Every drum set is made of wood drum shells. This includes the bass, snare and tom-tom drum shells. Each shell is made from sometimes several sheets of plywood. This plywood is manipulated to form the drum shell’s cylindrical shape. Shaping the drum shell’s wood sheets is the most crucial stage of drum building. It’s in this stage that the drum’s tone is developed.
Lay out the wood ply on a large, flat surface. Use a tape measure and carpenter's pencil to measure and mark the ply according the measurements recorded in Step 1. Use a circular saw to cut the wood sheet accordingly.
Remove the wood from the water. Purchase a tubular drum molding form in the exact size of your measured drum. For instance, if your drum shell is going to be 16 inches by 10 inches, select a drum form that is at least 16 inches wide. The length or deepness is not a crucial element when purchasing a drum form.