I have access to some Black Walnut boards from an old growth tree originally from my grandparent's homestead. The tree was cut down in the early 80's, cured for about 3 years, taken to an Amish sawmill and rough cut into boards. In the late 80's, I ran them through a planer and jointer in my HS Vocational Agriculture shop.20+ years later, I'm thinking about making a snare out of one of the boards. I don't have the equipment or skill to steam bend the board, but I could commission someone with experience to create a shell. A stave shell is still very challenging, but more doable with the tools I have at my disposal (lathe/router). I could also commission this out too.Any benefits of one type of construction over the other? Has anyone worked with a drum maker to commission a shell? If so, who would you recommend?If this actually happens, it's going to be a very special drum.Thanks,Tim

Stave..DEFINATELY and here's why.FAR easier to build. [COLOR="Red"](Nope.)[/COLOR] I once watched a video of a guy build a gorgeous stave drum completely by hand. NO power tools. [COLOR="Red"](Power tools aren't necessary to build any drum. They just make it easier and faster.)[/COLOR]Stave drums sound GREAT. Here's a couple of things to think about.Your average 9 ply shell has something like 1200 square inches of glue. [COLOR="Red"](Completely made up number.)[/COLOR] Glue is resonant neutral. That means it does not vibrate, nor does it transmit vibrations. [COLOR="Red"](This isn't true either!) [/COLOR]An equivalent sized stave drum has something like 24 square inches of glue, [COLOR="Red"](At least this number is CLOSER to an actual estimate, though still nowhere near accurate and a steam bent shell uses even less glue in a scarf joint.)[/COLOR] and the grain of the wood is vertical. [COLOR="Lime"](From here...)[/COLOR] The direction the vibrations travel when you hit the drum. these vibration are transferred to the bottom head much more efficiently through end grain, than across the grain. [COLOR="Lime"](To here, is accurate.)[/COLOR]Each stave is in fact, a piece of tone wood. [COLOR="Red"](As is a steam bent shell.)[/COLOR] Like a marimba bar. All things that should make an outstanding drum. [COLOR="Red"](Depending on what type of sound you are after. Stave shells make excellent sensitive shells. However, if you are looking for a big, fat, wet snare sound, steam bent is the way to go.)[/COLOR]I do suggest that you first try making a shell out of much less special woodto work out your method. [COLOR="Lime"](This is excellent advice.)[/COLOR]Good luck.

Your average 9 ply shell has something like 1200 square inches of glue. (Completely made up number.) .

6” x 14”Ply Drum Shell (6” x 13.875” actual measurement) 1 ply = 261.60 sq. inches of surface area [COLOR="Lime"](Correct!)[/COLOR] 6 plys x 261.60= 1,569.60 sq. inches [COLOR="Red"](Incorrect. Glue would only be applied to 5 of the 6 plies. You don't want exposed glue on the inside of your drum do you? So the number is actually 1308 square inches for a 6 ply drum. But you were talking about a NINE ply drum. 2092.8 square inches of glue coverage. Almost double your original, made up number.)[/COLOR] 1,569.60 square inches of surface area has to be covered with glue to make the bond! [COLOR="Red"](Nope.)[/COLOR]

Wrong again Holliwood; Messing up the math means you made a mistake. Massaging the numbers, (from 9 plies to 6) means you are dishonest.

Curious Mike, what is your experience?

So your saying there is actually MORE glue than I originally said. [COLOR="Red"]Yes, way more, almost double your original made up number.[/COLOR]EVEN worse. No one is being dishonest here. I'm merely trying to pass on some of what I have read. I don't see it that way. [COLOR="Red"]What you are doing is passing on inaccurate information about something you seem to know very little about. Switching the number of plies in the equation to bring the amount of glue in a shell closer to your made up number, in which you STILL got the math wrong, is honest in your book? [/COLOR] You seem to be looking for things to refute, no matter if they confirm your position or not. [COLOR="Red"]The only thing I have refuted at all in this thread are your made up numbers. If anything I have stated is untrue, by all means, point it out. [/COLOR]I expect that people will do their own research. [COLOR="Red"] I hope that they do. Now, if you would only do yours.....[/COLOR]No one is selling anything here. Are you intentionally trolling this thread? [COLOR="Lime"]Yes. I am pretty sure that relaying factually correct information about a subject I am actually familiar with is the textbook definition of trolling![/COLOR]