How to Make a Helium Tank Drum

A helium tank drum is a fascinating do-it-yourself project.

A helium tank drum, or hank drum, is a steel percussion instrument fashioned from an empty propane or helium tank. This drum was fashioned after the Caribbean steel tongue drum, named for its depressions, or tongues, pounded and cut into a semi-spherical curve of steel. This latter-day homemade reproduction is a descendant of the steel drum. The helium tank drum is produced by removing the base support on the tank and cutting six tongues into that curved surface. It is played with taps on the tongues with the fingers.

Things You'll Need

• New 20-lb propane or helium tank
• Large pipe wrench
• 3/4-inch threaded male steel plug
• Power hacksaw
• Steel file
• Tape measure
• String
• Permanent marker
• Power drill
• Reciprocating saw

Instructions

1. Place the empty helium tank on a flat work surface and use a heavy pipe wrench to remove the top nozzle assembly. You may need to use a long pipe slid over the end of the pipe wrench for additional leverage, as these assemblies are machine tightened. Measure and obtain a threaded steel plug that fits the gauge of the nozzle hole. These are typically 3/4-inch standard machine threads but can vary. Insert the steel plug and wrench it tight with the pipe wrench.

2. Remove the bottom, cylindrical sleeve stand with a power hacksaw. This unit is typically welded on and cannot be removed with a totally clean cut. Use a steel file to clean up the surfaces after the cut. This bottom surface now becomes the top, playable, surface of the drum.

3. Draw a circle on the playable surface of the tank, using a string and permanent marker, to 2 inches down from its center point and toward the outer edge. This line marks the upper starting point for all the tongue cuts.

4. Place a starting mark anywhere on this line. Measure a point 1 inch from the mark, and along the line, and connect it to the first mark, producing a 1-inch line. Make this line bolder than the circular line, overlaying it. Use a tape measure to mark off five additional lateral lines along and overlaying this circular line in a single direction around it. The lines should be 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2 and 2 1/4 inches in length, with a 3/8-inch space between all of them.

5. Use a power drill to cut 3/8-inch holes at both ends of each of the six lines -- drilling 12 holes in all. Insert the tip of a reciprocating saw into the holes and connect each line's pair of holes along its bold line.

6. Use the reciprocating saw to cut six strips of metal -- or tongues -- into the playable surface of the drum. Do this by making a pair of parallel and equal-length cuts from the end holes on each line and cutting down and outward toward the outer, vertical edge of the drum. Starting with the 1-inch line, and in the same original direction, make the first pair of tongues 2 inches in length, the second pair of tongues 2 1/2 inches in length and the third pair of tongues 3 inches in length.

7. Place the drum on a soft surface between the legs. Tap each of the the tongues to get an idea of their constructed sound. The sound made by each tongue can be altered by making it longer -- i.e. increasing the length of the pair of parallel cuts that defines it. Do this gradually as the cuts cannot be reversed without complex welding.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an electrical instrument tuner to obtain perfectly pitched notes.

• Use caution when working with power tools.

References

• "All About Hand Percussion"; Kalani; 2003