Alternative to Hide/Synthetic Heads?

[Daniel Fenson]

I'm trying to create an instrument out of household materials, and one of my ideas involves using a head like you find on Banjos, Tambourines, or Drums. But if I bought something designed for an instrument, it'd defeat the purpose of the project.

So does anyone know of an alternative I could use, that I could hopefully buy locally?

Thanks!

[Bob Gramann]

Depending on the size you need, a large tyvek mailing envelope would give you a pretty tough membrane. They are hard to rip. I don’t know if the tyvek building wraps are just as reinforced.

[Brian Evans]

I don't know about your household, but I could probably come up with an old leather coat to take a drum head out of, depending on size. Prep it properly and install it using old techniques, there you go.

[David King]

If you are needing a fairly low tension head you could try model airplane wing covering film from a hobby shop. TopFlight is a good brand and dozens of colors to choose from. It's a heat shrink film with heat activated adhesive backing. One roll might do 10-12 heads though.

[Karl Wicklund]

Cut the top and bottom off a 2 liter bottle. Split the remaining cylindrical part and unroll it. Tack this down across a frame and hit it with a hair dryer. It’s not big but it’s tough and tightens right up.

I picked this up from someone else on MIMF, wish I could remember who now.

[Daniel Fenson]

Cut the top and bottom off a 2 liter bottle. Split the remaining cylindrical part and unroll it. Tack this down across a frame and hit it with a hair dryer. It’s not big but it’s tough and tightens right up.

I picked this up from someone else on MIMF, wish I could remember who now.

That might work really well. I'll have to figure out how to tack it down though. I'll be working with plastic/metal instead of wood. Perhaps rivets?

Depending on the size you need, a large tyvek mailing envelope would give you a pretty tough membrane. They are hard to rip. I don’t know if the tyvek building wraps are just as reinforced.

An envelope would be perfect for the theme of the project. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one.

[David King]

Tyvek priority mail envelopes are available for "free" at most post offices in the US.

[Bob Francis]

Tyvek priority mail envelopes are available for "free" at most post offices in the US.

My kinda guy!