It depends on where they are and the degree of them... if "within range" you might be able to retuck the head in a different position, but that seems a bit weird as the head might have really formed to the collar, at the very least you may be able to see it after retucking. But I've done that with a few heads.

I've never done it bone it would seem that you might be able to help them with glue. I'd use Titebond Hide Glue as that's what's in the heads basically that keeps them stuck on the hood. When the heads are wet you can feel it.

And for the amount of difference it would make you could try crazy glue, I just have hide glue so that's what I'd use.

I'm gathering it's just cosmetic and that maybe you don't want them to get any worse. Lots of heads have been used for years with small nicks and pinholes.

Thank you for the post. I had not thought of hide glue. What do you layer over the calf skin under or over the crack to keep the crack from getting larger? I have heard of using cat gut and stitching across the crack. I have never tried stitching or the glue.

Hi Howdee,

I'd say it depends on whether or not you plan on playing the cracked head. You can repair it all you want and it will still be a broken head which is more likely to break than a new one.

I've patched some lightly cracked or pin-holed old calf heads with some success. I just cut out a piece of another similar head to a size slightly larger than the area to be covered and attached it with wood glue. Sophisticated? No. But for a display only scenario, it has worked out well for me.

Another option for display is new Pakistani heads. (Their website is a disaster but they're good with email.) I've found that these are of very poor quality but are usable for display pieces where you want a more authentic historic appearance and playability is not important. Their thinnest grade is still on the thick side for most drums. They are however fairly inexpensive. These heads are sold untucked.

If you're playing the drum, it's probably worth replacing the head altogether. Stern is back up and running with very good quality heads sold tucked or untucked. If going this route, I recommend dealing with them directly. 14" heads go for around $56 untucked or $68 tucked.

Irish calf is the finest available but is priced accordingly. These heads are shipped from Ireland untucked and are available domestically through several sources including Cooperman and Rebeats. Some dealers offer these tucked, but I recommend tucking them yourself.

Hope this helps!

-Lee

I thought you were talking about little cracks, like would only be on the wood hoop. More than that and it's time for a new head. You can save the old head to use on a smaller drum.

The heads that perclee called Pakistani heads, from Columbia are what I used on my two floor tom batters. Mine aren't thick, just right to me and I really like them (!). On the bottoms of the toms I have a Slingerland calf and some other vintage calf and the Columbia brand ones are, to me, at least as good. They have a nice deep round sound.

Maybe I just lucked out that time and I'll hate the next ones I get from them.

For a snare it's something like $28 + shipping for a two heads.