Senegalese Style Drums

How to make an original drum - Senegalese Style

I visited a local drum factory in Dakar, Senegal. I made this instructable of the process that I saw.

However, this is not a step by step instructable but it will give you a general idea and almost all the steps to make a drum as they do in Senegal.

Materials:
wood
Razor
carving tools
ink
leather
rope
fabric
some welding required
wood sanding tools
varnish ( lighter and darker preferred)

Step 1: Cut a Piece of Wood

this should not be done without supervision of an adult.

Step 2: Carving in the Center

getting the wood and shape

Step 3: Example

you carve in the center of the wood piece, calculating the size that you want your drum to be.

Step 4: Lots of Sanding

Sanding lots of sanding

Step 5: Sanding the Shape

After all the sanding, the drum should look like this.

Very smooth and the circular edges are well made.

Step 6: Varnish

it is recommended that you use two varnishes one that is lighter and one that is darker, ( first you apply one and after you apply the other one) however it is fun to experiment and to make it your own style.

Step 7: Paint and Then Sand It Again

Also

sometimes you can paint it and then sand it again to make your desired color.

Step 8: Drawings

You can get inspiration from magazines, or you can make your very own drawings to put in your drum

Step 9: Making the Drawings

With ink or acryclic you can apply the drawings to the wood or you can also carve first the designs and then you can paint on top of them.

Step 10: The Leather

After leaving the leather in water for a while, you should remove it ( be careful it smells) hang it for a little bit to remove the water.

Step 11: Removing the Leather's Hair

Use a razor to remove the hair.

it is totally up to you if you want to leave hair on the edges for decoration, however it will affect the sounds of your drums.

Step 12: Removing the Hair

start moving the racer from the top to bottom to take the hair out.

You don't have to remove all the hair, it is up to you if you want to give it another style, but this will affect the sounds of your drum.

This side should be facing up when you place it on the drum. That makes it sound better.

Step 13: Measuring the Diameter

Measure the circle's diameter to know how much leather and how big the metal circles (needed to attach the leather to the drum) are going to be.

Step 14: Metal Circles

Make sure you do at least three metal circles to attach the ropes and the leather to the drum.

All of them are covered with fabric.

One will go with the leather and two will go with the rope.

Step 15: Ropes and Circles

First start by attaching the rope to one of the "metal circles"

Step 16: Start Attaching the Rope

After placing the metal circle with the rope to the drum you can start attaching the rest of the rope to the drum.
2 goes on the outside and one goes in the inside.

Step 17: The Metal Inside the Circle

Then, you should place the first metal circle inside the leather so that the leather is firmly installed on the drum.

This metal circle goes on the inside of the drum.

Step 18: Installing the Ropes to the Drum

the you should attach the other metal circle on top of the drum.

Step 19: The Rope

Continue attaching the ropes to the drum, making it really tense, if it is not tense your drum will not sound good.

remember that leather should be placed facing up... the side that you cut the hair from.

That makes it sound better or different

Once the leather is firmly attached to the drum cut the rest of the leather.

Step 20: Rope Detail

rope detail

Step 21: More Details

Step 22: Detail / Attaching

Step 23: Your Drum

Step 24: Other Types of Attachments

you can mix colors and make your own way to attach it all together