The weight of a drum shell can, over time and especially when suspended from a single point (like a nail or peg in a wall), cause the shell to distort.
So, ideally, a frame drum should not be suspended, nor hung on the wall.
That said, we recognize that it is both convenient and attractive to do so – and, sure, we do it from time to time.
With the above caveats in mind, here are some suggestions to mitigate the potential problems:
- Use a larger peg rather than a small finish nail to better distribute the weight on the contact point.
- Even better, use two, rather a single peg, to spread out the weight on the contact point(s).
- From time to time rotate the drum so that, over time, the effects of gravity are distributed evenly.
Cooperman offers a handy and inexpensive “Roll Stop” than can be placed on the floor to hold the drums.
Check these out in our webstore:
https://www.coopermanframedrums.com/products/frame-drum-adjustable-roll-stop
I use “L” brackets that I got from Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/39dp54wy). You can get them in white, silver, black or gold. They are 2” wide so support my drums just fine! You can also get longer ones for your wider drums! I also use a wider towel peg instead of a nail at the top (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092LM2GCZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
Now another hint is I cut paper grocery bags open and position my drums on them and marked where the wooden peg and the support bracket need to go. I also marked the outside edges of the drum. Then I taped the bags to the wall to get the spacing I wanted and then mounted the pegs and brackets. Removed the paper bags and then put up the drums perfectly spaced! I know it sounds like a lot of work but saves time from measuring and marking on the wall! You can also use any large sheets of paper (like butcher paper or brown packing paper off a roll; the back side of gift wrapping paper works well because it typically has a grid which makes placement easy!) or tape several regular sheets together to get the size you need! I do this also when I’m hanging a group of pictures to get even spacing!
Hanging a drum in a bag or a sling – some people nestle the drum in a decorative scarf that is then hung on the wall – will provide good support. I think you should feel comfortable with that method. I’ve seen some people embroider or otherwise decorate their drum bags. That might make a great visual.
All my frame drums from you are kept in the bags you sell from Meinl. I have them hanging from a wall hook in the bag. Will this also cause the shell to distort? Thank you!