All,
Due to a relocation assoicated with my carreer I won't be manufacturing drums or hardware in the near future. Feel free to share your own drum construction projects, or ask technical questions.
Warm regards,
Stephen Little
Although far from completion, I think i've arrived at a design that fits both form and function. I've managed to minimize the amount of metal work required in the construction of the lug and hide it away in a soild wooden housing. The next step will be the development of the 'sister' lug to accomodate a single sided tension rod for those drums with depth.
Below is a sneak peak of some future hardware for my drums. Besides the drum heads and fasteners I want to bring the entire manufacturing process under one roof, enabling me to have total control over the quality and fit of each component. Although in its early stages, a couple of quick hours in the shop has confirmed that capturing the element of custom drum hardware is within reach.
Its a bird....its a plane.......its a 20"x16" Bass Drum Stave Shell.
The lights are on in the workshop. Below you can see a stack of staves, the building blocks for what will be a 20" x 16" kick drum.
Hi Folks,
I have implimented a method of purchase. Payments via paypal are facilitated by a 'Buy Now' button located with each product & its description under the 'Purchase' section of this website.
Shipping is currently set at a flat rate of $50.00 CAD for North American buyers and will be shipped via Canada Post, International purchasers should contact me on an individual basis via the 'Contact' portion of this website.
I expect to update the current purchase agreement in the near future, as well as implementing a method to specifiy the milling of bearing edges & snare beds on the raw shells.
Stay tuned!
You will notice I have removed the 'Shells Under Construction' section from 'Purchase'. All shells are currently located under 'Purchase' - 'Completed Shells'. These shells will be placed on Ebay for any of those who are interested in attaining a stave shell to finish themselves. In the Interim, I will be constructing hardwood hoops to accompany each drum when it is completed or as seperate purchase by those folks purchasing the raw shell. The raw shells will be completed one at a time by 'Stephen Little Handcrafted Drums' and during this period will not be avaiable for purchase until the drum is reposted in the 'Purchase' - 'Completed Drums' section. Don't forget shells can be constructed to your order at any time! The shells discussed above are not currently spoken for and thus will proceed throught each step of the process in an effort to have completed products available for the client at all times.
Yet another project underway, check it out! Pictures of outside surface turned under 'Purchase' - 'Shells Under Construction'.
Under the 'Purchase' - 'Shells Under Construction' section I have added the latest shell underway in the shop. This one is constructed from maple with paduck stripes. The shell is preped and ready to be turned. Keep your eyes peeled!
Having invested some time in R&D over the past few months, new drums/ shells are in the works! I will continue to tune the dynamic of this site in the coming weeks. Feel free to pass along your comments/ suggestions.
You will find under the Purchase section a new 14" x 5.5" x 0.75" Popular shell. It is my intention that this shell will be prepared for finishing and available for purchase prior to its entire completion by Stephen Little Handcrafted Drums.
My intention with making completed, but raw shells available for purchase is to appeal to those drum builders out there who currently do not construct their own shells but wish to take part in the other aspects of drum building.
Methods of purchase will come to light as I make some modifications to the site.
Stay tuned for more shells and completed drums!
You will notice some changes to the page banner, title and section headings. I think these changes make the site more cosmetically pleasing.
The Segment snare has been finished. I have posted pictures under 'Product' and 'The Process'-'Segment Method'.
The Oak Hoops have also been finished and fitted to the project. I have populated the wooden hoop gallery under 'The Process'-'Wooden Hoops' with a few of these pictures.
I have posted a photo of the segment snare mockup under 'The Process'- 'Segment Method'. This photo shows a skeleton view of the oak hoops on the maple shell fitted with hardware. Next the hoops will be profiled (shaped) followed by various relief machining. After the raw structure of the drum is complete I will introduce the snare beds and color the shell & hoops.
Stay tuned!
Work has commenced on the Batter & Resonant Counter Hoops. Under 'Process' you will find a photo of the freshly cut Oak segments.
What can I say, these bearing edges scream attention. I have uploaded a photo under 'The Process'-'Segment Method' page showing the recent progress on the 14"x6.5" Maple Segment Snare. Before any further progress is made on the shell, a set of Oak Counter Hoop blanks will be constructed.
I have uploaded a picture under 'The Process'- 'Segment Method' Page of a completed 14" X 6.5" Maple Segment Snare Shell with a 1.5" wall thickness. I plan to complete this build with a set of wooden hoops.
Stay tuned.