You probably love how your drum has sounded from the time you started using it. Over time, however, they start getting rugged, and the sound you so much loved is lost gradually. When it comes to this point, you need to give your drum a new touch by rewrapping it. While most people will leave that to the experts, no one said you cannot do the rewrapping yourself and save a few bucks. This piece will look into how you can do the drum shell wrap on your own and make it as perfect as possible. Here are the steps:
1. Choose the Right Wrap
The good thing about drum wraps is that they can also help make your drum kit look more stylish, in addition to sounding better. However, this also means that you have to choose the right drum shell wraps for your drum set, as well as the kind of music you are playing. Some factors you may need to consider while at it include:
- Color
- Product material
- Size
2. Prepare the Shell
When installing the wrap, you need to make sure the shells are smooth enough. Before that, you need to de-attach everything on your drum shell. These include the lug casings, air hole grommets, tom mounts, the kick drum leg, and anything else you may have on your drum shell. If you haven’t done this before, you need to place every single piece separately and in order so you can determine where they were when re-attaching the back.
After that, take the time and go through the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some manufacturers in such a way that they can be installed on top of the original wrap. Others, however, will require you to discard the existing wrap totally before installing the new one. If you must remove the original wrap, you have to peel it in a way that it retains as much glue or tape residue as it possibly can. Make sure the shell is as smooth as possible for a smooth installation.
3. Wrap It Up and Give It a Trim
After the shell is smooth and ready for a new look, you need to work on the wrap itself. Some companies will give you a wrap that is already trimmed as per the size of your drum. Other companies will sell you wraps that will require trimming. To make a proper trim, you need to measure your shell’s depth, as well as the circumference. Also, remember to leave a quarter of an inch of the edges unwrapped. This is so the wrapping doesn’t interfere with the drum head. It’ is advisable to do the final trimming after the wrapping is completed, so you are sure about the edges.
Installation and Drilling Tips
Most of the wraps will come with a pre-installed tape on them, so all you have to do is hold the wrap tightly around the shell. Make sure the graphics are placed exactly where you want them to be and slide the wrap around the shell, applying a little bit of pressure where the tape is positioned. If the wrap requires you to tape it or glue it, then make sure you trim it to the right size. Apply the glue carefully as you slide it on the shell. After the trimmed wrap is in place, you need to drill holes for your hardware. The best trick is lighting up the inside, so you know where the holes are exactly. The holes will play a major role in setting back your hardware.
As your drum ages, the wrap tends to sag and requires replacement. The steps above should help you with how to go about that.
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