help! my bodhran is ill!

[ERIN NHAMINERVA]

Hi, Meaghen-
   I've never had quite what you describe happen to me before, but I have 
a few ideas based on past experience. Firstly, I would never use linseed 
oil to oil a bodhran skin. It's ok on the rim, but that's wood. It's best 
to use an animal oil such as neatsfoot oil or lanolin. Pure lanolin seems 
to work the best, probably because it's closest to goat/calf- the animal 
the head came from. I've been told never to use any oil that has silicone 
in it. I don't know why, but I've never tried it so I don't know what 
happens if you do. The best treatment I've found so far is regular saddle 
soaping- it gets the dirt out of the head and it oils it too. That and 
lanolin is all I use. I do a lot of Faires, so the dirt is really a 
consideration. After Northern is over, I can usually get my head about 4 
shades lighter just using saddle soap. I did, however, have to get my 
drum reheaded once- it developed cracks along the rim because I wasn't 
oiling and saddlesoaping at that time. Since then, I try to remember that 
the animal and vegetable whose body parts I am using are now no longer 
maintaining said parts, so it's now my job to do so. Anyway, there's a 
place called Hobgoblin Music in Colma (near San Francisco). They can send 
bodhrans out to be repaired- the reheaded mine at a very reasonable 
price. I am not at all satisfied with the look of the new head, but they 
preserved the original tone of the drum. It's been on there about 7 years 
now, so I guess I've gotten used to the look. 
   Another note on vegetable oil- it tends to cook skins if under hot 
lights, in bright sun, etc. It isn't always possible to stay away from 
those conditions while playing. My partner used vegetable oil on her drum 
and went on stage. Halfway thru the performance, she stuck her beater 
through the head of her drum- it was cooked under the stage lights as 
near as we can figure. Personally, I try to stay with what's closest to 
the material being oiled. If it's wood, I use a vegetable oil. If skin, 
an animal one. If steel, a mineral oil of some kind. So far, that rule 
has served me well. Hope all this helps-if you find another place that 
reheads drums, let me know. I'm looking to get a head I like the looks of 
as well as the sound of the next time I need it. 
                                             The Black Rose