Changing Skins - A New Technique

[bongosnotbombs]

I while back someone posted how to use an extra long clothes line hook to help get the rim down when changing skins. We all know thats the hardest part.

I tried this method and it worked pretty good, but it took a couple tries to get a hook that fit, some are to fat or the hook curve is wrong.

When I found a hook, the edges were sharp and the hook wide so it scratched my shell, I didn't really care cuz the drum already had lots of scratches, but on a different drum I might.

So I just changed the skins on all my drums these last few days, and tried a new technique. Instead of a hook from the hardware store I used some wire.

I looped it around the lug then twisted the ends, so I had a loop. Then I hooked the lug onto it. Then I did it to the other side. Then I tightened the lugs until I could hook some lugs onto the rim without using wire.

Then I cut the wires.

Easiest head changing I ever did. I did 2 in one day and 1 two days after, I had to fix a flesh hoop.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1195703856

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[bongosnotbombs]

other side. I will tighten this lug with the wire, and the one one the other side as well.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1195707481

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[bongosnotbombs]

lugs. The wire just twists naturally sometimes as you tighten the lug. It doesn't do this all the time.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1195707385

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[bongosnotbombs]

other side. I've tightened both the lugs with the wire and now it is easy to get the lugs in the crown the normal way now.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1199897747

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[bongosnotbombs]

Final product.

That white drum is pretty effed up, but don't think any of the scratches were done by this technique, they weren't. My other drums didn't get any scratches either.

Those of you with nice fancy drums with shiny chrome rims could always place some tape on the lug first, or I think string might work just as well, it would twist more though.

Changing 3 heads is a lot of work. I'm glad I'm done.

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[fed]

I like the hooks from the store a little better, less work I think then twisting the hanger. I use "S" hooks just to add a little length to conga hooks. Worked great last time I did it.

I have a question for you, though, did you have a problem where the skin saggs a little in to the drum.
And if so how did you fix that? do you ajust the tension as the skin dries?

THanks



Edited By fed on 1195704980

[bongosnotbombs]

I've never seen that, the skin sagging into the drum.

I get the lugs onto the crown, then pull the skin with pliers until it's flat across and just a little tight. Then I tighten the lugs till the crown is a what I feel is a good height, knowing it will go down a bit when I tune it.

The wire really is no work at all, and really cheap, I suppose "s" hooks will work just as well, if you can find ones that fit. I guess everyone can find wire.

[Tonio]

BNB, different approach, but if it works=go for it. I got a few cloths line (7") hooks. Since the hook portion is rather half circle, I cut the end to avoid scratching the shell-pretty much like a modern LP lug. With a traditional rims its sooo easy to get the skin going and just have to haggle with getting the lugs to reach the bracket. With the comfort curve rims getting the skin tight under the rim is PITA because basically its a contraption. I did have to use a 1x4 on top of the head to create a leverage to pull the skin. I found that using a long vise grip or adjustable long handle pliers works best-the longer the better leverage.
But what ever you can use can do the trick. The guy on the "how mount a skin" video makes it look easy, because buffallo skin is soo thin .


fed
I've seen the sagging skin syndrome. I don't know what causes it. POssibly the playing surface is drying quicker than the portion around the hoop? I found that tightening the lugs during the drying process a minute amount does help. There is another trick to keep the playing surface wet during the drying process so the whole skin dries at the same rate.

At any rate I cannot seem to find a reason why it happens, or a good cure for it.

T

[Whopbamboom]

I've seen the "sagging skin" thing. It's on at least one of my South American Conga Co. bomba's with their thin skins. It doesn't help to just tighten the lugs-- that doesn't straighten the skin out. It looks like the skins dried with a slight dish (that is, the bearing edge of the drum is the highest part of the head), and they look like they will stay that way (unless perhaps I try to re-soak them).

[blango]

Yes, re: sagging...

tightening the skin slowly as it dries does the trick, but you have to prep the rim with wax or soap before you skin the drum.

Then it wont 'lock' onto the rim as it dries, making it hard to correct a 'dip' by tightening.

I would caution that over tightening when wet is not a good thing, so one rev. at a time... The skin will tell you if its too stressed by turning white, if its not bleached to begin with - best not to get to that point.

As far as s hooks to help. one can get most lugs on the crown if the skin is loose enough, then tightened by pulling up with pliers. You can force the hoop over the skin and the drum down a bit, before wrapping the skin over and putting the crown on, if you follow me.

Also, i use those beefy hand clamps, like super strong cloths pins with the orange plastic. They work great, one between each lug. They are really thin at the pincher end, and can fit under the crown to be removed after you get the lugs on.

I have seen someone effectively use long hooks with threads you can buy at a hardware store for a couple of bucks a piece. they are ugly, but can be used for this. Just make sure you swap out all the home depot lugs at once after its all dry.

hope that helps,

Tony

[Mike]

It looks like the skins dried with a slight dish (that is, the bearing edge of the drum is the highest part of the head), and they look like they will stay that way (unless perhaps I try to re-soak them)

On saggin: Maybe it really helps to remove the mounted skin, put it upside down on a table, fill it with some water (carefullly, just below the hoop, soak it for a while and then re-mount it.

Perhaps this helps, at least that is what I am going to try with a thick hembra bongo skin that sagged after mounting (or rather while drying).

Mike

[Tonio]

Also, i use those beefy hand clamps, like super strong cloths pins with the orange plastic. They work great, one between each lug. They are really thin at the pincher end, and can fit under the crown to be removed after you get the lugs on.

I have seen someone effectively use long hooks with threads you can buy at a hardware store for a couple of bucks a piece. they are ugly, but can be used for this. Just make sure you swap out all the home depot lugs at once after its all dry.

hope that helps,

Tony

Tony,
Good idea on using big clamps- are you refering to hold the skin hoop and rim while fenagling the other sides right?
The long hooks, (clothsline hooks) that I started using is to get it going using only 2 or 3, when it gets to the point of being able to reach with the permanet lugs, I remove the long hooks.

T

[Whopbamboom]

Also, i use those beefy hand clamps, like super strong cloths pins with the orange plastic. They work great, one between each lug. They are really thin at the pincher end, and can fit under the crown to be removed after you get the lugs on.

I'm assuming small "Pony" clamps?

[tactikal]

I like the idea of using that wire.. (I'm on a farm and have plenty of the stuff around).

I changed my first skin a few months ago and I wasn't prepared for how hard it was going to be to get the hoop down to reach the lugs!!
There was wrestling and wrangling and sweating!

Since then I've used one of these little chain-link connectors per lug (had them lying around)...


But I'll probably try the wire method next time.. it seems quite an elegant solution.

[bongosnotbombs]

BNB, different approach, but if it works=go for it. I got a few cloths line (7") hooks. Since the hook portion is rather half circle, I cut the end to avoid scratching the shell-pretty much like a modern LP lug.

Yeah, the last time I changed skins I used that technique, but I had a few problems, mostly I don't have much to cut the cloths line hook, and there was a bit of wresting with the hook........it is definitely a good technique, I was just trying to simplify it.

Most everyone has string or wire around their house, and I figured you could use that the same way you use the hook.