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I have tried to put back an old skin that I liked better than the new one in the end. But I couldn't quite pull the skin in enough. I drilled some holes and attached some strings (10 around the skin) which helped but didn't quite do the job. The strings were a bit thin and broke easily. Is it worth sourcing something really strong? Like what?
I did manage to do it but the skin is sitting very low and will have a very short life. I am still waiting for it to dry more to see if it sounds any good.
Are there any tricks I am missing here?

I want to do the same to another drum, but this time the old skin has kept its shape well, the place where the rim fits is still well tight. Will work better if I just wet it enough to slip the ring in?

thanks for the help!

tone

This suggestion is a bit late for your case, but here's what works for me.

I've typically sourced a new flesh hoop before changing a skin under questionable circumstances. That is, if my current skin has any merit whatsoever, I save it intact without removing the hoop. Of course if the old skin is just way too old or torn, there is no loss in soaking it and removing the hoop for the new skin. But if there is any chance of re-use of the old skin, then you can make or acquire a hoop for the new skin. Just remove the old skin/hoop from the drum and set it aside. Then when the new skin is formed around your spare hoop, you can switch back and forth between the new and old skin and see if indeed the new skin is an upgrade or not.

I've generally considered a used skin ruined once the hoop is removed.

To follow this plan, always ask for an extra hoop when ordering custom drums.

Cheers!
BMac

Latin Rhythm traders is a good source for hoops in the US.

Sorry this does not help you Tone. By the way how is Carnaval season going?

Regards,

Jerry

well thanks for the advice it does make sense to me too now !
I have tried three skins on this quinto, the original Bauer ( I can't understand what I didn't like about it now), a mule and an other one I got in cuba. the original is the better and my technique of tucking with strings seems to have worked even though the skin is sitting quite low.

Full circle!

Carnaval was great if rainy. I didn't play in any bloco this year but my samba gigs got really steamy and fun!

thanks guys

well after the third try, it worked great!
I put ten strings in the skin and tucked it in while well wet. Then I didn't tighten the bolts as the skin would have slipped but made sure it covered the hoop. After it was almost dry I gave it a little tightning to close everything together. Two afternoon in the sun later it sounds like new.

So it is possible!

BMac wrote:This suggestion is a bit late for your case, but here's what works for me.

I've typically sourced a new flesh hoop before changing a skin under questionable circumstances. That is, if my current skin has any merit whatsoever, I save it intact without removing the hoop. Of course if the old skin is just way too old or torn, there is no loss in soaking it and removing the hoop for the new skin. But if there is any chance of re-use of the old skin, then you can make or acquire a hoop for the new skin. Just remove the old skin/hoop from the drum and set it aside. Then when the new skin is formed around your spare hoop, you can switch back and forth between the new and old skin and see if indeed the new skin is an upgrade or not.

I've generally considered a used skin ruined once the hoop is removed.

To follow this plan, always ask for an extra hoop when ordering custom drums.

Cheers!
BMac

Yes, I recycle heads this way too when I do not have enough skin wires & need to borrow them of otherwise decent heads. The skin wires will go back just like original.