How to build a Drum

How to built a Drum

Our main goal at Dakota Drum is to create traditional drums of highest quality.
This means a lot of extra work goes into each one.
It also means you’ll have something that will last for generations, instead of bust a few years.
Probably the biggest difference is that we use only hand scraped buffalo rawhide.
This is a labor intensive job that requires putting each hide on a frame and removing the meat and hair using a traditional scraper.
Most drums today are made with a commercially produced rawhide.
This rawhide is made by using lye or other chemicals to remove the meat and hair.
The problem is these chemicals change the rawhide and make it more brittle.
That is why it cracks usually after just a few years.
When you use just water and scrape the hides they have all the natural strength and elasticity.
This rawhide will last at least 10 times longer than commercially produced rawhide and of course
we stand behind our products and will repair or replace any drums that might break.
See more about this process under drum making.

Dave Hansen & Sonja Holy Eagle
P.O. Box 75
Rapid City, SD 57709

phone ( 605 ) 348-2421

mail us

dave@dakotadrum.com

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