[AJChxc]

So my band broke up in the last couple weeks, and now I need to move my drumset out of my bassist's house. problem is i live in a tiny apartment with no more storage room. however I do have a steel shed in the backyard that I use for storage, and have probably just enough room for my drums left in it. My question is, the shed being un-insulated, and winter being around the corner, is it going to be a problem if my drums are outside? I live near philly, and the weather doesn't get terribly cold, but we do see numbers in the teens occasionally, and i'm worried this might wreak havoc on the shells and my cymbals. will this be okay or should i be looking for someplace else to store them?

[Harry]

Hi there,

I would not be worried too much about the cymbals, as long as they are not played when cold and also they hate sudden temperature changes!!

The shells are another matter entirely, it all comes down to moisture control.
You can get away with low temperatures as long as the moisture is under control(dehumidifier with the ability to choose and keep the right amount of moisture in the air) Also shells do not like temperature schocks.

This is all ok when it is not freezing, but when it is freezing your moisture control is gone. Any remaining moisture content in the shells will freeze and will split your laminates. Also it is not healthy to have the shells too dry!
This is of course all good in theory, I always try to keep the conditions as close as possible to my average playing conditions, which is not always easy.

For instance when you have to get your kit on a plane you have a total different ball game on your hand.
This happened to me with my conga's, which had fortunately fibreglass shells, but natural skins (cured hide). I had to borrow a hairdryer and was still foening the heads up to 5 minutes from our performance! It helped but they were still quite horrible, very inconsistent tension, not good foer the old anxiety!!

I do not know wheather it is possible to shield off and insolate a portion of the outdoor shed and put a little oilcolumn heater in on a setting of say 45 F, but that is a lot of fiddling compared to putting them in the living room over the winter so you can keep practizing!
Mind you, i tried that but my wife was for some odd reason not to keen on the idea though!!

I hope this helps you a bit, but I realize it is not an easy equasion!

Cheers, Harry

[AJChxc]

thanks, but to the heater, its a no. its a tiny steel shed, perhaps 8x10, and i have a ton of other stuff in there as well as there is no electricity run to it. And as far as putting them in the living room, thats also a no go, as I'm in an Twin house with 3 other apartments on our half alone. So no space, as well as noise being a huge issue. So it is either keep them in the shed, or keep them somewhere else.

I think i'm going to put them there now and hope i find another location to move them to in a couple months.

[Harry]

Ohh, #*)(!#**
I really feel for you, I have been a bit in the same boat.

I know of another method, it is a bit laborous but it might help.
I was advized to do this when I emigrated to New Zealand, and volume to transport came at a premium!!
If you are sure you are not going to play for a while, why not remove the heads, so that the shells will fit all inside each other,which of course will reduce the bulk considerably, the heads can fit-in with the shells.
Otherwise, I would not know but I am sure that our other drum buddies on the forum will have some good suggestions.

Cheers, Harry

PS. Sorry I forgot to check what kind of shells you have, and assumed they were wooden, but maybe yours are fully impregnated with resin, so that you don't have to worry about moisture absorbtion. I should have asked that first!!

[shazaam]

lol, well if you can't really keep em' anywhere currently, safely, then I guess the only other option is somewhere else huh :P But yea, liek harry just said, if you can't take the heads off and stack the shells inside each other, then there really isn't any other option. O yea, the bassist seams like a dick not letting you keep your set there for a little while. I mean, free drums :P Band I know that broke up, the drummer just left his drums at the guitarists house for like ever...the guitarist played on em'/practiced etc... heck I even played on em'. Most drummers though hate when other ppl play on their set(s) though...just like I.

[guss]

your parents houses.

[AJChxc]

Originally Posted by guss

your parents houses.

unfortunately they live 5 hours away. and i want my drums here so if i'm called to do a gig or jam with someone i have them available.

they're in the shed as of now, and i have no idea what kind of shells they are. The drums are from a company called "cannon percussion" and i got them used, and i don't think they are made anymore.

[Harry]

Holy %#$((!!#**, AJC hxc; the plot thickens!!
This story is a little bit like the turd of an ice bear, its warm and yet cold, lol.
I have been thinking for a while about developing collapsable or inflatable drum kits. I will keep you posted on my progress.
I once hade a collapseable drumkit, it worked like a dream, but only once!!!
It was a bargain though.

Cheers, Harry

[guss]

To do:
Get into roto kits(very small)
OR...
get that new Taye drum kit so close in sizes, you can still pick up with one hand(is it Taye?)

	Taye Drums Shop for Taye Drums at Musician's Friend