How To Repair Wood Crack Djembe

I outset learned the arts and crafts of re-heading djembes in 1999 from Sandy Blocker of Talking Drums, Inc., Mohammed DaCosta of Boke, Guinea, and Madou Dembele of Republic of mali. I felt it was important to know your musical instrument from the within out, so I began the long route of studying dissimilar techniques of re-heading. I'm nonetheless on the road...

Estimates:

Re-heading is different for every djembe, then in order to estimate the price I need to inspect it commencement. The typical questions I ask are:

Is the rope the correct size, good quality, and reusable?
Are the 3 (or 4) steel rings a good fit?
Is the bottom band steel or wire or something else?
Is the bearing border smooth and the right profile? -Are there whatever cracks that need fixing?

Pricing:

The bones price, including all labor and a new goatskin is $120. If I have done your drum before, you get a 10% discount! Yay!

This includes:

mounting a new goatskin head (for calf/cow, contact me to discuss)
repairing minor cracks
oiling the beat out if needed
small sanding/cleaning of the bearing edge
all labor and materials for the higher up

Pare:

Hair: choose between hairless goatskin, shaved to a stubble, or with regular pilus. If you lot have a specific pilus colour, let me know. I usually accept black, chocolate-brown, and fair in stock.
Thickness: cull between thin, medium (default), or thick (when available).
Skin Finish: choose how you would like the skin to be finished: cuff manner (my default method), with a twist, or trim style (see photograph to right [cpu] or beneath [mobile]).

Rope:

If your djembe needs new rope:

For verticals: add $15 for whole pulsate. For drums with more than 32 hitches - $20.
For new cradles: $15 per ring. Includes new fabric wrap if desired (normally a expert thought!)

I typically have several colors of 4.5mm - 5mm rope in stock, or I tin can source information technology from area stores or websites (cost will be a little college) for specific colors and sizes. I as well offer used rope in expert condition for 1/2 the cost (verticals only). This is rope I've taken off other drums that is notwithstanding in great status and I'd love to keep out of the landfill.

Rings :

If your djembe needs new rings:

New rings are ane/4" steel rod and $15 per ring. I roll, weld, and cease them in-house.
Resizing rings are as well $xv per band.
If your current rings just need simple grinding or filing sharp edges, this is included in the basic repair price.

Additional Services:

Re-shaping the bearing edge - $25/hr. Normally takes well-nigh 1 hour.
Repairing major cracks - $25/hour + toll of special materials (epoxy, forest filler, etc) if applicable. Major cracks are cracks that get all the mode through the shell and the forest moves essentially. This also covers holes through the vanquish, or other catastrophic weather condition.
Adding tack decoration - $25/hr. Let'due south talk!

Melody Upward:

If your drum only needs a tune-upwardly, this service is billed hourly ($25/hr) with a minimum accuse of $20, depending on the complexity and time it takes. For case, if you merely demand the head tightened with the weave technique or "diamonds", this is quick and cheap. If y'all need your pulsate'southward rope loosened completely and re-pulled, this is more expensive. If it's a unproblematic 10-minute chore, information technology'll be no charge. I'm also glad to teach y'all how to practise this so you lot'll accept the skill for the future.

Timing:

For re-heads, I tin normally become your pulsate done in 2 weeks or less, depending on the atmospheric condition and my schedule. Your drum will be returned to you tight and sounding smashing! I'll also propose you on how to take intendance of your djembe, including wood and goatskin intendance. If you need a faster plough-time than i or 2 weeks, I tin sometimes exercise that.

Shipping Your Drum:

If y'all are not in my area and still would like to hash out a repair involving shipping your drum: all repair charges are the aforementioned, and there is an added $20 handling fee per drum (this is due to the added piece of work and fourth dimension it takes to pack and transport). I crave that you lot double-box your drum or make sure y'all pack it really well: enclose the drum in a waterproof plastic garbage handbag, cull a strong corrugated paper-thin box and use lots of padding within. I will reuse this box and packing textile when I render your drum!

Including pre-paid render shipping is a plus. My clients accept had success with UPS and FedEx using this method. Otherwise, USPS costs can range from $35-60 each way with insurance and tracking.

I don't practise this very often because it can be expensive and, although rare, drums can go damaged or lost in transit. Just this has never happened to me or any of my clients give thanks goodness! Finally, If you'd like to judge your shipping, use Pittsboro, NC, 27412.

Other Types of Repairs:

Yes, I do enough of other types of instrument repairs! I repair ashikos, koras (my other specialty besides djembes), ngonis, congas, bongos, kalimbas, and other mitt percussion instruments. Just get in affect, as each of these jobs are unique and require all unlike kinds of work.

To Schedule:

To inquire about a repair, just get in touch using the Contact page. My workshop is in Pittsboro, NC, 27312 (population four,221!)