Any thoughts on this: With the incredibly hot and humid summer we've had here, my bodhrans have become verrry flacid. (That's even with air conditioning on most of the time.) I've not been playing them for a number of weeks. Are very loose skins over an extended time injurious to the instument? (I feel silly asking but I just want to make sure I'm not allowing something dumb to mess up my very expensive drums.)
I know I haven't been in touch with you guys since last May; I haven't even been able to connect to the site. I had computer problems that were a bear to solve. Hope everyone is well.
I don't know how expensive your Bodhrans are, but I heard of some people using a hair-dryer to dry out the skin & tighten it back up. I'd be weary to try this myself unless I knew what I was doing, ubt it doesn't seem like it would mess it up too much either.
Warming and drying the skin will bring it back to playable tension. Hair dryers are popular, there's a fellow I know uses a blowtorch, you could have a candle nearby - any point source of heat. If you use an open flame, just keep it moving and keep your hand against the other side of the skin so you can feel if it gets too warm.
Remember that you're dealing with a piece of leather, which will dry out over time unless you treat it periodically. This will also stabilize it against climate change. Malachy Kearns sells a tin of bodhran butter that does a good job, but I'm sure there are other things you could use.
I have an aquaintance who used to make a Bodhran sandwich. He put a two foot square heating pad in between the two heads. Worked for him. I am no expert - I just know what I saw. You might want to wait for confirmation from one of the experts.
Tunable drums have become quite the rage around here so I don't see too many methods.
I've never heard that humidity would permanently damage the drum. To make it playable you dry it as mentioned by Brad and Jon. But I know that extreme dryness can damage the skin. Leave it in a hot car or dry it to much with the hair-dryer and the drum will never be the same again. When the skin dries and stretches it will over stretch the fibres (or whatever it's called) and the skin loses its elasticity.
Lars
The suggestions you have gotten are sound. Usually if you dampen the skin and then dry it by whatever means you have, the skin will come back to life. Sometimes, as suggested earlier, the skin has stretched beyond help and you have a couple of options. A new head or what I have done is to take a piece of rawhide boot lacing and place it inside the drum. Use a tool such as a tongue depressor or popsicle stick and push the lace between the skin and the rim of the drum. This works pretty well until you can have a new skin installed. Good Luck, Dave
Bodhrán tlc
Bodhrán tlc
Any thoughts on this: With the incredibly hot and humid summer we've had here, my bodhrans have become verrry flacid. (That's even with air conditioning on most of the time.) I've not been playing them for a number of weeks. Are very loose skins over an extended time injurious to the instument? (I feel silly asking but I just want to make sure I'm not allowing something dumb to mess up my very expensive drums.)
I know I haven't been in touch with you guys since last May; I haven't even been able to connect to the site. I had computer problems that were a bear to solve. Hope everyone is well.
Linda
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by linda
Re: Bodhrán tlc
I don't know how expensive your Bodhrans are, but I heard of some people using a hair-dryer to dry out the skin & tighten it back up. I'd be weary to try this myself unless I knew what I was doing, ubt it doesn't seem like it would mess it up too much either.
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: Bodhrán tlc
Warming and drying the skin will bring it back to playable tension. Hair dryers are popular, there's a fellow I know uses a blowtorch, you could have a candle nearby - any point source of heat. If you use an open flame, just keep it moving and keep your hand against the other side of the skin so you can feel if it gets too warm.
Remember that you're dealing with a piece of leather, which will dry out over time unless you treat it periodically. This will also stabilize it against climate change. Malachy Kearns sells a tin of bodhran butter that does a good job, but I'm sure there are other things you could use.
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Bodhrán tlc
Welcome back, Linda! (I've no idea about your question, but wanted to say that we've missed you. Heh.)
Zina
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Bodhrán tlc
I have an aquaintance who used to make a Bodhran sandwich. He put a two foot square heating pad in between the two heads. Worked for him. I am no expert - I just know what I saw. You might want to wait for confirmation from one of the experts.
Tunable drums have become quite the rage around here so I don't see too many methods.
Mark
# Posted on August 9th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Re: Bodhrán tlc
I've never heard that humidity would permanently damage the drum. To make it playable you dry it as mentioned by Brad and Jon. But I know that extreme dryness can damage the skin. Leave it in a hot car or dry it to much with the hair-dryer and the drum will never be the same again. When the skin dries and stretches it will over stretch the fibres (or whatever it's called) and the skin loses its elasticity.
Lars
# Posted on August 11th 2002 by lars
Re: Bodhrán tlc
The suggestions you have gotten are sound. Usually if you dampen the skin and then dry it by whatever means you have, the skin will come back to life. Sometimes, as suggested earlier, the skin has stretched beyond help and you have a couple of options. A new head or what I have done is to take a piece of rawhide boot lacing and place it inside the drum. Use a tool such as a tongue depressor or popsicle stick and push the lace between the skin and the rim of the drum. This works pretty well until you can have a new skin installed. Good Luck, Dave
# Posted on August 12th 2002 by McBodhran
Re: Bodhrán tlc
It's great when the bodrans go flacid
quieter
# Posted on August 19th 2002 by llig leahcim