Oiling with head on.

[Djembe-nerd]

There are scattered information in different posts, so i thought to dedicate one for newbees like me.

My first djembe is 7 months old now, hare wood, Mali.

Should I do some oiling with the head on, or wait more. If yes then

- should it be just on or near the bottom, or stem
- how much, (with a
- and what oil. (Give me something that I can get easily, from lowes, home depot).
- technique,

I am in Houston, humidty is pretty high here all the time, in the 80%,

Thnx

[michi]

I wouldn't bother trying to oil the drum while it has a skin on it. For one, it's difficult to do: on the outside, you have all the rope work in the way and, on the inside, it's difficult to reach the inside of the bowl. The other issue is that you most definitely don't want to get any oil on the skin. If you do, that is likely to drastically reduce the life of the skin, especially if the oil contains mineral oils.

I generally oil my drums about once a year, and I do it while I'm replacing a skin. That way, everything is easily accessible. For the inside, use a thin penetrating oil. The idea is to nourish the wood and prevent cracks developing. I use Organoil Decking Oil, which is very light and thin and penetrates into the wood very well. It also contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal oils (such as Ti Tree and Eucalypt). This prevents bacteria growth on the inside of the bowl, which can be an issue in humid climates.

But you don't have to use this particular oil. Basically, anything light and penetrating will do. Linseed oil and palm oil are popular alternatives. Danish oil is another one. If you go to a hardware shop, they will probably have a quite a few oils that are designed for outdoor furniture and decks. Any of these will work.

When applying the oil to the inside of the shell, make sure to keep it away from the bearing edge. You don't want the new skin to absorb oil from the edge when you fit it.

For the outside, I use Gilly Stephenson's Restoring and New Timber Polish. It's a soft wax that contains bees wax and a variety of plant fats. It penetrates into the wood and swells the fibres, which helps to seal the shell against moisture and gives it a nice silky sheen. If you want an extra-nice finish, you can use Carnauba wax for the final coat. That's a harder wax that adds some extra gloss.

Again, there is no need to use this particular wax. Just look for furniture waxes in your hardware store and find one that penetrates rather than being just a surface polish. Alternatives are plain bees wax and shea butter, as well as any number of plant oils, such as linseed, avocado, etc. For a final coat, you can use car polish. (Look for one that advertises a high proportion of Carnauba wax.)

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

Thanks Michi,

will wait till the head replacement time comes.

[Dugafola]

there's no problem with oiling the leg of your drum. just be careful and don't make a mess.

[Paul]

As usual I will be devils advocate, I spent 4 months in the bush with a djembe maker and a djembe fola, the two telling me opposite things... The maker wants his drum to last, not to crack when drying, to be able to sell it... The fola wants it to sound good...

As such my drum is dry as a bone, and the sound is amazing.. I might put a tiny bit of karite on the outside but thats it

[michi]

The maker wants his drum to last, not to crack when drying, to be able to sell it... The fola wants it to sound good...

As such my drum is dry as a bone, and the sound is amazing.. I might put a tiny bit of karite on the outside but thats it

I have a hard time getting my head around this... I don't see how there would be any difference in sound between a djembe that's been oiled recently and one that hasn't. Granted, there might be a very small difference because the reflective properties of the interior of the shell would change a little depending on the amount of oil. But I strongly suspect that the difference in sound would be too subtle to pick up.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Dugafola]

right now, i'm kinda thinking like Paul.

do you ever notice that oil sometimes coagulates to the surface when the climate turns cool? I notice it on pretty much every drum that comes out of the DSD shop. maybe it's because they use coconut oil exclusively to oil their shells. not sure if other oils will do that, but i know that karite will do the same. anyway, if i'm seeing the oil come to the surface on the outside of the leg, that means there must be the same thing going on inside the bowl. i don't like the thought of that.

i agree, the difference in sound may be inaudible...but why do most people say that djembe shells sound better as they age? i think it's because they dry out over time.

i'm all for preventative maintenance on your shell. i used to oil the shit out my drums in b/w skins with a concoction of karite, orange oil, coconut oil, linseed oil, grape seed and anything else i could find in my pantry. i'd apply the oil with steel wool to help open up the pores and also to help darken up the shell. nowadays, i'll hit the outside with an oiled rag one time before the next skin. i'll hit the inside every other skin or if it looks particularly thirsty for oil.

that's my MO for now. ask me in 6 months and it'll probably be different.

[michi]

do you ever notice that oil sometimes coagulates to the surface when the climate turns cool? I notice it on pretty much every drum that comes out of the DSD shop. maybe it's because they use coconut oil exclusively to oil their shells. not sure if other oils will do that, but i know that karite will do the same. anyway, if i'm seeing the oil come to the surface on the outside of the leg, that means there must be the same thing going on inside the bowl. i don't like the thought of that.

I agree with you there. If there is too much oil, or if the oil starts to go resinous, that's obviously not good. If there is so much oil that it comes out of the wood (even on the outside), I'd say that's simply too much oil--someone overdid it. (BTW, for the outside, that's why I prefer wax instead of oil. It doesn't stay oily/greasy to the touch and, after polishing, the amount of wax that's actually left is minute; basically only what fits into the pores of the wood.)

i agree, the difference in sound may be inaudible...but why do most people say that djembe shells sound better as they age? i think it's because they dry out over time.

Ah, that's the first time I've heard the ageing thing, thanks for that! Not sure whether it's because they dry out but, on the face of it, if they indeed sound better over time, then that's pretty much the first thing that comes to mind. How many years do I have to wait for my drums to sound fantastic?

I think the choice of oil is important too. Basically anything that is too viscous and heavy would cause build-up over time, I expect. The decking oil I use doesn't have this problem--it's really light and thin, almost the same viscosity as water. Over nearly six years, I have not noticed any build-up on any of my shells with this. I suspect that the modern outdoor oil formulations that are used for decks and garden furniture are probably a better choice than things like karite or linseed. They usually contain anti-fungal oils, UV filters, are very thin, and don't build up. (This is one case where I don't mind taking advantage of modern technology in a traditional context, just like I appreciate modern rope instead of twisted cowhide strips.)

i'm all for preventative maintenance on your shell. i used to oil the shit out my drums in b/w skins with a concoction of karite, orange oil, coconut oil, linseed oil, grape seed and anything else i could find in my pantry. i'd apply the oil with steel wool to help open up the pores and also to help darken up the shell.

Very fine (0000) steel wool works great. It's what many antique furniture experts recommend too. But I guess, if you have seen oil seeping out of the wood, you overdid it.

nowadays, i'll hit the outside with an oiled rag one time before the next skin. i'll hit the inside every other skin or if it looks particularly thirsty for oil.

Pretty much the same here. Inside maybe once a year with oil, outside maybe every second or third skin with a very small amount of wax and a polish. I think moderation is the key here.

As for the oil affecting sound, I guess it's possible, if there is a lot of it and/or goes resinous. That would change the surface texture inside the shell a little. I'd still say that the effect would have to be very subtle, unless there is a ridiculous amount of oil on the wood.

that's my MO for now. ask me in 6 months and it'll probably be different.

Yeah. I keep changing little things in my drum making too. Every drum I do, I find something else that can be improved, streamlined, etc... If it would be the same year after year, that would be boring

Cheers,

Michi.

[Carl]

One of the things I heard about oiling musical instruments, is that the oil replaces the water in the wood (thereby avoiding checking) and then the oil hardens, like a resin.

If I remember correctly, they were talking about stringed instruments (from guitars to violins).

Apparently, as the oil replaces the water, it "sweetens" the sound of the wood. I'm not sure how much of this translates to the djembe as the wood is so much thicker. This happens over years of consistent oiling and playing.

This plays into what Paul said, sometime it's not so much the presence of oil, but the absence of water (and all that it brings...)

I would like to talk to a luthier to get verification.... I would also like verification of the oil "hardening" into the wood. This is all from casual conversation with someone who manufactures electric guitars, so I am not sure how wide ranging his knowledge was...?

C

Edited to add:
http://www.recorderhomepage.net/wood.html
Water, oil and wooden recorders...

From a luthier:
http://www.jubilatores.com/varnish.html
1st paragraph is very good; opinion: oils bad, sealing (varnish) good

Interested in finding more research....

[the kid]

I think if you want your drums to last a long time its good to oil them occasionally. I have a 15 year old drum and have noticed some cracks developing since i brought it from africa 2 years ago. I oiled it up very good and have strung it up and it sounds crazy. The oil hasn't deminished the sound at all. Any one who works with wood will tell you oiling it preserves it. I want my drums to last as long as possible, longer than me. These will be giving the love for generations to come

[e2c]

do you ever notice that oil sometimes coagulates to the surface when the climate turns cool? I notice it on pretty much every drum that comes out of the DSD shop. maybe it's because they use coconut oil exclusively to oil their shells. not sure if other oils will do that, but i know that karite will do the same. anyway, if i'm seeing the oil come to the surface on the outside of the leg, that means there must be the same thing going on inside the bowl. i don't like the thought of that.

Nope... come to think of it, the only drum I've got that's a bit that way is the bass djembe I got through DSD. My other djembes came to me new, and nicely oiled, but not overly so. (Ditto for my duns.) So this is a new thing...

I wonder if your climate has something to do with it as well? I'm in the NE, and we've got the heat on for quite a few months out of the year... right now it's dry as a bone, indoors and out.

but why do most people say that djembe shells sound better as they age? i think it's because they dry out over time.

I think you're right, or at least, that's my hunch...

[Djembe-nerd]

I am thinking of putting this on the shell before I put the head. what do you think.

This for the inside

http://www.lowes.com/pd_206538-34228-CR ... seed%20oil

This for the outside

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... l=nofollow

[michi]

Linseed oil is popular for drums and works well. Before applying it, heat it to reduce viscosity. (Not really hot--50-60°C (120-140°F) works fine.) I use a flat paint brush, 2-3" wide, to brush it on. Wipe off any excess of oil with a lint-free rag. (Cotton and linen work well.)

The wax for the outside, by the sound of the description, is a hard finishing wax. It's likely to have a high proportion of carnauba wax in it. (That's the kind of wax that is used for hard-wearing surfaces, such as table tops, and it is also used as the final polish for cars to give them their showroom shine.) Carnauba works well as a finishing wax, but not as nourishing/penetrating wax.

But you can use the same linseed oil that you chose for the inside on the outside as well. Instead of brushing it on, wipe it on with lint-free rag, so you work it into the pores and don't end up with too much oil on the surface. Let it soak in for half an hour or so, then take a polishing cloth and polish the surface until you can no longer feel any oiliness. (By then, the grain of the wood should have come up beautifully.)

The following day, apply your finishing wax. Don't let it sit there for too long before polishing--this type of wax dries off quite hard and, if you leave it on the surface for too long, it just makes the polishing harder to do. Apply only a very thin film of that wax. Just enough so you can see the dull surface finish where the wax is. After polishing, it should come up with a beautiful silky sheen and repel water very effectively. (A drop of water applied to the surface should bead and not spread out at all and roll off the surface without leaving a trace.)

For the polishing, I buy polishing cloth from an auto accessory store. It's a tube of cloth, about a foot in diamater, that comes in a 5m roll or so. It's made from recycled cotton and has a loose loop weave. It works extremely well for polishing. (But you can use any lint-free cloth you have around too--old cotton t-shirts work well.)

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

thanks for the details.

I will look for another wax which is more penetrating, like you described in the other post. I will follow the standard of the linseed on the inside with paint brush, and outside with a rag.

How much of the edge should I leave, about 1" from the bottom of the bearing edge, that will make it 2: from the top approx.

[Djembe-nerd]

Here are some pics of the shell and bearing edge. I think the drum maker put something on the bearing edge, maybe glue.

How much oiling do you think the shell needs, light, medium, heavy.