skin process

[solo]

halo again comunity!

I've read some article which teach me how to mount flat skin into conga, but I've problem to process the skin before the skin is ready to mounted. is the skin should be chemically processed? And body know about this subject?

I've plan to buy a flat skin in some local farm, my country had so many island which produce much animal skin and the price is very cheap. for 1 M square skin cost only 5 US$.

one more question. the farmer give me a few choice of animal skin such as cow, buffalo, and horse. which one is the best? what do you think?

thank you very much!

regards

ade asmitha

[OLSONGO]

First when you purchase the skin, it must be stiff as a board , second check the thickness about 2mm-2.5mm. If it has hair you have to shave it and to take the last bit of hair use Nair or something similar.

[akdom]

hi


for congas, take a cow skin.

Make sure it has no hole and not too much fat

If it is fresh, let it dry in the sun for like a week or so in a place where ants cannot reach it

you can apply salt to it to prevent flies and worms or/and you can rub it with wood ashes.

It has to be very very very dry.

Now you can remove some of the fat that has to be dry too.. Just pull it and it should come off.

then you put it in water until it is soft again.

It is ready to mount.

Once in place on your congas, you shave it with a razor blade. Against the hair. You ca use a machine that the hairdressers use (I cannot remember the name).

When you shave the skin, pay attention to the edges, where the skin makes an angle with the body of the drum.

Then let it dry. Leave the drum on the side to let the air go inside.

Let it dry completely for at least a week. If you can see some spot where you can almost see through it is a spot where the fat is not dry enough.

You can use sand paper at that stage to remove excess of hair.

Once really dry, tune your drum and have fun.



B



Edited By akdom on 1148323014

[solo]

halo Akdom and olsongo!

halo Akdom. you said we have to put the skin in the water before wo mount them to the conga. so is the skin wet when we mount to the conga? if the skin is wet, it is not dangerous to the conga? and are the skins smelly? how to solve this smelly things?
and one more, how to select the best cow skin? what is the criteria or ascpet which I should pay attention to it?


thanks for the precious Info. I will try it and I will tell you the result.

regards
ade asmitha



Edited By solo on 1148351773