Ed—06 Drum Riser

DIY Drum Riser – Design and Construction for Electronic Drums

Challenge

The vibrations from my electronic drum kit became a real issue for my neighbors. Buying a commercial drum riser was an option, but it was too expensive and didn’t meet my needs. The real challenge was to fulfill my list of requirements:

• Affordable

• Modular and detachable

• Low as possible

• Effective in reducing vibrations

• Visually appealing

Process

I designed the structure in Shapr3D, taking the exact measurements of my drum kit and planning a modular system that could be easily disassembled in case of a move. I chose MDF as the main material for being lightweight and cost-effective, but the toughest part was finding the right solution to isolate the vibrations.

After exploring different DIY alternatives such as tennis balls, springs, and mattresses, I wasn't really convinced. Doing some research, I found a German company called RRG, specialists in industrial isolation foams. I contacted them and shared diagrams and detailed weight calculations (including each piece of the drum kit, the structure, and my own weight). With that data, they analyzed my case and recommended the optimal foam density for my project.