Custom Djembe w/inlay P4

I finally got a nice finish on this djembe.? I sanded down to 320 grit on the shell and sanded the inlay down to 1000 grit.? It was glossy enough for me, so I didn’t worry about buffing or polishing.?? Next I mixed 50/50 mineral spirits with boiled linseed oil and put on a heavy wipe.? After about 15-20 min. I wipe it off with a clean rag.? The point is to get it to absorb into the wood fibers, but not build up a layer on top.? I gave it a few hours to dry and then did a coat of undiluted BLO.? I gave this coating about 30 min to penetrate, then rubbed it off with a clean rag.

Waiting the week for this to dry, I remembered I never cut the bottom groove for the lower ring.? I debated if I needed to, because it doesn’t have to be there… and ultimately decided I’d like the look of the drum better and it is always easier to tune….

I started to cut off by hand as I do my ashikos using one of those Japanese fine tooth saws and a good chisel.? I soon realized that the angle I needed wasn’t possible with the size of the base.? It would have been way easier if I had though of this while I had access to the lathe.? Or even before I glued up the sections… but I didn’t. 🙂

I brainstormed a bit and remembered about this rabbet bit set that I haven’t used yet.? It worked out really well and I just threw on another coat of linseed oil to the section that was cut.

Here is the final shell.? You can see I went the extra step for this drum as I do in all my Pro Series Djembes.? By carving the inside of the shell in a spiral, as they are done traditionally, it gives these staved djembe drums that extra oomph and makes them sound traditional.? It also helps tighten up the slaps just a tad… not as much overtones with an “imperfect” interior.? It’s a lot of extra work, but the outcome is superb!

  

‘All’ I have to do now is weld the rings, rope up and head the drum, then wait another week or so before I tune her up!? I think I’m going to miss working on this project.? I really feel like I’ve bonded with this drum!