Changing head with comfort rims

[CongaTick]

I know the head replacement how-to threads are numerous, however they mostly cover heads with standard rims. If anybody remembers links/postings, or has tips on replacement using comfort rims, it would be appreciated.

[Mike]

Not really a tip, but rather a sad fact: It is much more difficult to
mount a skin with comfort rims... Especially with thick skins.
You need a lot of elbow grease there. I can tell you I cursed a lot
with LP Comfort Curve Rims. Olsongo´s string technique comes in
quite handy though.

[Uber Jalemon]

Changed my heads 3 months ago. I mounted thick Moper skins and I did not find it problematic. I use pliers to pull the skin, it will mark the skin but it's the part that will be trimmed off, so it's not a problem. Just be carefull of not leaving any folded skin under the confort hoop.

[Joseph]

I just put a thick mule on a comfort curve Patato tumba.
It was a serious mouthful for the comfort curves, but not an insurmountable problem.
Mike from L&H percussion (whose products and services I highly recommend) convinced me it was do-able.
Probably the best advice he gave me..."take your time".
It's very easy to get into a panicked state of mind if events are not going as planned when dealing with a wet slippery skin, and trying to corral it with a ring and rim.

I also recommend Olsongo's string technique for getting the skin under control around the flesh ring, before pushing rim down on it.

With the thick mule I underestimated the accumulated thickness of the fold of the skin around the ring, and was unable to physically push the skin/rim/ring combo down far enough to get the nuts started on the lugs.

I struggled with it for 30 minutes or so before it dawned on me that I needed longer lugs to get it started.
I made some quickie temporary long lugs by cutting a piece of 1/4" all-thread I had kicking around, and bending pieces into hooks. I only needed three to get skin/rim/ring seated evenly, after that I started using lugs, then replaced all-thread lugs one by one. You can buy manufactured hooks that would accomplish the same task.

Initial pull-down and lug attachment is probably the most anxiety inducing part of the process, and having those long hooks makes it very easy to start an even pull-down on skin, and avoids the possible shifting of skin/ring/rim combo on initial pull.

After all lugs are connected, a hefty pair of pliers makes it easy to pull folds out of skin under rim.

My big mistake with this thick mule install: I mounted skin on one day, and then had to leave (for a month) the next.
I was really looking forward to new skin upon return, but was disappointed to see noticeable sag on skin. The bearing edge was very prominent & skin sagged in middle. Apparently the weight of skin, combined with added weight of water in skin caused it to sag. Had I been home I might have noticed, and been able to correct.

I had to resort to removing head, floating it in a bath of water (like a boat) to soften up playing surface.
I then remounted and set it to dry upside down. That technique cured head sag.

Now I need another project!

[CongaTick]

You guys are the best!!! Thanks a bunch. The extended jury-rig hooks are a great idea. I was starting to panic before even getting started and you've managed to calm my nerves quite a bit. Muchas gracias.

[bongosnotbombs]

Your skins look great, no doubt they are going to sound awesome.


I came up with a similar method, but instead of fabricating my own longer lugs,
I just used some metal wire I had lying around. Other guys I know use longer hooks
from the hardware store. I like the wire, very simple and easy to use.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3227&hilit=a+new+method+wire

[juancho]

BT,
How would you use wire instead of longer lugs? just in case I need to go through that.
tks
juancho

[juancho]

If I decide to get congas with comfort crowns for x reason and I want to change to traditional crowns, can i use the same lugs that were used with the comfort crowns?

[bongosnotbombs]

BT,
How would you use wire instead of longer lugs? just in case I need to go through that.
tks
juancho

read this thread - and check out the pictures there too.

http://www.mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3227&hilit=a+new+method+wire

[bongosnotbombs]

If I decide to get congas with comfort crowns for x reason and I want to change to traditional crowns, can i use the same lugs that were used with the comfort crowns?

Of course you can, sometimes it can be hard to get the crown down far enough with the new wet skin to hook the lugs onto it,
so the longer lugs or wire help to pull the crown down far enough to get the regular hooks on.

I haven't needed to use any of these methods for a while, I've been changing a lot of skins on all sorts of crowns.
I don't let the skin soak too long and get too thick to be easily manageable.

[seisporocho1]

Comfort rims : I mounted a mule skin on my Tocas (which have the worst comfort rims....they don't bite the flesh hoop AT ALL) a while back and when I woke up in the morning, the skin had slipped out. Needless to say, i wasn't about to loose that skin so I poked holes in it and used the string method to put it back on. The problem with using the string method is that it'll leave the string indentations on the skin all around the mouth of the drum. So the next time I mounted a skin on a comfort rim, I decided to use a lighter (carefully) to 'quick dry' the part of the skin that loops around the flesh hoop and the stretched part closest to the drum shell. This way, the skin won't slip while it dries. I ended up with a few dark (smoked) spots on the part that goes from the mouth of the drum to the flesh hoop but almost unnoticeable. I like it better than having the lines of the string permanently indented in the skin.

Making the rim reach the hooks when mounting the skin: This is something we all deal with and some of us know how F*#@ing hard it can be. Especially on bongos. I once spent almost 40 min. struggling with a tumba I decided to put a thick Moperc skin on. And I mean, sweating like I ran a marathon and my hands killing me. The whole nine yards. I always figured that was just the barbaric part of skinning a drum and the part that made you appreciate your work at the end. But boy, was I wrong. One day in bata class, my teacher had a weird looking clamp laying around and I asked him what it was for. He said it was to help him mount skins. It was like enlightenment! No more struggling! What?!
So here is a picture of what it is and let me just say that I RECOMMEND IT!! So easy and effortless. No strings, no wires, you get the idea.
When skinning a conga, once you get 2 opposite sides hooked, you're pretty much home. So this clamp is perfect for getting that second hook in. They are sold at any hardware store or kmart etc. I bought it for $22. Everytime I use it, I realize it was worth every penny.

Not sure why everytime I attach a pic, it comes out sideways.....

[CongaTick]

More great ideas and advice from those who've "been there, done that". Thanks.

[congalou]

Hi, I put thick cow skin on a patato too, it was not so difficult. Maybe, it's harder to cut well the skin but I use a special hook blade initially for carpet and it was good !!!

I use home made long lugs too and it's easy.

Cheers,

Galou.