If you own a drum set, you will admit that those things take a lot of space for storage.
Unfortunately, most people don’t have the luxury of space, making it quite a nightmare for them to store their drums.
Even then, a suitable storage condition needs to be considered to avoid damage.
This struggle, therefore, begs the question, Can You Store Drums In a Garage Or Shed?
The most direct answer for this question and perhaps the most reasonable would be; provided the garage or whatever place does not leak and the drums are not in contact with the floor, it is perfectly okay.
However, most garages, unlike the rest of the room, do not have air conditioners, which make them extremely cold during winter, for example. Extreme temperatures are another thing that can affect the effectiveness and durability of drums. You need to realize that drums almost have the exact temperature requirements as humans to stay in the proper condition. Therefore, always make sure that the temperature is at least within the room temperature while you choose to use your garage for drums storage.
If you have a problem with limited space in your house or need a place to store your drums, you need to learn a few things about proper drums storage.
Keeping your drums in your garage is perfectly okay, as long as you maintain the proper storage conditions for them.
This article is supposed to help you model your garage into perfect storage for your drums. So read through and take notes.
Things You Need To Know About Drums
Drums are very sensitive to temperatures and weather conditions.
Technically, water or any dampness can ruin the drums in a matter of few days.
However, even if removed from the wet condition, there are very likely chances that the drums might never regain their original condition.
Drums are very sensitive to extremely dry or wet conditions.
So wherever you choose to store your drums, it’s good to always remember that it’s not just wetness but also too much exposure to overly high temperatures that can ruin them.
Cold environments get drum heads out of tune faster than you could imagine.
When stored in cold temperatures, the drum heads get exposed to a contraction that affects their pitch.
So even when playing in cold weather, you are likely to notice changes in our pitch despite your drums being perfectly okay.
Therefore, wherever you store your drums, make sure that they are within an environment that you can be comfortable.
How To Store Drums Well For A Long Time
Sometimes events are scarce, or there are just no events at all, and you have to keep your drums away for a while.
It is during these times that you should be concerned about where and how you store your drums.
There is nothing much to worry about in a regular season when you have a performance every few days or say you have a studio where your drums are actively engaged.
But when it is a case where you might have to spend at least a few weeks without playing the drums, then that’s a concern.
Even then, there are several ways to keep your drums in good condition over a long period.
In this regard, there are conditions and several methods of storing your drums in the long term.
Best Conditions Of Storing Your Drums
There are only a few conditions about your garage or storage space that you should consider to keep your drums safe.
First of all, we have talked about temperature, and that is one critical condition you must consider.
The standard temperature and humidity to keep your drums safe are supposed to be 77F and 45% humidity.
Anything slightly above or below that is okay, but by all means, keep those conditions within.
Alternatively, you can walk into the garage and feel that you are comfortable with the temperature inside.
The second thing you need to consider is where you place your drums in the garage.
A great idea would be somewhere in a safe corner away from possible destruction. Again, this is important to reduce the chances of something or someone knocking the drums over.
Better yet, make sure that your drums are never at any moment in contact with the floor.
The floor is usually cold, and that could affect the temperature factor of the drums.
Also, if possible, cover your drums to minimize exposure to dirt.
Three Different Garage Storage Methods
Whether in the garage or in your shed, you don’t just put your drums in any way if you want them to be safe for a long time.
Below are a few ways you might find helpful when storing your drums in the garage.
1. Drum Bags
Drum bags are both excellent for moving and storing drums. Most importantly, they protect your drums when they are not in a setup.
Even then, when buying your drum bags, it is essential to consider due diligence to make the right purchase.
Make sure you get bags that will protect your drums not just from physical damage but also from conditional damage.
With the soft bags and complex cases as options for your bags, you might need to do a little consideration of your garage status before you buy one.
The soft bags are light and easy to carry around. Those are good for moving your drums around.
On the contrary, the complex cases are suitable for physical protection and environmental conditions like water leakage or extreme temperatures.
Regardless of your choice, having drum bags is ideal even for protection from dirt and safekeeping.
2. Snare Drum Rack
One type of drum that takes up most of the storage is always the snare drum.
Better yet, most drum owners have more than enough snare drums for some reason. In this regard, there is always a need to put the snare drums in a place that requires less space.
A snare drum rack is one of those things that every drums player should own.
Besides the convenience of creating more room, a snare drum rack is one of those places that can keep drums safe and for a long time.
3. Stack Them
If by any means you don’t have storage bags or haven’t bought some yet, here is a reflex for you.
There is only one thing you can do to keep your bags in the proper condition without drum bags.
Stacking your drums from the largest to the smallest is an excellent way to keep your drums safe and use less space.
Otherwise, it is likely that when the drums are placed down on the side can affect their stretch.
Conclusion
Despite them not being alive, drums are very sensitive to climatic conditions, almost like humans.
Therefore, drums need special attention, especially when the need is to store them for an extended period.
Even then, it is entirely okay to store your drums in your garage, provided you can moderate the humidity and temperature to keep them in shape.
To keep your drums safe, one of the three ways listed above is a food way of safekeeping that should help you.
Whatever works for you, make sure your garage is a safe place for the drums.
Related
References
https://www.drumforum.org/threads/storing-drums-in-shed-garage-how-bad-is-it.121492/
https://smallrecordingstudio.com/can-you-store-your-drums-in-a-garage-or-shed/