Steps to Build Your Own Handpan

Now that we've covered the wealth of resources at your fingertips, let's dive into the historical roots of handpan making to understand how this art form has evolved over time.

Brief History of Handpan Making

• DIY handpan creation began in 2011: While the idea of instruments using tuned steel pans existed earlier, how to make handpans as a do-it-yourself endeavor is generally attributed to the year 2011. This marked the beginning of a rapid growth in popularity for both playing and building handpans.

If you're fascinated by the evolution of handpan music but not ready to build one yourself, discovering the curated collection at The Sound Artist might just be the next best step.

• Evolution of handpan building techniques: Over the past decade, handpan building techniques have undergone significant refinement and innovation. Builders have continuously explored new approaches to shaping, tuning, and heat treatment, leading to advancements in sound quality and overall craftsmanship.

Step by Step Process of Making a Handpan

Creating a handpan is a meticulous process that combines artistry and craftsmanship. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to make the process clear for you.

Step 1: Preparing the Steel

Preparing the steel is a critical first step in handpan construction, as it sets the foundation for the instrument's shape, sound quality, and durability. Most handpan builders utilize 1.0mm thick, 53cm diameter stainless steel shells. This specific choice is based on several factors, including:

• Workability: The 1.0mm thickness offers a balance between being malleable enough for shaping and maintaining sufficient structural integrity.

• Sound characteristics: The thickness contributes to the overall tonal character and sustain of the handpan.

• Durability: Stainless steel is known for its resistance to corrosion and wear, making it a suitable material for long-lasting instruments.

While selecting the perfect steel is complex, choosing a handpan shouldn't be. The Sound Artist offers a variety of handcrafted handpans, each with its unique sound characteristics, ready to find its home with a passionate player like you.

Once you have finalized the steel shells, all you need to do is Transform flat steel into a bowl shape. The process of transforming flat steel sheets into the handpan's signature bowl shapes can be achieved through various methods:

• Hand sinking: This traditional technique involves using specialized hammers and anvils to manually shape the steel. It requires considerable skill and experience to achieve the desired form and consistency.

• Air hammers: These power tools utilize compressed air to deliver rapid strikes to the steel, allowing for more efficient shaping compared to hand sinking.

• Mechanical presses: Some builders utilize specialized mechanical presses to form the steel into the desired bowl shapes. This approach offers greater consistency and repeatability but requires significant investment in equipment.

Step 2:Templating and Shaping

Templating and shaping are crucial steps in the handpan-making process, as they determine the instrument's form, note placement, and ultimately its sound quality. Here is the detailed process of templating and shaping.

• Laying out the chosen scale to optimize sound clarity: This crucial stage involves meticulously laying out the chosen musical scale on the pre-shaped steel pans. Precise placement of notes is essential for achieving optimal sound clarity and preventing unpleasant dissonances. 

Builders employ specialized tools and templates to ensure accurate scale placement.

• Using tools for shaping, and ensuring note layouts prevent dissonance: Various tools are utilized for shaping the individual fields and dimples on the handpan. These tools may include hammers, mallets, and specialized shaping dies. 

• Adding dimples for unique note character: Dimples are small indentations strategically placed on the handpan surface. They play a crucial role in shaping the character and sound of individual notes. The size, depth, and placement of dimples are carefully considered to achieve the desired tonal qualities. 

By strategically manipulating these elements, builders can influence the brightness, warmth, and overall character of each note. If crafting dimples and shaping steel sounds daunting but you're captivated by the unique note characters of the handpan, consider selecting a professionally made instrument from Sound Artist, where every detail is meticulously crafted for you.

• Creating borders with air hammers for note isolation and timbral character: Borders are raised edges that define the playing surface of each note on the handpan. These are typically created using air hammers, which allow for precise control over the shaping and consistency of the borders. 

Borders contribute to note isolation, preventing unwanted interaction between adjacent notes, and also influence the overall timbral character (tonal quality) of the instrument. By controlling the height and sharpness of the borders, builders can influence the sustain, attack, and overall articulation of each note.

Step 3: Heat Treatments

Heat plays a vital role in influencing the sound and stability of the handpan. Builders employ various tools for controlled heating and cooling, including torches, kilns, ovens, or furnaces. The specific choice of equipment depends on the desired temperature range and the size of the handpan.

• The purpose of heat treatments is to stabilize the metal after it has been shaped into a dome. This stabilization is essential for maintaining the integrity of the tone fields during tuning and throughout the instrument's lifespan.

This process also increases the hardness of the steel, making the handpan more resistant to wear and tear.

• The concept of metal's 'memory' and reshaping: Metal exhibits a property known as "memory." When heated and cooled in a controlled manner, the metal can "remember" its new shape. Builders utilize this phenomenon to refine the handpan's form and contribute to its overall tuning process. 

By strategically applying heat to specific areas, they can make minute adjustments to the curvature of the note fields, influencing the pitch and tonal characteristics of the notes.

Understanding metal's 'memory' and mastering heat treatments is an art in itself. For those who wish to experience the magic of a perfectly tuned handpan without the technical challenges, The Sound Artist offers finely crafted instruments, each treated with care and precision.

Step 4: The Tuning Process

Tuning a handpan is a meticulous and iterative process, often described as the heart of handpan making. It requires a high degree of skill, experience, and a keen ear. Unlike string instruments where the tuning pegs are readily accessible, tuning a handpan involves physically shaping the metal to adjust the pitch of each note. 

This process demands a deep understanding of the relationship between the metal's form and its resulting sound.

• Integration of shaping with tuning involving hundreds of hammer strikes: Hundreds of precisely placed hammer strikes are applied to specific areas of the handpan, gradually adjusting the pitch of each note until they resonate in harmony with the chosen scale. 

This delicate process requires a combination of physical dexterity, aural perception, and an intimate understanding of the instrument's unique characteristics.

• The importance of a sharp ear and critical listening for precise tuning: A sharp ear and critical listening skills are essential for achieving precise tuning in handpans. Builders rely on their ability to discern subtle pitch variations and adjust their hammering techniques accordingly. 

This involves not only matching individual notes to a reference pitch but also ensuring they blend harmoniously together across the entire scale, creating a cohesive and pleasing soundscape.

Step 5: Joining and Final Adjustments

• Adhering the two halves with chosen adhesives: Once tuned and shaped, the two halves of the handpan are carefully adhered together using specialized glues. The chosen adhesive needs to be strong, durable, and resistant to the vibrations generated during playing. 

• Retuning after gluing : After the adhesive cures, the handpan may require further adjustments to ensure all notes remain in perfect harmony. This fine-tuning process often involves accessing the interior of the handpan through the soundhole to make precise adjustments to the note fields using specialized tools. 

• Applying final touches such as etching logo, trimming, polishing, and applying protective wax: With the tuning and adhesion complete, the final touches are applied to personalize and protect the handpan. These may include:

• Etching a logo: Many builders personalize their instruments by etching their logo or signature onto the handpan's surface, adding a unique touch and reflecting their craftsmanship.

• Trimming and polishing: Any rough edges are carefully trimmed and the handpan is polished to achieve a smooth and visually appealing finish. This not only enhances the instrument's aesthetics but also contributes to a more comfortable playing experience.

• Applying protective wax: A coat of protective wax is applied to the handpan to help prevent corrosion and maintain its visual appeal over time. This final layer safeguards the instrument from environmental factors and ensures its longevity.

Alright, with all the nitty-gritty details of how to make handpans behind us, let’s hit the final note and see how these magnificent instruments are brought to their melodious conclusion.

Other Considerations in  the Handpan Making Process

After the final touches are applied, the handpan undergoes multiple tunings and a final blending process. This ensures that all notes resonate together harmoniously and the overall sound quality is balanced and pleasing. The builder meticulously re-evaluates each note's pitch, making minute adjustments using specialized tools and their trained ear. 

Additionally, a technique called "blending" involves adjusting specific note fields to create a smooth and cohesive soundscape across the entire instrument. This final stage requires a keen ear and a deep understanding of how the different notes interact with each other, ensuring the handpan sings with a unified and captivating voice.

Once the builder is satisfied with the sound and craftsmanship, the handpan undergoes a final inspection to ensure everything is in order. This includes checking for any visual imperfections, tuning stability, and overall playability. The handpan is then carefully packaged and prepared for delivery to its new home.

Creating a handpan is a journey of dedication, passion, and artistic expression. For many, the journey might well begin with embracing the music created by others. At The Sound Artist, we take pride in offering handpans that embody this journey, ready to deliver enchanting melodies to your doorstep.

Whether you're captivated by the world of handpans as a listener or a potential builder, we encourage you to explore further. Consider purchasing a pre-made instrument from a reputable builder, allowing you to experience the joy of playing this unique instrument. 

Alternatively, if the creative spark within you ignites, you can embark on your own handpan-making journey, guided by the wealth of resources available. Whether you choose to play, build, or simply appreciate the unique sound of the handpan, remember that the music lies within.

Conclusion

The journey from raw steel to a captivating handpan showcases human ingenuity, artistic expression, and the power of sound. This glimpse into the fascinating craft of handpan-making highlights the blend of science, art, and passion that defines this unique instrument.

Whether you're drawn to playing, building, or simply appreciating the handpan's allure, there's a path for you to explore. Seek out reputable builders to find an instrument that resonates with your spirit, dive into playing techniques to create your own melodies, or venture into building your own handpan, embracing the challenges and triumphs along the way.

Share your passion, connect with the growing handpan community, and keep the music alive. Ready to take the next step? Discover handpans and live lessons at Sound Artist. Thank you for joining this journey into the world of handpans—where will your newfound curiosity lead you?