Silicone rubber cones didn't seem to work

[JLee]

Meaning no disrespect to the Mank, who provided the information for the project, I don't think my homemade silicone piezo cones are going to hold up in real-world circumstances.

Though they came out properly shape wise, it looks like once they are
contacted in any way, the cone has no "bounceback", and is likely going to just retreat further and further down into the drum shell. I have built the edrums with adjustable bridges so I can accomodate this to a certain extent, but eventually I think this might be an issue, as the "cone surface" looks like it will continually get bigger and bigger as the top of it meets the drumhead.

Any suggestions, besides just going with the Roland Cones? Looks like that is the most viable option.

[Stoovey]

You forgot a crucial step: mix the silicone 50/50 with JB Weld. :D

[JLee]

You forgot a crucial step: mix the silicone 50/50 with JB Weld. :D


Not familiar with that. What is JB Weld?

[The Mank]

That's strange, never had that problem.Once mine are dry they hold there shape no problem.I used one of the first cones I made for a couple of years and it still looks the same now as it did when I first molded it.
Try using a different silicone, not the cheap stuff but proper silicone sealer, and make sure it has fully cured before using it.
As I posted before I only made these cones as the original Roland cones where not available to buy separately. As they are now available, at $4.99 each from musicians friend, I wouldn't bother making my own.

Mank

[The Mank]

J
Post a pic so I can see the problem.

Mank

[rhjanes]

Not familiar with that. What is JB Weld?
super epoxy. buy it al walmart, or any automotive parts supply store

[JLee]

That's strange, never had that problem.Once mine are dry they hold there shape no problem.I used one of the first cones I made for a couple of years and it still looks the same now as it did when I first molded it.
Try using a different silicone, not the cheap stuff but proper silicone sealer, and make sure it has fully cured before using it.
As I posted before I only made these cones as the original Roland cones where not available to buy separately. As they are now available, at $4.99 each from musicians friend, I wouldn't bother making my own.

Mank


Actually, they went up to $7.99 a piece. Still probably worth buying. Do people really mix the silicone with JB Weld for these? Also, I am using DAP silicone sealer, which is considered a pretty good brand, so I don't think that is the problem. The cones have the consistency of a very firm marshmallow, if that makes any sense.

[The Mank]

At $7.99 that's still not a bad price.
My cones , ohhh errrr, feel more like a firm rubber than a firm marshmellow....over to Woody for the punchline....
I guess firmness of the set silicone varys from product to product.
The brand I used in the UK was Unibond but you probably have a lot more choice of products in the US, and I didn't mix it with anything else.
Sorry it didn't work for you.

Mank

The other alternative,if you want it to be totally custom made, is buy some offcuts of high density foam and cut them to shape.

[JLee]

At $7.99 that's still not a bad price.
My cones , ohhh errrr, feel more like a firm rubber than a firm marshmellow....over to Woody for the punchline....
I guess firmness of the set silicone varys from product to product.
The brand I used in the UK was Unibond but you probably have a lot more choice of products in the US, and I didn't mix it with anything else.
Sorry it didn't work for you.

Mank

The other alternative,if you want it to be totally custom made, is buy some offcuts of high density foam and cut them to shape.

Mank

Thanks very much for the information. I can't rule out the possibility that a different product might have had a different result.

[Stoovey]

JB Weld is a metal epoxy. Once it hardens, you can machine it, weld it, drill it, tap it...whatever you can do with real metal basically. But when mixed it is very runny. I was merely joking. I doubt very much that you would want to mix it with silicone, or if that would even be possible. Might end up with a big mess, and I imagine if it even worked in the cone mold, the metal would interfere with the trigger signal.