If you are a drummer, you likely have a collection of old, used drumsticks that you are wondering what to do with. Drumsticks get worn down and damaged through regular use, and need to be replaced periodically to maintain good performance. Rather than just throwing those old drumsticks in the trash, there are actually many creative ways to repurpose them around your home or music studio! This article will provide some helpful ideas and instructions for giving your used drumsticks new life.
Quick Answers
What are some common reasons to replace your drumsticks?
– The tip is chipped, affecting your playing.
– The stick is warped or cracked from repeated strikes.
– The grip coating has worn off, making it hard to hold.
– The balance or feel no longer feels right.
How often should you replace your drumsticks?
– On average, drumsticks should be replaced every 1-2 months with regular practice and playing. The frequency depends on your specific playing style and techniques. Heavier, more aggressive drummers may need new sticks every few weeks.
What are drumsticks made of?
– Most drumsticks are made from wood, commonly hickory, maple, or oak. They may have a lacquered or coated surface. The tip is often nylon or wood.
Can you still use old, worn drumsticks?
– Old drumsticks can still be used for practice and casual playing, but may not perform as well. The sound and rebound will be affected. For best performance, playing with new drumsticks is recommended.
Are there eco-friendly options for disposing of old drumsticks?
– Yes, you can recycle them, use them for crafts and projects, or donate them to music charities who will repurpose them. Throwing them in the regular trash should be a last resort.
Crafts and Decor
One great way to repurpose your old drumsticks is using them for crafts and decor projects around the home. With some creativity, you can give your worn-out drumsticks new life in these fun ways:
Rainstick
A rainstick is a cylindrical percussion instrument that creates a soothing rainfall sound when tipped vertically. They are easy to make using an old cardboard tube and some pebbles or beads. Simply use your old drumsticks to punch rows of holes into the tube, fill it with your chosen material, and seal the ends. Decorate the outside with paint, glitter, or scrap fabric for a more decorative appearance.
Wind Chime
For a pleasant musical decoration, use several old drumsticks to create a wind chime. Remove any grip coating, cut the sticks to various lengths, and hang them at different levels with string or fishing line. Add metallic beads between the sticks, and suspend the chime outdoors to create soothing sounds when the wind blows.
Stamps
The tips of old drumsticks can be turned into handmade stamps for art projects. Cut off the rounded end, and use tacky glue to affix them to blocks of wood or erasers. Let dry completely, then dip into fabric paint or ink pads to stamp patterns onto paper, cards, or fabric.
Wall Art and Displays
Transforming your used drumsticks into wall art is an ideal way to display your passion for drumming. Here are some visually striking ideas:
Photo Display
For a personalized photo gallery, mount several of your old drumsticks horizontally onto a board in rows. Use clasps or clips to hold your favorite photos between the drumsticks. This creates a cool way to display cherished memories.
Shadowbox Frame
Choose one or two special drumsticks that mean something to you, and commemorate them by mounting inside a shadowbox frame. You can include pieces of sheet music, concert tickets, or other small memorabilia related to the drumsticks.
Patterned Arrangement
Creating abstract geometric patterns out of your old drumsticks makes for great wall art. Arrange the drumsticks end-to-end, side-by-side, or overlapping each other on a board. Paint, stain, or decoupage the background and drumsticks for colorful designs.
Percussion Instruments
Put your old drumsticks to musical use again by upcycling them into fun homemade percussion instruments. Tap out rhythms on these DIY tools:
Maracas
Fill empty plastic Easter eggs with rice, beads, or pebbles. Insert an old drumstick tip into the top half of the egg before closing it, then attach ribbon to create maraca egg shakers.
Beatblock
Adhere several old drumstick tips pointing out from a wooden block. Paint or decorate the block as desired. Use this as a tap block to keep the beat.
Castanet Handles
Remove the rounded tip from old drumsticks and use strong glue or epoxy to adhere pairs of empty walnut shells near the ends. The shells act as castanets when the handle is tapped.
Games and Activities
Your worn-out drumsticks can provide entertainment in these fun games and activities:
Balancing Game
Challenge your coordination by balancing old drumsticks upright on their tips. See how many you can balance at once without any falling over. Try balancing them on different surfaces for varying difficulty levels.
Limbo Stick
Have someone hold a drumstick horizontally while others take turns leaning back and going underneath without touching. Lower the stick each round until only one limbo champion remains.
Rhythm Follow Along
Have one person play rhythms by tapping two drumsticks together. The rest must mimic the rhythm patterns. Take turns being the leader to see who can create the most complex beats.
CampfireFuel
If you go camping often, reuse old drumsticks as convenient firestarters for your campfire or outdoor firepit. Their long, thin shape lets plenty of air flow to the flames. To prepare:
Split lengthwise down the center using a utility knife to expose more flammable surface area.
Let dry out thoroughly if the wood still seems moist.
Use sparingly and add only one or two at a time to prevent overly large flames.
Always attend a fire until it is completely extinguished.
Garden Uses
Your green thumb can also find ways to reuse old drumsticks around the garden:
Mini Plant Stakes
Trim drumsticks down and sharpen the tip to make short plant stakes for staking up seedlings and saplings as they grow.
Trellis Supports
Tie or wire old drumsticks horizontally onto a vertical garden trellis. This provides extra structural support for climbing vines and plants.
Row Markers
Place cut-down drumsticks periodically in rows around a vegetable garden. Paint the tops different colors and use them as row markers to identify your plants.
Pet Toys
Keep your four-legged friends entertained with these fun pet toys made from old drumsticks:
Fetch Toy
Lightly sand and round off any sharp edges from an old drumstick to prevent splinters. Toss the drumstick for dogs to happily chase and retrieve.
Cat Wand
Tie colorful ribbons, fabric strips, or feathers to one end of a drumstick. Move it around near the ground for cats to bat at and pounce on during playtime.
Chew Stick
Puppies that are teething will welcome an old drumstick to gnaw on. The wood can soothe sore gums. Supervise use to prevent choking hazards.
Conclusion
As you can see, those old drumsticks sitting around collecting dust can be creatively upcycled in many ways instead of being tossed out. With a little imagination, you can give them new life as crafts, instruments, tools, decor items, or entertainment supplies. Plus, reusing and repurposing materials is an eco-friendly alternative to adding more waste to landfills. Hopefully these ideas provide some inspiration for how to make use of your worn-out drumsticks. Now grab your sticks and start crafting something unique!