wet and cold. it would take a good hour or more till they warmed up completly. If the insulation and light bulb is not enough this will proababy happen to your drum. Also if you don't wait for it to warm up before playing-your hands may start getting cold...and I don't know about you, But i HATE playing with cold hands. Can't do anything-doubles etc...

Have you thought about getting a travel conga and snare stand? how would the wife feel about that for practicing purposes?

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:34 pm**

Hey thanks for the response Sakuntu. Nope, haven't thought about a travel conga. Really would prefer a full size drum, since I practice with 3 full size daily. Hmmm...condensation, huh? Well, that' something to think about. Anybody else?

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:22 pm**

Get rid of the djembe?

use the money for the box and buy your
wife a bribe instead?

Just fooling, there might be better things than a light bulb for heat, like an electric blanket, or those things that hunters
use to keep their boots warm?

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1182270171

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:11 pm**

Ahhh...bongosnot---I believe you told me to get rid of the djembe before

. Do I detect a little djembeprejudice :laugh: ? Now, the bribe suggestion--- that's a thought.

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:15 pm**

Or use a heat gun/hair dryer to thaw them out?

I also live where we get snow and my drums are going to be in cold storage starting this next winter. I wasn't too worried about my Remo drums, but what do you guys think that the cold can do to my drums? Anything bad like crystallizing the glue, etc.? Or could it actually improve the sound of the drums a la cryogenic stabilizing?

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:23 pm**

Saludos Hermanos
man, this is too dramatic. all we have to go through for the love of the drums.
when i lived in GA, my drums were stored in the garage for a few years with no negative effects. however GA, has a mild winter rarely ever going below freezing temps.
building a box with a light bulb and heating blankets and all that stuff is too extreme for me. im sure i could find a corner of the house or clean out a closet to store the drums in.
if it were me i would just put them inside a nice paded conga bag and thats it.

Good luck

Oz

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:31 pm**

CongaTick wrote:Ahhh...bongosnot---I believe you told me to get rid of the djembe before . Do I detect a little djembeprejudice :laugh: ?

Did I? I can't remember, djembe's are okay, I guess, I
just like congas better.
If you insulate the box, whatever you use to
heat it, put it on a switch timer, the heat will stay in
from the insulation, and the timer uses less energy..

no need to have higher bills, your wife might pick up on that
and then......... :;):

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:57 pm**

I don't understand why you are worried about the temperature, obviously you are going to have to retune everytime, but I don't see how freezing temps will effect the drum itself. Especially if you will be bringing it in to play daily and not leaving it there for several years. Just put it in a conga bag and keep it dry and you'll be fine. Light bulbs and heating pads inside an enclosed box just sound like a fire hazzard to me and otherwise a waste of time. If you are really that worried I would put it in an insulated conga bag, wrap it in a blanket and stick it in a plastic trash can with a lid.

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:14 am**

Hi,

maybe you can put them in bags and staple them in packs of two, ths way your congas don´t need so much space?
Or you move the television to the garage, this way having the flat for you alone.. :p

Greetings,

Amber

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:31 am**

Hey thanks guys for the advice and the laughs

. Yeah I guessI tend to "overproduce" and complicats my ideas. Looks like the insulated bag thing is probably the way to go. Yeah, I (we?) am crazy about my babies.

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:11 pm**

Yeah, I (we?) am crazy about my babies.

Hehehe, I'm sure everyone here can understand that

Posted: **Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:31 pm**

Hi Congatick,
I don't know yr climatic conditions but it sounds a little too far to keep the drum warm with a lightbulb. I think if the drum is housed in a container/insulated bag as you described then that is plenty.

I ran out of space in my music room about a year ago, I have had to relegate some of my less used drums to the shed (2 old f/glass LP congas, 2 kpanlogos and a djembe). It's not ideal, but as long as they dont get wet I think they're ok. So far they seem all good.

best regards
P

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:08 am**

CongaTick wrote:...My plan-- depending on your advice--is to construct a portable insulated box for the garage into which I could place a conga, with the possibility of placing a small light bulb in the bottom of the box to create a certain amount of heat...What say you? And does anybody have any idea of how much insulation (if any) would be effective under these conditions?

CongaTick,

My main concern with the small light bulb in the bottom of box to create heat for your conga is that your conga might unexpectedly give birth to little congas, thus further complicating your problem! Ha, ha, ha, ha! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Seriously, for me and as it has been suggested by others, a very practical solution would be for you to use a heavy-duty conga bag.

Edited By mjtuazon on 1182496584

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:08 pm**

kumusta ka mj,

geez, I hope you're right about my conga "giving birth". If so, we would all have solved our budget problems :laugh:

Thanks all for giving me confidence to "cold" store my babies properly.

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