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- 1). Use two, 1/2 inch diameter dowel rods that are made of hardwood like cherry or oak as the basis for the drumsticks. Cut the rods with a saw so that you have two pieces that are 16 inches long. Follow the rest of these directions below for each of the rods to get a pair of drum sticks.
- 2). Insert one of the 16 inch shafts into a lathe making sure that the teeth properly embed into both ends of the rod and that they are tightened in place for a good grip. Make sure that the lathe is clamping down tightly on the ends before you turn it on and start the drumstick rotating. Use a gouge by placing it on the rest so that the flat edge of the blade that you sharpened is resting on the wood. Slowly change the tilt of the blade by lifting the handle and allowing the turning of the wood do the carving. Make sure that only gentle pressure is applied and that the gouge stays in your hands at all times.
- 3). Taper one end of the drumstick starting at 3¾ inches from the end (at full diameter) down to 1/2 inch diameter 3/4 an inch from the end. At the very end up to the notch that is 3/4 from the end, the diameter should be 3/4 of and inch at the middle. The tapering of the tip is done at the very end of the process by hand and the metal teeth of the lathe should be taken into consideration when the gouge is used. If you have a drum stick to use as a guide on the lathe and a duplicator, use it to make the process a little easier.
- 4). Remove the drumstick and sand the tip to form a "ball" shape. Use the sanding paper to sand the butt of the stick (as the back end is known) and polish the shaft of the stick along with the tapering shoulder.
- 5). Add any wood stain that you wish to at this time (if desired) by brushing it onto the wood. Allow the stain to dry. You may wish to stain the head and tapered shoulder first so that the drumstick can hang to dry and then do the other side and flip the stick over to dry so that there are no marks from whatever is used to hold the stick while it dries. I suggest using a twist tie on a hanger over newspaper outside. Clean your brush in fingernail polish remover and then rinse that out as well.
- 6). Use a soldering iron to burn your name or brand into the handle (shaft) of the drumstick. Make sure that the soldering iron only rests long enough to slightly burn the mark and not to put a hole into the stick that may distract the drummer.
- 7). Use a sealant on the wood and let it dry in the same manner as before (in step 5). Apply a varnish in several coats, following the directions that came with your varnish. If you wish to "cheat" you can dip the brush but it will take longer to dry and will drip more. Using the brush is the best way to get an even coating.
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