How to Make a PVC Pipe Drum

If you've ever gone into a children's museum and played around with PVC pipes by beating on them with flip-flops, you were probably surprised by the quality of tones possible from plumbing pipe. With a little effort, you can make your own drum from PVC pipe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• PVC pipe
• File
• Leather jacket
• Utility knife
• Needle
• Thread
• Twine
• Drill
• Wood pegs

1. Buy a piece of PVC pipe at least 9 inches long and with a 6-inch internal diameter. Smooth the edges by filing them down. You'll want smooth edges so that the drumhead doesn't tear.
2. Go to your local thrift store and get a leather jacket. Cut out the back for a piece of leather that's 2 inches larger in diameter than the pipe. This will be the drumhead.
3. Cut out eight pieces of leather for reinforcement, making each 2 inches in diameter. Sew them onto the edges of the drumhead, evenly spacing them.
4. Take your ball of twine and cut eight pieces of twine that are at least 20 inches long for a 9-inch PVC pipe. Bend each piece of twine in half and, sewing at the bend, attach each piece to one of the reinforcement squares.
5. Put the drumhead on the drum and note where the 16 twines hang down. Make a mark about an inch from the bottom of the drum along each twine. Drill 16 holes in pipe, one for each mark, and large enough for the twine.
6. Place the drumhead on the PVC pipe, then put each pair of twine through the holes and tie them on the interior.
7. Stick a piece of wood, such as a pencil or dowel, under each knot on the inside, then twist the wood to tighten the drumhead. Tighten first one knot, then the one opposite to make the tension even.