How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

topic posted Sun, January 4, 2009 - 11:40 AM by  Ziggy
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Ok.. so.. hell of a way to start a new year. There I was, taking out my "Daveed" doumbek out of its case, when the entire head came off. I don't mean just the part you hit, I mean the entire bowl (imagine somebody getting beheaded). It seems like it was a stress fracture as there are no chips and the break is pretty clean all the way around. Soooo.. now I have a few questions:

1) Why would something like this happen? The drum has been indoors under controlled temperature for months, I never dropped it, and it has been taken care of very well.
2) Is there a way to fix this? What would I use?
3) How can I prevent it from happening again?

and lastly... sigh.. if I can't fix this.
4) Anyone know where I can get a new one?
posted by:
Ziggy
Washington, D.C.
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    Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

    Sun, January 4, 2009 - 3:02 PM
    Hopefully someone else will have some answers for you. All I can say is that it really makes you appreciate ancient pottery that somehow manages to survive centuries of time without getting broken, doesn't it? I have a broken ceramic drum that I glued back together. It's a bit ugly, but it still works.
  • Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

    Sun, January 4, 2009 - 7:13 PM
    That's a new one on me as well. I have seen one completely shatter and even a crack form around the head.
    I would suggest cross-posting this to ME Percussion and Dumbek Fever tribes and you may get better, more informed responses.

    Good luck, I think it may take more than a tube of super glue to fix this.
    • Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

      Wed, January 7, 2009 - 4:06 AM
      i had a simlar problem with a old drum of mine i ended up useing a 2 party ceramic epoxy i forget the brand name though i have also heard peoplr have sucess with thr normal PVA (polyvinyl acetate ) adhisive you can get from most hardware stores. Its mainly used for Vases and other ceramics so im note shure how it would hold up to the vibrations from drumming. The advantage is is is slower drying so you can align the peaces more presicly before they set

      Talked to a potter friend of mine and here is how he does vase repairs and sugested ypu use a clear pva so it is less obvious
      1
      Apply PVA adhesive to the cracked edges using a small brush
      Use just enough adhesive to cover the broken edges.
      2
      Applying light pressure, quickly press both pieces together for 30 to 60 seconds.
      3
      Scrape away excess adhesive with a razor blade or X-Acto knife.
      4
      Set the pottery down on a flat surface to dry overnight. If the item is broken into two or more pieces, set it in a large container filled with dry rice or beansThe rice or beans will hold the item in place while it dries


      They used to be sold threw middle east manufacturing but they dont; seem to have any for sale atm.

      IF he doesn;t read this first i will ask daveed how he repaired the broken one that he gave me ).

      Looks like PVA to me then he wraped the outside with leather to hide the visible hairline

      Emyrs
      • Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

        Wed, January 7, 2009 - 10:21 AM
        How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

        Smart-Ass Answer Warning!!!!


        Throw it away and buy one that doesn't break!!!







        sorry to hear about your loss ;-(
        • Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

          Wed, January 7, 2009 - 10:46 AM
          Yeah, Ocean, shame on you for that! :)

          Emrys's answer seems to be the best option. Ceramic drums have really great sound, but they aren't made to hold up against a lot of tough handling. We all have that favorite old drum or two or more that has been repaired and glued back together countless times until that fateful day when it is irreparable. I had one that I called my "Bekenstein" because it had been brought back to life so many times.

          Answer for the future: Keep the ceramic drum at home and only play it there and on recordings (I have a bunch of ceramic darbukas with fishskin heads that never leave the house) and buy an aluminum or caste iron "battle-ax" darbukah to travel with. They sound pretty good and you may have to replace a head now and again but it's easy to do.
          • Re: How to fix a ceramic doumbek?

            Wed, January 7, 2009 - 7:21 PM
            Emrys... thanks for the advice. I'll look into that. I've already e-mailed Daveed, but haven't gotten an answer back yet. If you get one, please forward it to me.

            Ocean... thpt!!! I already bought one from you :)

            Jeffrey... that's what's so confusing about this situation. The drum HAS been at home since last Pennsic, never kept out of its case and always handled carefully.

            Oh well... cross fingers. Hopefully it will somehow get fixed. The good thing is it's a clean break into 2 pieces, with no shards so maybe all will work out in the end.

            Thanks for everyone's responses...

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