A Guide to making Drums from Recycled Office Water Bottles

DRUM 1 – When USING CLOTH TAPE:

Use the textured surface at the base of your water bottle as your guideline for where you will

place your first strip of tape.

Wrap the FIRST strip around the BASE of your drum. Press flat the creases against drum’s rim. Don’t

cover the flat circular area to be drummed upon with any tape.

Each subsequent coloured tape strip will cover your drum layer by layer, begin without gaps between

layers, *working & wrapping tape, layer after layer around drum circumference…trim as needed. Around

handle area, cut, tailor and trim your tape to fit. This is made easier if one person holds and turns the

drum, while the other person, simultaneously wraps the tape around the drum.

DECORATION: Overlay cut squares of tape as diamonds, make stripes, patterns, or create words from

tape…on top of the underlying layers of coloured tape.

• NOTE: As you ‘work’ the tape…take your time to stretch it, lift it when it crinkles, and re-

wrap it again to get a crease-free finish (if crinkles appear be sure to press them down

flat). Press tape down with fingers, smooth it out and make sure it is well attached before

beginning with next strip of tape. Use sharp scissors to reduce bulk; small cuts make it

easier to mould e.g. around a handle.

• DON’T cover the circular area that you will use to drum upon! Leave that surface area clear

of glue, fabric, paper or paint - Attaching anything to that area will ruin your drum’s sound!

DRUM 2 - When USING FABRIC PATCHES:

Use the textured surface at the base of your water bottle as your guideline for where you will

place your first fabric patches.

Cut enough fabric patches to cover your drum before you begin attaching them.

Prepare patches by taking off all the loose cotton threads; this creates a fringed effect around the edge of

each shape or patch of fabric.

Paint glue over the drum’s surface, except for the circular area that you will use to drum upon, leave

that surface area clear of glue or fabric.

On a flat surface, saturate the fabric patches with glue*.

Attach patches with glue and paintbrush (or sponge) until your drum is covered. One patch overlays

against edge of the previous patch. Make sure not to leave gaps between patches.

To finish of your drum:

Fray one long strip of fabric to make a trim and glue around base circumference. Fold it over to double

the fringed trim effect around the top of your drum rim.

• NOTE: The glue will dry clear! Aquadhere glue can be diluted 50:50 with water to make it

go further but it then takes longer to dry…but dries with a lighter sheen. . Be generous

with the glue , it will be more durable and attach securely to your drum.

• DON’T cover the circular area that you will use to drum upon! Leave that surface area clear

of glue, fabric, paper or paint – Attaching anything to that area will ruin your drum’s sound!

DRUM 3 - When USING TORN FABRIC:

Use the textured surface at the base of your water bottle as your guideline for where you will

place your first strip of fabric.

Prepare all fabric strips before beginning to attach them to your drum.

Choose from a range of colours and fabrics - plain, patterned, or textured.

Measure and cut, or measure and tear, about 4 or 5 strips of fabric at 3cms (w) x 90cms (l), and another 7

or 8 strips of fabric at 6cms (w) x 90cms (l).

Create a fringed effect on every strip by removing the loose cotton threads, and then fraying each strip to

the amount you prefer.

Use your wider strips to wrap around and cover your drum. Use your thinner strips to add or overlay for

decorative effect.

Apply aquadhere glue with a thin paintbrush (1.5cm) and paint it onto your drum where you will place the

fabric strip. Match the width of glue (for best results make it less than the width of fabric) with the width of

fabric strip, and attach one after the other without leaving any gaps between layers of fabric. This is

made easier if one person holds and turns the drum, while the other person, paints on the glue or

wraps around the fabric.

NB: DON’T cover the circular area that you will use to drum upon!

Leave that surface area clear of glue, fabric, paper or paint -

Attaching anything to that area will ruin your drum’s sound!