So, what temperature is bad for drums? Can drum sets be left in the cold? Can drum sets be left in the heat? Can you store drum sets outside of your house? Can you store drum sets inside a freezer? Drum owners are sometimes curious if their kits can hold on in hot and cold temperatures. If you are one of them, now you are going to find out the truth.
Most of the drum sets available in the market are made from wood. Whether it is Poplar, Maple, Birch, Gum, Mahogany, Oak, or Beech, these materials are all wood that is usually used for making drum shells. Yes, there are different materials used in making the drum shells like acrylic, steel, aluminum, and brass, but wood has really dominated the market, and they are most affected when it comes to temperature changes.
The wood is a solid and durable material, and has been an important part of constructing houses and buildings. Although it can take so many beatings, it can also get affected by sudden temperature changes, whether it is too cold or too hot.
When a block of wood is subjected to too much heat, it usually expands. This is what you call thermal expansion, and it can cause warping, swelling, and potentially shrinkage of the wood. Wood usually contains a trace of moisture in it even if it is highly treated, and with too much exposure to hot temperatures can cause it to shrink, swell, or warp.
On the other hand, if a block of wood is exposed to cold temperatures, it can also affect its stability, durability, and even its shape. Usually, when the wood is exposed to cold and freezing temperatures, it usually contracts. Repeated contraction can cause the wood to warp, resulting in a loss of its shape and stability.
Can Drum Sets Be Left In The Cold?
Leaving your drum set in cold places is better than leaving it in places with too much heat and humidity, but it is still not a good idea to leave it in places with cold and freezing temperatures.
The first problem that you will encounter when you leave your drum set out in the cold is that its drum heads will go out of tune faster than normal. Drums can go out of tune naturally with time, but leaving them in cold places, will drastically speed up their natural detuning.
Another problem is the moisture it will acquire from the cold temperatures. Too much moisture can damage your warp and damage your drum heads permanently. It will also cause your hardware to rust. This is one of the bigger problems, as it is very expensive to replace the hardware of a drum set. Rust is one of the main reasons why drum sets break on their own.
The last but the worst problem that you will face if you leave your drum set out in cold and freezing places is that your drum shells can get damaged from it. Too much cold can cause the drum shells to contract and warp. The problem is that when you relocate your drum set into a hotter location, it can cause the drum shells to expand and break on their own.
So, you can leave your drum set in cold places, but it is not highly recommended, except if you want to have problems, then go for it. Cold temperatures can damage your drum set, especially when it is exposed for too long.
Can Drum Sets Be Left In The Heat?
Leaving your drum kit in pretty hot places can cause serious problems to your drum set. It is never a good idea to leave your drum kit in very hot places. Drum sets are usually expensive, which is why you do not wish to damage your gear just because you have left it out of the sun.
One of the problems that you will encounter when you leave your drum set in hot places is that the drum heads can deform or even warp, resulting in a very unpleasant sound. Wood usually expands when it is exposed to too much heat, which is why drum heads can deform because of it.
Another problem is that the glue in the drum shells can go soft or even liquefies, which is very bad news for your drum set. If the glue between the plies melts because of the heat, the drum shells can disintegrate. The plastic wrap in the drum shells will also start to crumple and come off eventually.
Another issue which is the biggest of them all is the humidity that comes with high temperatures. This will damage the drum shells as they will either shrink, swell or warp, which is not great for your drum set. This will result in your drum set sounding really bad, and could possibly break because of all the deformities in the shell.
Overall, leaving your drum kit in the heat will really cause you more problems than good. Always remember to store your drum set in normal temperatures if you are not using it, or else you will have to pay for your mistakes.
Can I Use My Drum Set When It Is Exposed To Rain?
There are times when you are playing in an outdoor gig that rain comes, so it is really a dilemma for drummers whether to stop playing or not and finish the performance first before you cover the drum set so that it will not be wet.
In these situations, you will really have to assess if your drum set is already soaking wet. A little drop of rain cannot damage your drum set easily, but when the rain gets stronger that even the insides of the drum set get wet as water can go through its vent holes, then you would really have to stop and place your drums in an area where it would be safe from getting wet.
Always remember that the inside part of the shells should not get wet as they can damage the wood, resulting in warping, shrinking, swelling, or even disintegration. A little drop of rain does not damage your drum set, but too long exposure to it would greatly affect your gear.
What Are The Recommended Temperature For Drum Sets?
Musical instruments like drum sets have an appropriate storage temperature which can be safely stored without any problems. For drum kits, its normal storage temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, so if the temperature of your environment is close to the figure above, then your drum is safe.
If the temperature goes below -5 degrees Celsius, then you should store your drum set in places where there is a controlled temperature so that it will not get damaged. Freezing temperatures can be detrimental to a drum set’s durability, so you will need to find a way that it will not get frozen.
If the temperature of your environment goes up more than 43 degrees Celsius, then you should be concerned about your drum set. Too much heat can also damage your gear, so you will need to find a cooler place than your environment, or else things will go wrong.
So, what temperature is bad for drums? If the temperatures go below -5 degrees Celsius or go more than 43 degrees Celsius, then it is really bad for your drum set. The perfect temperature to store your drum set is within 25 degrees Celsius; if the temperature of your location is close to that, then your drum set is fine.
