[DESIGN] Remo Practice Pad Trigger with Mesh Head (by Scarmike)

[PFozz]

Remo Practice Pad Trigger with Mesh Head
by Scarmike

This is how I converted my Remo Practice Pads into DIY trigger pads with mesh heads.

I had read that the standard size mesh heads you can buy will not fit on the Remo practice pads, and I saw an idea from someone that had used fiberglass screen sewn around an old drum head rim. This gave me the inspiration to come up with the following solution. I made these mesh heads for about 30 cents each. I made only 8 and 10 inch heads, but I’m sure this method would work for any drum size. Also, one of my goals was not to destroy the original practice pad head, mylar disc or foam disc in case I want to restore the pads to their original condition in the future. By the way, I have one 8″ CB Percussion practice pad that looks exactly like the Remos, but it does appear to use a regular size drum head.

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Materials you will need :

[*]1/4 inch hard plastic tubing – Available at your local Home Depot or Lowes in the plumbing dept. This will become the rims of the drum heads, so measure the outer circumference of each drum and add them together to see how much you need. It costs only 7 cents a foot, so buy extra just in case.
[*]Fiberglass Window Screen Mesh – Available at your local Home Depot or Lowes in the Windows dept. Buy a small 3 or 4 foot roll. One roll can make enough heads for several kits. It comes in gray or black.
[*]Strong Sewing Thread – I used Rayon thread because my wife already had some. The color will be hidden, but you could match the mesh color if you want.
[*]Remo practice pad
[*]Piezo buzzer 273-073 from Radio Shack with case removed.
[*]Connector jack for piezo buzzer, such as RCA or 1/4 inch female plug jack (Radio Shack).
[*]1/2 inch thick Weatherstripping that is 3/4 inches wide – I bought this at Lowes/Home Depot. It makes things really easy because it has a tape backing. You could re-use the remo foam disc if you want, but you’d also need some glue. Fabric stores usually sell white/yellow foam.
[*]RCA female jacks (Radio Shack)

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Tools you will need :

[*]Sewing Machine (or needle) – I used a sewing machine to make mine. You could sew it by hand with a needle, but it would take some time.
[*]Scissors
[*]Chalk/Marker – You need something to mark the fiberglass for sewing. It’s not easy to mark. I used a piece of blue chalk.

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Step 1 – Disassemble the pad and make the Trigger Electronics

1. Remove the screws from the Remo practice pad and disassemble it.

2. Drill a hole in the back of the pad for the RCA Jack so that its toward the outer rim of the pad. Install the RCA jack and solder the piezo leads to it. Test this out to make sure it works ok with your module before proceeding. I bent the soldered tip of the RCA jack over to keep it from extending so close to the mesh head.

3. Cut four strips of weatherstripping to go across the diameter of the inside of the pad.

4. Stick one strip of weatherstripping to the left of the RCA jack just off center all the way across the pad. Stick another strip directly next to this one on the other side of the RCA jack. You should end up with a double strip going straight across the center of the pad with the RCA jack buried in between and the piezo sticking out near the center of the pad. Center the piezo on the center of the weatherstripping.

5. Cut a strip of aluminum/tin can/sheet metal that is not as wide as the double strip of weatherstripping and about an inch shorter than the diameter of the pad. Center it on top of the piezo. Stick two more strips of weatherstripping directly over the previous two, burying the piezo and the aluminum strip inbetween the two layers of weatherstripping. The sides of the top layer weatherstripping should be stuck to the sides of the bottom layer to hold everything in place.

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Step 2 – Make the Mesh Head

1. Place the original practice pad drum head on the fiberglass mesh and trace a circle around it.

2. Cut out double the size of the circle with a little extra and fold it over to make a 2-ply head.

3. Position the folded mesh so you can see the circle on top.

4. Sew the mesh plies together with the thread line being around the outside the circle. Stop with about 1 inch left to go, but leave it in the sewing machine.

5. Cut a piece of tubing that is the same size of the practice pad rim. It’s easiest to wrap the tubing where it will go around the rim on the practice pad to get the exact circumference.

6. Feed the tubing into the two plies through the 1-inch gap that still needs to be sewn. Move the tubing inside the 2 plies out of the way so you can finish sewing up the mesh circle. Take it out of the sewing machine and cut out the circle of mesh about 1/4 inch outside the thread line.

7. Adjust the tubing so it makes a perfect ring around the outer edge of the mesh.

8. You should now have a 2-ply mesh head with a plastic rim sewn inside!

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Step 3 – Reassemble the Pad

1. Put the mesh head on the practice pad containing the electronics.

2. Put the top on the practice pad and tighten the screws.

3. Plug it in and try it.

(Store the original practice pad head, mylar disc and foam disc if you plan to keep them.)

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Thanx again, Scarmike, for this major contribution!
Best.

www.eareckon.com

Topic

[NTXGizzi]

I know this is an old thread but I am wondering if it is possible to install a piezo on the remo body to create a two zone drum?

[Author]

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