How Tight Is Right

[teb]

Soon I am going to be putting on a new skin. I am wondering how tight I should I pull the skin to the center? Having the skin tight here might help to pre-stretch the skin and prevent the skin from going too low on the drum.

[michi]

Tight is good.

Pull the drawstring as tight as you can. It's basically impossible to put too much tension on a skin with a drawstring such as this. I would also recommend to use more holes around the perimeter. As is, the holes are spaced apart too far, so you will start out with uneven tension to begin with.

Pre-stretching the skin when it is wet and before mounting it on the flesh ring is also a good idea.

Cheers,

Michi.

[shortypalmer]

I definitely agree with michi, more holes and pull it hard, if you pull to hard you can always take the rope out to let the ring come down, i have been known to put a few across the head to keep it tighter. just make sure the spine is in the center. the picture looks off a touch to me, i actually measure the spine to make sure it is in the center

[teb]

Thanks Michi and Shorty for responding to my question. I think in the past I have not pulled the skin tight enough. Now I will tighten more. I will make more holes and be sure the spine is centered. I know my bearing edge is better this time thanks to this forum. Thanks again guys.

[michi]

Depending on the size of the skin round, I usually end up with 40, 42, 44, or 46 slits. (You need an even number.) That works out to slits spaced around 1.5" apart.

Cheers,

Michi.

[teb]

Michi knowing how many slits and the spacing is very helpful. They need to be closer than I realized. I am going to be working a 13.5" head and I will use 1.5" spacing.

Thanks,

Tom

[michi]

Michi knowing how many slits and the spacing is very helpful. They need to be closer than I realized. I am going to be working a 13.5" head and I will use 1.5" spacing.

1.5" works just fine. No point in going narrower than that.

Make sure you have an even number of slits, otherwise the ends of the rope will emerge on opposite sides of the skin.

Cheers,

Michi.