Snare Project

macr0w · #1 09-04-2011, 12:50 AM

I've gotten a wild hair to try and build a stave snare out of some black walnut that I have laying around.

Here's my material:

I'm going to make a 10 lug 14x7 with cast hoops.

I've got my plans together and I'm under way.
I've got the layout and the angles all figured.
I've got a local guy that is helping me out with some of the tools I don't own like a plainer, a joiner and a lathe.

I will post more pics as I progress. :-)

Mapex----Maniac · #2 09-04-2011, 03:18 AM

Great

Really would like to see how this turns out

daredrummer · #3 09-04-2011, 04:46 AM

Awesome! I love walnut snares.

Make sure to carefully choose your bearing edge design: it's one of the most important components of drums sound. You probably already know that though!

I might suggest talking to keep it simple (Andy) here of the forum. He has recently finished some breakthrough drum designs and knows tons of things about drum construction, especially stave!

Here is his thread on his crazy drums... http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=79440

uniongoon · #4 09-04-2011, 04:58 AM

FYI: Walnut shavings and sawdust is toxic to most trees and plants, so dispose of it in the weeds where you wont kill your good plants. Now, get cutting.

macr0w · #5 09-11-2011, 01:09 PM

Thanks guys.

Here is a couple of pics of a "prototype I'm putting together out of some oak I had laying around.

I'm going to use it's construction to work out the kinks before I screw up my walnut.

I'm working on my clamping jig today.

Wish me luck. :-)

stavebuilder · #6 09-11-2011, 04:48 PM

You don't need a clamping jig when gluing up a stave shell. It will hold it's shape perfectly when you have your angles dead on. The only thing you need to clamp it is a couple of racheting strap/band clamps and crank 'em down.

macr0w · #7 09-11-2011, 05:44 PM

That's cool, Thanks for the tip.

I am using ratchet straps.

I was just cutting a couple of disks to go inside the shell.

I might go see how it does without it now that you say that.

Getting the diameter just right is a pain in the ass. lol

macr0w · #8 09-15-2011, 05:03 AM

Here's a pic of my progress with the black walnut.

It's ready for gluing. :-)

macr0w · #9 09-20-2011, 05:21 PM

The glue is dry and the straps removed.

macr0w · #10 09-20-2011, 05:22 PM

Now to get it mounted to a piece of plywood for turning. :-)

macr0w · #11 09-23-2011, 01:13 PM

Progress pics.

:-)

zarrdoss · #12 09-23-2011, 01:28 PM

Thats beautiful! I sure wish I had the patience and means to make a snare like that, what hoops and hard wear are you going to finish it off with?

wsabol · #13 09-23-2011, 04:07 PM

What did you use to lathe the inside and outside of the shell?

macr0w · #14 09-23-2011, 06:01 PM

I am going to be using Ego double ended round lugs, die cast hoops and a Trick throwoff/butt plate set.

It was turned on a lathe both inside and out.

I'm going for a natural finish.

I'm real excited but I'm trying to take my time and be cautious.

I hope all my hardware shows up soon.

In the mean time I have a lot of sanding to do.

diegobxr · #15 09-23-2011, 08:58 PM

Man, that is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Congrats!
I'll be waiting for updates! :)

Cheers!

tamadrm · #16 09-23-2011, 09:17 PM

Just curious..did you cut the bearing edges on the lathe or a router table?Beautiful drum so far.Its going to look great when you're done.

Steve B

macr0w · #17 09-24-2011, 03:03 AM

The bearing edge was done on a router table.

The guy whose shop I used has a killer saw/router table.

I can put another one of these together easily if anyone wants one. :-)

GRUNTERSDAD · #18 09-24-2011, 03:58 AM

Mac that is beautiful. Waiting with bated breath for the finish.

daredrummer · #19 09-24-2011, 05:53 AM

Beautiful snare. I'd love to hear how it sound's after the hardware is applied. With the die cast hoops and double ended round lugs that will be one classy snare.

paistepower92 · #20 09-25-2011, 01:11 AM

I just finished my own walnut/maple stave snare and I love it. I'll have pics up in the next few days.

LukeSnyder · #21 09-25-2011, 01:23 AM

This is seriously inspiring, it looks gorgeous! I want to make my own stave drum now...

paistepower92 · #22 09-25-2011, 04:10 AM

Here's mine
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=81398

macr0w · #23 09-25-2011, 03:34 PM

That's a nice looking shell.

Good job. :-)

macr0w · #24 09-26-2011, 03:55 AM

A lot of sanding.

macr0w · #25 10-02-2011, 10:36 PM

Here are a few progress pics.

Hardware:

My throw off went from this:

To this:

Here is the shell:

I think I'm going to do one more coat on this thing.

After that I'm just waiting for the Lugs to show up.

:-)

keep it simple · #26 10-03-2011, 12:02 AM

That's a really superb job on buffing the strainer & butt. Great looking shell too. Now you're getting to the fun bit, the bit that makes it all worthwhile. Exciting eh!

drumdevil9 · #27 10-03-2011, 12:39 AM

That is simply amazing work. Really looking forward to seeing it finished.

bamdrummer · #28 10-03-2011, 04:36 AM

If only my first stave snare had looked this good by the time I was done with it......
anyway, excellent work man! Your making quite the beauty there, I'm sure the sound will match the looks!

Bertram · #29 10-03-2011, 03:13 PM

When you're done post a video of the sound!

Red Menace · #30 10-04-2011, 10:20 PM

I saw this a few days ago but forgot to comment...

Great looking snare. That's especially nice that your father helped you with it. I would really like to add a stave snare to my collection but that's 3 or 4 spaces down the line.

What really caught my eye was that throw-off. Did you just polish that up of actually have it chromed? I'd very much appreciate some more details on that because I'd love to shine the Trick t/o up on my snare to match the chromed lugs.

...I'd probably have to take it to a body shop though because I really don't have the tools to polish it up at home.

macr0w · #31 10-05-2011, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I saw this a few days ago but forgot to comment...

Great looking snare. That's especially nice that your father helped you with it. I would really like to add a stave snare to my collection but that's 3 or 4 spaces down the line.

What really caught my eye was that throw-off. Did you just polish that up of actually have it chromed? I'd very much appreciate some more details on that because I'd love to shine the Trick t/o up on my snare to match the chromed lugs.

...I'd probably have to take it to a body shop though because I really don't have the tools to polish it up at home.

Actually, my Dad didn't help me with this at all. I don't think I said anything about my Dad helping me. Not that he wouldn't. I just didn't ask. I did borrow his portable router table. :-)

Any way, I just polished the Trick up myself. No chrome.
I started with some 320 and got the brush marks out of it and then went to 400 and then to 600 and then to a sisal wheel with fine rouge the to a loose flannel wheel with even finer rouge.

It looks pretty good. I was going to keep going but I got bored. :-)

macr0w · #32 10-05-2011, 02:19 AM

Here's a pic of the hardware layout.

Red Menace · #33 10-05-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macr0w

Actually, my Dad didn't help me with this at all. I don't think I said anything about my Dad helping me. Not that he wouldn't. I just didn't ask. I did borrow his portable router table. :-)

Oops... I'm an idiot. I had this thread mistaken with the guy from Europe that did a stave kit. His father helped him with it.

I think I will ask a body shop to see what they'd ask to polish my t/o up like that. I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do it myself.

What kind of lugs are you going to put on this baby?

macr0w · #34 10-05-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Menace

What kind of lugs are you going to put on this baby?

http://www.egodrumsupply.com/roundedde.html

:-)

kettles · #35 10-05-2011, 02:49 PM

I bet you guys who build your own drums get a bit nervous before taking that first hit once it's all finished, right? ;)

I'm really intrigued by this, I don't have much knowledge of woodworking so every step from cutting the staves perfectly, gluing them to a perfect circle, lathing and then cutting the edges (!!!) really impresses me :)

macr0w · #36 10-06-2011, 01:11 PM

Okay, here she is.

It sounds good too.

I'll post a clip when I get a chance to shoot one.

uniongoon · #37 10-06-2011, 03:02 PM

Nice first drum, great job. Do you notice the grain on the staves, did you put thought into matching up pieces so they flow and look like one piece? I am putting one together now, and I cant see of find many of the seams. Making it hard for measuring out for hardware, but this is ideal for final look.

macr0w · #38 10-06-2011, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the comments.

I didn't put any thoughts into the grains.

I just randomly put them together.

:-)

stavebuilder · #39 10-06-2011, 04:15 PM

Nice job, dood! Especially for a first drum. How do you like the way it sounds?

macr0w · #40 10-06-2011, 05:40 PM

So far so good.

I like the way it sounds.

It sounds like a snare should.

I haven't settled down on the tuning yet.

I'm trying to keep it kinda low.

I'll post a video clip later tonight when I get a chance.