How long does it take to make a great bodhrán drum?
How long is a piece of string?! The truth is, it could be any length but if we break down the different processes and put a time on them we can come to some reasonable answer to that question.
The cureing of the goatskin; It takes 6 to 7 days to lime the skin in a bucket and then it will need to be pickeled in brine for two days. So lets say that the skin is cured in 9 days on the outside.
Within that time one should be able to manufacture a frame, even a tuneable frame varnished and finished with adjusters ready to receive a goatskin.
It will only take an hour to glue or staple the skin onto the frame. Then we must allow the skin to dry. This could thake 4 to 8 hours depending on humidity and it is very important that the skin drys naturally, so lets go with the outside time of 8 hours.
Now add it all up, 9 days to cure, one hour to skin and 8 hours to dry.
The answer then, is somewhere around 9 days and 9 hours to make a really great Bodhrán drum.
Comments
Michael A Ferrill April 27 2021 at 09:40AM
Paraic,
I would very much like to purchase one of your Bodhran
I am a beginner ,but in time I want to join an Irish band, near, here in Pensacola, Florida, USA
I want your professional advise as to which one to purchase, it will be used for several years and then passed on to my children. Please email with your recommendation when your schedule permits my phone
is 001-269-408-6440.I will call you before I send you payment for purchase. I am happy to pay for insurance and postage on the instrument being mailed to me.
thank you for continuing this skill and wonderful trade, you are solely needed, Respectfully, Michael A Ferrill