My homemade octoban project

[Embalmer]

I decided instead of paying Tama's ridiculous price for octobans ($300 for 2 in fiberglass nonetheless!) I would undertake the project of making my own. I sourced 6' of extruded acrylic tubing, along with hoops, lugs, tension rods, and mounting brackets online. Scouring used music stores and local Craigslist ads I found 2 stands with mounts for dual toms. I have all the parts ready to go except I'm waiting for the heads to be shipped. I'm going to be well under $400 for a set of four by the time I'm finished.

First step was cutting the acrylic in the desired lengths (11, 11.75, 13.5, and 15.5") and filing down the bearing edges for a level and smooth surface. This is currently where I'm at now, next step will be drilling for the lugs and brackets.

The second smallest tube has a crack, so I'm going to cut another length from my leftover 6' to replace it.





I will update this thread as I proceed.

[porter]

Cool! I hope they turn out great, they certainly look like potential stunners.

[longgun]

Looks good so far.............I've thought about doing this for a long time, just never got around to it.

Hope it turns out great

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Do they not get rounded over or 45 degree bearing edges? Some sort of edge?

[Anduin]

Nice! I’m thinking that creating a good bearing edge will be the hardest part.

You could also make them out of bamboo. I think that’s where Tama ripped off the idea from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boobam

[Deathmetalconga]

Cool project! Give us periodic updates with photos and this could serve as instructions for the rest of us.

Deep drums rock.

[oldrockdrummer]

http://www.arrickrobotics.com/tubetoms.html

This guy has a cool web page on building tube toms. Where did you get the acrylic tubes?

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by oldrockdrummer

http://www.arrickrobotics.com/tubetoms.html

This guy has a cool web page on building tube toms. Where did you get the acrylic tubes?

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

Do they not get rounded over or 45 degree bearing edges? Some sort of edge?

Originally Posted by Anduin

Nice! I’m thinking that creating a good bearing edge will be the hardest part.

You could also make them out of bamboo. I think that’s where Tama ripped off the idea from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boobam

I have seen many sets of these, and most do not have a bearing edge. I think it has to do with the type of instrument these are, and they are not supposed to resonate like a drum does. That being said, I plan to try them without the bearing edge, and if I'm not happy with the end result, then I will use a router and give them one. Many people have been successful creating a bearing edge simply with 220 grit sandpaper and some elbow grease. The tubing is only 1/4" thick, there just isn't much material needed to remove.

I got the acrylic in a 6' length from here:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23401

Hopefully planning to drill for the lugs and brackets this weekend. I will keep the thread up to date.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I was asking out of ignorance as I have never explored octobans and only wondered.
And where did you come up with the depths since there doesn't seem to be a pattern or normal graduation.

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

I was asking out of ignorance as I have never explored octobans and only wondered.
And where did you come up with the depths since there doesn't seem to be a pattern or normal graduation.

From Tama's website.

http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/product/ot...=2013&cat_id=3

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Very cool. I can't wait to the see the final product

[larryace]

I got to give you props for doing this. Building stuff is so rewarding. I hope they sound killer.

[Arky]

Kudos for going for it!

Is it safe to assume that the pitch of those octobans will be the same when tapping the tubes as compared to when they'll have the heads on? I could imagine that there might be small derivations in pitch that might have to be considered when cutting them down to a specific length - IF you're going for a specific pitch per drum.

[Embalmer]

Got one finished, although it is the 11.75" one (second shortest) that is cracked. I wanted to do my first bit of drilling and measuring on the cracked tube, just in case I screwed up something. Most likely I will cut a replacement out of leftover stock and re-drill. I also need to attach the bracket to mount this to the stand.









I should have the rest of them done and mounted by the end of this weekend, will post up more pics and a video/soundfile! Very excited!!!

[frank0072]

I love them man! I have been thinking about doing the same project a few years ago myself, but never got around to doing it. Now I play in a punkhardcore band, so octobans won't be of much use to me, but I still love them. Your project inspires me :). Could you please make step by step pictures of the proces for the next 3 octo's?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Any secret to the final cost for all 4?

[dat yeti]

Wow awesome job! Where did you get the hardware? I love the gunmetal chrome and have not found it anywhere.

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by dat yeti

Wow awesome job! Where did you get the hardware? I love the gunmetal chrome and have not found it anywhere.

I got the hardware from drummaker.com, but I wouldn't recommend them because I had to wait over 2 months for it. I'm STILL waiting for the heads I ordered back in early December.

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

Any secret to the final cost for all 4?

The 6' long acrylic tubing was $96 shipped. The hardware (16 lugs, tension rods, 32 mounting screws, 4 hoops, and 4 tom leg brackets to mount them and 4 6" Evans G1 clear heads) was $230. I found the 2 dual tom stands used online and Craigslist for about $100 for both. So, around $425 total for everything.

Originally Posted by frank0072

I love them man! I have been thinking about doing the same project a few years ago myself, but never got around to doing it. Now I play in a punkhardcore band, so octobans won't be of much use to me, but I still love them. Your project inspires me :). Could you please make step by step pictures of the proces for the next 3 octo's?

Read my next post.

[Embalmer]

Luckily, I have a buddy who has access to a band saw and he cut the acrylic for me in the desired lengths. Then, all I had to do was make sure the "bearing edges" were level and smooth.



So, I took a file and smoothed out the edges and removed some material to make the edge level all around.

Before:


After:


Next, I measured for the locations of the holes for the lugs. First, a hole will be drilled 1.75" below the top edge for the first lug hole.



Next, I mark every 4.75" around the outside of the tube, being sure to keep my 1.75" from the top edge.



Drilling the top holes with my step drill bit:


Top holes drilled:


Bottom holes drilled:


Installing the lugs:


All lugs installed:


Head and hoop installed:


Measuring for center between the lugs to drill for the tom bracket:




Drilling for bracket:




Bracket installed:


Tuning:

[slowrocker]

Cool. Btw, those are some sweet drums in the background. I love the natural finish.

[Embalmer]

I'm still waiting on the heads to get here, but I put them on the stands and here they are:

[frank0072]

Wow man! This is all that I could wish for! Now I might actually go build these things myself in the future :)

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by slowrocker

Cool. Btw, those are some sweet drums in the background. I love the natural finish.

Thank you! It is my Tama Silverstar 6 pc kit with Tam Ash outer wrap. I did a video walkaround here:

http://youtu.be/VbO9iUzyZY4

[Talldrummer]

Those look great,nice job! Nice kit too!

[Embalmer]

Here are the finished octobans. I will post again with video/soundfiles once I have them miked.

[opentune]

wow, nice job.
just curious, what did you spend on materials, all in?
And how many hours?

[porter]

They turned out really well! Clean appearance, and I'm sure they sound like octobans :)

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Originally Posted by opentune

wow, nice job.
just curious, what did you spend on materials, all in?
And how many hours?

The 6' long acrylic tubing was $96 shipped. The hardware (16 lugs, tension rods, 32 mounting screws, 4 hoops, and 4 tom leg brackets to mount them and 4 6" Evans G1 clear heads) was $230. I found the 2 dual tom stands used online and Craigslist for about $100 for both. So, around $425 total for everything.


those things are great. One of the nicest DTI projects I have seen on here.

[con struct]

These are very cool, but I have to wonder: how did you screw the tom brackets to the shells?

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by con struct

These are very cool, but I have to wonder: how did you screw the tom brackets to the shells?

I drilled holes just larger than the bosses for the mounting screws. Put the brackets in place and the bosses were flush with the inside wall. Used the supplied gasket and two screws with large washers.

Does that answer your question?

[con struct]

Originally Posted by Embalmer

I drilled holes just larger than the bosses for the mounting screws. Put the brackets in place and the bosses were flush with the inside wall. Used the supplied gasket and two screws with large washers.

Does that answer your question?

No, I mean the shells are very narrow, aren't they? How did you fit a screwdriver in there?

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by con struct

No, I mean the shells are very narrow, aren't they? How did you fit a screwdriver in there?

They are 6' in diameter. Plenty of room for your arm and a stubby Phillips screwdriver.

[Embalmer]

Here are some pics of them setup. The microphones and stands are still a work in progress, but at least I was able to get a soundfile.







Here is the quick recording I made:

https://soundcloud.com/james-phelps/octobans

[alparrott]

I dig 'em! Sounds like a heck of a lot of fun ahead. Well done.

[dat yeti]

[quote=Embalmer;1114943]I got the hardware from drummaker.com, but I wouldn't recommend them because I had to wait over 2 months for it. I'm STILL waiting for the heads I ordered back in early December.


Oh cool, and thanks for the info. Would you recommend anyone else instead of drummaker.com?

Overall great job and thank you for the info on making these octobans as I plan to in the future as well.

[Deathmetalconga]

Very impressive. Looks factory-perfect. What a neat project and thanks for sharing the process. Enjoy them!

I would like some better focused photos.

[Embalmer]

[quote=dat yeti;1116870]

Originally Posted by Embalmer

I got the hardware from drummaker.com, but I wouldn't recommend them because I had to wait over 2 months for it. I'm STILL waiting for the heads I ordered back in early December.


Oh cool, and thanks for the info. Would you recommend anyone else instead of drummaker.com?

Overall great job and thank you for the info on making these octobans as I plan to in the future as well.

Thanks! Drummaker's products are top notch, but sadly, customer service isn't. If you're in no hurry (like months) then by all means order from them. I STILL don't have my heads that I ordered back in December so I sourced 4 new ones on Drumfactorydirect.com and they were shipped immediately. Give them a shot.

Originally Posted by Deathmetalconga

Very impressive. Looks factory-perfect. What a neat project and thanks for sharing the process. Enjoy them!

I would like some better focused photos.

I will take some today with my Panasonic Lumix, all the earlier pics were taken with my iPhone, except for the finished photos on the carpet.

[Embalmer]

I keep saying that "I'm done!" but I just added my homemade acrylic octobans and moved some things around to accommodate them. Hope you enjoy!

Tama 6 pc. (with added 8" birch tom stained and poly to match) Silverstar Birch with Tamo Ash outer wrap (8', 10", 12" rack toms, 14" and 16" floor toms, 14 X 5 snare, 22" kick)
4 homemade shorty acrylic octobans (11, 12, 13, 15")
14" Sabian HHX Evolution primary hats
14" Sabian HH Dark X-Hats
22" Sabian AAX Metal Ride
16" Sabian HH Thin Chinese
17" Sabian HHX-Treme crash
18" Sabian HHX-Plosion crash
18" Sabian AAX Freq crash (!!!)
16" Istanbul Mehmet Radiant Sweet Crash
18" Istanbul Mehmet Carmine Appice Realistic Rock China
12" Wuhan China
8" Istanbul Agop Sultan Splash
10" Istanbul Mehmet Rock Splash
12" Sabian Mike Portnoy Signature Splash
Evans Black Chrome batter heads on Toms
Evans General Resonant heads on Toms
Evans G1 heads on octobans
Evans HD Dry coated head on snare/Hazy300
Evans EQ4 Kick drum batter
Remo Powerstroke 3 kick drum reso
Pearl P2000 double pedals, Hi-hat stand and remote hi-hat stand
Eccentric Systems Quick Torque Cams
Billdidit Hi-hat Drop Clutch and Wash Control
Kickport
Vic Firth Gavin Harrison Signature sticks
Audix and Shure mics
Pork Pie throne







Here is a quick video I had taken today, just to give an idea of the kit's sound. I play the octobans a couple times during the video.

http://youtu.be/8uun9pQOTFo

[Embalmer]

Got bored and decided to give them some bearing edges...

[Embalmer]

Here are a few more pics of the bearing edges. And another soundfile for your listening displeasure.







Soundfile:

https://soundcloud.com/james-phelps/...-bearing-edges