Here is the concept on how the make a sound dampening platform for your drum kit. This platform is made with 1/2 thick plywood and tennis balls. Tools needed are a saw, electric drill, drill bit, and a 1 3/4 hole saw.
Two additional items will need to be figured out.
- How big to make the pieces of plywood so all the gear and YOU will fit comfortably on the base.
- In certain areas there will be more weight on the base, as where a heavy person will sit. In these areas a few extra tennis balls can be added to support the extra load. These can always be added later.
The pictures show small pieces of plywood. This is for example only. A real platform will be much larger.
- pic-1. Mark the corner of both pieces of plywood with and x. This is so you can match the orientation of the 2 pieces later. Mark the top piece of wood with marks where you want the tennis balls to be. Balls about 12 to 16 inches apart offer plenty of support.
- pic-2. Clamp or screw the 2 pieces of wood together.
- pic-3. Drill a 1/4" pilot hole at the marks for the balls.
- pic-4 With a 1 3/4" hole saw drill holes at all of the pilot holes made pic-3. Hints: Drill through ONLY 1 piece of wood at a time. Raise the hole saw briefly while drilling to clear the cutting teeth of the hole saw. Do the clearing after every 10 to 15 seconds of drilling. This makes drilling go faster.
- pic-5. Remove the cut plug from the hole saw after each cut.
- pic-6. Drill all the holes in both pieces of wood.
- pic-7. Place the tennis balls on the bottom piece of wood.
- pic-8 & 9. Place the top piece of wood on the tennis balls.
An additional 3rd piece of plywood can be placed on top to give a smooth walking surface. The two top pieces of plywood can fastened together with some short wood screws and a little Elmers white glue.
These little pieces of 1/2" plywood and 4 tennis balls I used in these pictures easily supports me standing on it and I weight 200lbs.
So spread this around on the drum forum. It is easy to make and works well. :)
Bob Sheldon, Austin Texas
Notes: 1. Click each image for giant size!
2. Upper and Lower decks can be permanently joined by short lengths of Nylon Rope passed through a hole placed in the top and bottom boards at each of the four corners.
