Makedrums
Drum Building Tools
Looking to build a custom drum set? Here is a detailed look at all of the tools you will need for building a drum or drum set!
These are the tools that you can use to build custom drums. If you don’t have any of these tools, or you don’t want to spend the money on some of these tools I would recommend learning how to build drums with only a screwdriver.
Drum Building Suite
Learn how to build drums without trial and error! Save hundreds of dollars, and days of time when you follow the instructions laid out in this drum building suite that includes a full color 100+ pictures of how to build drums, and 26 minutes of HD video of how to build custom drums!
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Drum Hardware Layout Mat
The drum hardware layout mat allows you to easily determine where your hardware should be placed on your drums. This mat fits drums 8" – 26", has a 6 lug, 8 lug, and 10 lug configurations, and has lines on it that make creating your snare bed easy.
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Combo Square
Probably my most used drum building tool. I use this to mark the layout of hardware on drum shells.
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Right Angle Drill
This is another tool that I use all the time! If you plan on drilling from the inside or screwing in lug screws on drums smaller than 12″ you’ll need a right angle drill.
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Blue Painters Tape
You’ll need this for a number of things; masking the bearing edge and inside of shell; marking the hardware layout on shells; masking for stripes… Get the LOW TACK kind or else you may end up peeling more off of your drum than just tape!
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J-Roller/Laminate Roller
This is used when applying a wrap to smooth out any air bubbles that might be present when you wrap your shell.
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Contact Cement
My favorite contact cement for applying a wrap. The gel version is nice because it doesn’t run or drip.
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Swanson Cutting Guide
This comes with 2 C-clamps used to clamp your piece to your workbench while you cut a perfectly straight line using your utility knife.
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Utility Knife
Use this in conjunction with your cutting guide to cut wrap.
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Router
If you plan on cutting your own bearing edges, or cutting an inlay groove, you’ll need this.
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Router Bits
You can always start off with the tried and true 45 degree bit, but having lots of bits allows you to experiment and find the bearing edge that YOU love!
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Eye Protection
Wear eye protection when cutting bearing edges, inlays, shells, and using other power tools. I know from experience that you don’t want a wood chip in your eyeball!
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Dust/Chemical Protection
Protect your respiratory system! Wear this when painting, using contact cement and even cutting shells. Sawdust in your lungs is not fun
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Hand File
Use this to shape your snare beds and to match bearing edge profiles of a wrapped drum’s seam.
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Dust Brush
A quick and easy way to clean your workspace. Keep your workspace clean to prevent accidents.
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