- 1). Determine the size of the drum shell you wish to make based on the measurements of the type of drum you wish to build, such as a tom or snare. For instance, a standard snare is usually 14 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches deep, therefore, cut the sheets to a width of 5.5 inches. To find the circumference of a 14-inch drum, use the equation, 2 times pi times the radius, 7 in this case. In this example, the result is 44 inches; the length the veneer strips need to be. Cut three strips this size to form the 3-ply veneer shell.
- 2). Find the natural bend of the strips by gently bending them in both directions. The strip with the best outward facing side should be used on the outside. Place this strip into an open circle mold and set aside. The next strip requires some calculations, as each strip should be marginally smaller or the shell will not close correctly. Measure and cut the next two strips by two times the thickness of the veneer sheets, which is 2 mm. In terms of millimeters, the outside strip is 1117.6 mm. Therefore, the next strip is 1117.6 mm minus 12.56 mm equals 1105.04 mm and the third strip is 1105.04 mm minus 12.56 mm, which is 1092.48 mm. Cut these strips to these measurements and prepare for gluing.
- 3). Apply the glue to the inside curve and place the second strip into the mold against the first strip. Apply glue to the inside curve of the second strip and insert the third strip. Then close the circle mold and clamp it tight. The glue will be spread thin and any glue that squeezes out should be cleaned up as soon as possible. The resulting tightness of the bond will provide a more natural tone.
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