The Final Stretch — Ready for New Year’s Eve
Day 20 is a momentous milestone in our journey! This update spans two high-energy days—December 27 and 29, 2025—to bring us to the finish line. To ensure this drum finds its voice by New Year’s Eve, it had to be strung by midnight on December 27. Despite the whirlwind of Christmas festivities and a few winter storms, we made it!
As I write this on December 30, the drum is nearly cured. I have just tested its resonance, and it sounds heavenly. The deer rawhide has dried to a stunning, golden translucence, reminiscent of stained glass. We have successfully completed our 20-day journey together!
Measuring the Architecture of Sound
Before the lacing begins, precision in measurement is key. For a drum of this size, I use a specific formula: one arm’s-length of sinew per pleat (pair of stringing holes). With 22 pleats on this white oak frame, I measured out exactly 22 arm’s-lengths to ensure a continuous, strong lace.
Tightening and Learning
After threading the sinew from side to side around the frame, the focus shifts to tightening. This is a nuanced process I often teach in my workshops and include in my custom drum kit instructions. During this stage, my assistant asked several insightful questions that many first-time makers share. We’ve included that conversation here as a helpful learning moment for your own crafting journey.
Weaving the Spokes
By December 29, the rawhide was nearly dry—the perfect window to create the spokes. Spokes serve two vital purposes:
Tuning: They gently tighten the rawhide to achieve the desired pitch.
Ergonomics: They provide a comfortable, secure grip for the drummer’s hand.
I use a basket-weaving technique to create these, which can be an art form in itself, often resulting in patterns like trees or stars. For this specific drum, I crafted small, wide spokes for a sturdy and elegant finish.
20 Days of Transformation: A Retrospective
Think of how far we have come! Over these 20 days, we have:
- Milled kiln-dried lumber and used sun-steaming to hand-bend the frame.
- Dried, cut, glued, sanded, and finished the white oak with black cherry stain and varnish.
- Rough-cut, soaked, and used digital templates to prepare the deer rawhide.
- Punched stringing holes, measured sinew, and completed the final stretch.
- Cured the hide and wove the spokes to secure a glorious, resonant sound.
Ready for the New Year
We are officially ready to drum in 2026! Come back tomorrow night to hear the first official heartbeat of this New Year’s Eve drum.
Bring the Rhythm Home If you feel called to own a custom drum or want to experience the making process yourself with a step-by-step drum kit, please reach out via my About Page or email me directly.
Join us tomorrow for Drum December Day 21, for the big New Year’s Eve Reveal!
Read more about my art and contact information at Love Art By Po and the many drums I make.
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Love Art by Po 
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