cold weather and drum sets

[dabdrums]

I just purchased a new set of gertsch cats. I built a room in my garage to practice in, its all closed in and insulated but no heat yet. temps are getting into the 20's now and colder. the room in the mornings are in the high 30's to40's. does the cold affect the drum set or not. No moisture just cold. need some input on the subject soon before it might be to late.

[rickthedrummer]

The cymbals more than the drums.

[wolvie56]

Heat and especially humidity hurts drums more than the cold does. Cymbals become slightly brittle in the cold. So I would be more concerned with my cymbals right now.

[dabdrums]

so should I bring my cymbals inside when not using them. when I practice I use a kerosene heater then turn it off when I leave. or should I keep it running all the time which is a little expensive but I wouldn't want to ruin the set or the cymbals

[Northern Redneck]

It will be fine, just make sure you warm it up slowly, and keep it dry.

[MDK]

Yeah Maybe just turn the heat on about an hour or so before you hit the cymbals.. Do some pad work

[Northern Redneck]

Also DO NOT COVER THE KIT WITH PLASTIC!!!!! Use a breathable cotton cloth.

[N2Bluz]

Everything expands and contracts with the temperature and humidity. Wood as well as metal. I personally try to avoid frequent temp and humidity changes as much as possible when it comes to drums, guitars and even furniture. Not saying it will seriously hurt them, but it won't do any good for the plywood and glue joints. It also makes it hard to keep everything in tune.

[Pearl MCX Man]

I have a little accordion style oil filled heater in my bunkie and it set at the lowest setting which keeps the room at 40. Works well and cheap to run.

[N2Bluz]

My current band practices at our bass player's house. He doesn't have a furnace or A/C. In the summer it's hot as hell and humid and in the winter he uses a wood and pellet burning stove thats about 6 feet from my drum set. It makes me cringe to think of my drums being subjected to such environment. When he fires up the pellet stove in the fall, everything is covered with a 1/2" of dust. The rest of the year, the windows are open and the dust is just as bad. Oh, and he smokes 2 packs of cigs per day inside the house. That's the reason I fixed up an old set of Maxwins....so I wouldn't have to leave my Premiers there. The guitar players are constantly having to clean the control knobs and switches.

[Rotarded]

The chrome hardware and lugs are going to suffer as well. Big changes in the Temp and Humidity bring the dew point up into even the 50s and 60s at times. You will get condensation on the metal parts and begin the speed corrosion and deterioration.

[Pearl MCX Man]

My current band practices at our bass player's house. He doesn't have a furnace or A/C. In the summer it's hot as hell and humid and in the winter he uses a wood and pellet burning stove thats about 6 feet from my drum set. It makes me cringe to think of my drums being subjected to such environment. When he fires up the pellet stove in the fall, everything is covered with a 1/2" of dust. The rest of the year, the windows are open and the dust is just as bad. Oh, and he smokes 2 packs of cigs per day inside the house. That's the reason I fixed up an old set of Maxwins....so I wouldn't have to leave my Premiers there. The guitar players are constantly having to clean the control knobs and switches.

It is obvious that the bass player has no respect for your or your equipment. His house is a health hazard an I would refuse to play or put my drums there. As for the pellet stove. I use one and can't see where all this dust that you are talking about is coming from. I was burning wood before and that was dusty but not the pellet stove.

[N2Bluz]

It is obvious that the bass player has no respect for your or your equipment. His house is a health hazard an I would refuse to play or put my drums there. As for the pellet stove. I use one and can't see where all this dust that you are talking about is coming from. I was burning wood before and that was dusty but not the pellet stove.

I agree. I wish we had another place to practice, but he owns the PA, amps, board and sound equipment (except for the guitar amps). I don't really mind the heat in summer, but once he fires up that stove, it's almost as hot in the dead of winter, LOL. What really bothers me is the smoke and dust. I don't really know about the pellet stove; he claims that's where all the dust is coming from, but who knows. It's like practicing in a 1970's roadhouse or Honkey-Tonk.

[cabasner]

My current band practices at our bass player's house. He doesn't have a furnace or A/C. In the summer it's hot as hell and humid and in the winter he uses a wood and pellet burning stove thats about 6 feet from my drum set. It makes me cringe to think of my drums being subjected to such environment. When he fires up the pellet stove in the fall, everything is covered with a 1/2" of dust. The rest of the year, the windows are open and the dust is just as bad. Oh, and he smokes 2 packs of cigs per day inside the house. That's the reason I fixed up an old set of Maxwins....so I wouldn't have to leave my Premiers there. The guitar players are constantly having to clean the control knobs and switches.

Sorry to hear about the environment for your drums! The heat/cold and dust are bad, but the smoke is the worst, in my personal opinion. I know there is the thing about the 'mojo' from instruments being in the proverbial 'smokey bars', but that seems to be more focused at guitars and basses...never really thought about it for drums. Still, the stink of cigarette smoke would be awful in on my instruments... My wife is a smoker, but outside, so all my instruments are safe!

[N2Bluz]

My wife smokes as well...and I even do on rare occasion. But, we never smoked in the house or around the kids and I never allow smoking in my vehicles. I usually throw an old bed sheet over my drums when practice is over. It helps some, but everything still gets dusty by the next weekend.

[dabdrums]

what size room is that accordion heater in? my room is 15ft x 23ft with 12ft ceilings I think I'm going have to invest in a pellet stove or a trailer furnace, but for now I think I'm going to bring it back into the house. I'm sure my wife is going to love this. thanks

[longgun]

what size room is that accordion heater in? my room is 15ft x 23ft with 12ft ceilings I think I'm going have to invest in a pellet stove or a trailer furnace, but for now I think I'm going to bring it back into the house. I'm sure my wife is going to love this. thanks

That size of a room would probably cost a lot to keep warm....................good luck convincing the wife

[dabdrums]

convinced the wife drums are back in the house. practice when she's at work pad work when she's home

[Ricardo]

I just purchased a new set of gertsch cats. I built a room in my garage to practice in, its all closed in and insulated but no heat yet. temps are getting into the 20's now and colder. the room in the mornings are in the high 30's to40's. does the cold affect the drum set or not. No moisture just cold. need some input on the subject soon before it might be to late.

Cold and heat does not injure quality drums.
Gretsch Cats should be fine.

[Kazaamski]

Your heads might tighten a bit in the cold. But other than that, I don't really think there's too much to worry about. Put a dehumidifier in the room if you have concerns over condensation.

[SpatzST]

i stick to this rule of thumb... if the room is comfortable for you, its ok for the drums..

so a 20 degree room.. no thanks