Making a drum beater ...

[Why Syzygy]

I have a drum stick. I want to put a padded head on it. What materials do I need? I know I can use leather to cover, but have no clue what to use for filler? And are other covering materials recommended? TIA!

[GliderGuider]

1. I made a beater for an aboriginal hand drum

For the shaft I just used a small straight branch the right size and wrapped the tip with a strip of soft deerskin about 2 feet long and a half an inch wide to make an approximate ball shape. It works very well.

[Why Syzygy]

2. So, you basically

just used extra leather for the stuffing? The ones I've seen appear to have a piece of leather draped and tied over *something*. So that hadn't occurred to me. Could do.

[GliderGuider]

3. Yes, I didn't actually stuff it.

I just wrapped the strip of deerskin around the end of the stick until it was half a dozen layers thick, then split the end of the strip in half to tie it off. The skin itself seemed to have the right balance of resilience and solidity. The problem with stuffing can be that if it's too soft it muffles the resonance of the drum.

[Why Syzygy]

4. Okay. Great tip. Thank you!

btw, have you ever made a dream catcher? Maybe it's the weather, but I'm feeling all crafty all a sudden. I have a catcher I started a while back, but stopped before tying the web.

[GliderGuider]

5. Sorry, I can't help you there

Wrapping a strip of deerskin around a stick is about the limit of my craft skills...:-(

[Why Syzygy]

8. Yeah?

Well I happen to know you can build a camp fire and cast a sacred circle too!
Those are not skills to be scoffed at.

[LiberalEsto]

6. I'm glad you asked that

I was thinking about doing the same thing for my drum. I just joined the "drum choir" at our UU church.

[Why Syzygy]

7. Kew-el

I really miss the drum circles since I moved. There are some songs on youtube that remind me so much of them. Sequoia records. And reading this site today really got me in the mood:
http://healing.about.com/od/drums/a/drumtherapy.htm

I just don't like drumming with a naked stick.

What kind of drumming will y'all do?

[LiberalEsto]

10. Nothing special

I sometimes bring my bodhran (found at a garage sale)to pagan rituals and make some sounds with my hands for circle dancing. Never had any formal training, but the drum choir practices should be a big help. Our leader is really good.

[winyanstaz]

9. my classes are right now gathering the materials for a drum making class...

one of the things we do for the beater is we get a long strip of Cotton gauze or light Cotton fabric about 4-9 inches wide (depending on how big you want the beater end) (any will do as long as it will take glue well...but please make sure it is bio-degradable)
Start on the end of your stick, double lengthwise the strip of cloth and as you very tightly wrap it around the end of your stick, glue the whole thing very heavy. (I use tacky glue and my sticks are still working great now 15 years later)
When your wrapped end is as thick as you like it, cut off the end and glue it down tightly as well. Let it throughly dry and then you can cover with either rawhide or even a tanned piece of leather.
Don't make the mistake I did the first time I tried to make a beater and leave a fringe on as then I had to clip the fringe because it was making a noise on the drum..duh :P
If you wish to attach feathers to the end of the handle, or to your drum, cut down lengthwise on the shaft of the feather and take off one half. Work the shaft with your fingers, bending it slightly until it is flexible and then tuck it in a loop back on itself, tucking the end back down into the shaft. Tie the place you tucked it in tightly with red Cotton thread or twine (red is traditional but any color is fine that means something to you..or even a strip of leather or sinew. Again be sure it is biodegradable) and your feather will hang correctly.
We do the same when we are making any feathers to attach or to hang as prayer feathers. It makes a nice self-loop that holds up well and lets the feather turn easily with the movement or wind.