If you're a samba player, you'll come across broken tamborims fairly regularly. Unfortunantely there aren't many instructions on how to mend them again, so they end up piled up on the side... until now.

Step 1: Get Your Stuff Together

You'll need:

Broken tam
New tam skin
Adjustable wrench
Lubricant

Hints:

Adjustable wrenches are useful things to have - it saves having to have lots of different drum keys of different sizes.

Lubricant - I've used WD-40 (in a handy stick form), but KY Jelly and beeswax also works really well. Pick something that won't damage the skin.

New tam skins are available from good music instrument stores. Makes include Contemporanea, RMV and Gope

Step 2: Out With the Old...

Use your adjustable spanner to loosen the nuts round the drum. Don't worry about the order at this stage as you won't be keeping the old broken skin.

Take the lugs off and put them somewhere safe.

Remove the metal tuning ring and put to one side

Remove the broken drum skin.

Whilst its at this stage, why not give everything a good clean and get rid of all that old built up dirt, grease, and muck. Kitchen surface cleaner, alcohol wipes or even good old fashioned soap and water all work well. Don't forget the lugs and nuts - they can build up a lot of grot.

Step 3: Grease Is the Word...

Put a thin layer of lubricant around the rim of the drum where the skin will rub over. This will allow the skin to move over it a lot more easily.

Lubricate the screws on the lugs as well.

Step 4: In With the New...

Place the new skin on the drum, making sure its centered.

Replace the ring over the top of the skin. Make sure this is centered as well.

Step 5: Lug It...

Start replacing the lugs around the drum.

At this point, only finger tighten the nuts until you just start to feel tension and the ring isn't loose. DON'T GO TOO TIGHT (not yet).

When all the lugs are attached, start tightening them with your adjustable wrench.

Always tighten opposite nuts together (see tuning plan below). Tighten them evenly so that the skin is stretched to an even tension all the way round.

Don't get nervous about tightening them - the skins go a lot further than you think. Keep going until the tam has a nice sharp loud "crack" when hit.

You're done!