Owning a handpan is a unique and rewarding experience. To ensure your instrument remains in top condition and continues to produce beautiful sounds, proper care and maintenance are essential. In this blog, we provide essential tips to help you keep your handpan in excellent condition for many years to come. By following these recommendations, you will reduce the possibility of needing to re-tune your instrument, and to keep your handpan looking fabulous, saving both time and money.
Protect Your Handpan
Avoid Contact with Hard Objects
A handpan is crafted from a metal sheet that is typically no more than 1.2mm thick, making the instrument more delicate than it might appear. Avoid playing your handpan while wearing rings or any other metal accessories, such as jewelry or belts, that could come into direct contact with the instrument. A scratch can occur quickly if you’re not cautious. Always remember to remove your jewelry before playing and remind others to do the same when borrowing your handpan.
Additionally, it's crucial to avoid dropping your handpan or letting any objects fall on it. Strong impacts can cause dents and severely disrupt the tuning. Always store your handpan in a secure location at home.
Playing Technique
As a percussion instrument with a very thin vibrating membrane, the handpan requires gentle playing and proper technique. Playing very forcefully over longer periods of time can detune your instrument. If you notice the sound becomes distorted while playing, reduce your striking force. While playing with sticks is possible, we advise you to be very careful with it. It should be done gently using very soft sticks to produce the best sound and prevent damaging your handpan.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Playing the handpan in direct sunlight is strongly discouraged due to the metal expansion that occurs. When playing in the sun, your handpan will get very hot, very quickly. This can detune your handpan within minutes. If your handpan has been left in the sun or in a hot car, place it in the shade and allow it to cool down to room temperature. Usually, the metal will regain its original structure and the sound will return to normal. However, try to avoid this.
Handling Humidity and Salty Environments
Living by the sea or in a humid environment necessitates regular maintenance. Humid or marine environments are prone to causing corrosion and rust. Avoid long sessions on the beach if possible. For handpans made of nitrided mild steel, rust spots can develop without regular care. Stainless Steel and Ember Steel are less likely to accumulate rust, however, these are still metals, so corrosion is always a risk. Therefore it is advised to regularly clean and treat your handpan as described below.
Allow Your Handpan to Breathe
Avoid storing your handpan in a closed case or bag if it’s damp. Humidity can promote rust and stains. Generally, a handpan will fare better when kept in the open air. Use a stand or wall mount at home to display your handpan, which also allows it to breathe and prevents moisture buildup. If you want to keep it protected in the case / bag, make sure you keep it halfway opened to allow the handpan to breathe. This way, your handpan remains in good condition and looks aesthetically pleasing.
How to Clean and Treat Your Handpan
Wipe Your Handpan After Playing
After playing your handpan, wipe your instrument with a soft- cloth on both sides. This simple habit helps remove traces left by your fingers, which can damage the metal over time due to hand perspiration, sebum, mineral salts, dust, and other elements present on our hands and in the air. Ideally, use a microfiber cloth, though a clean cotton cloth will also suffice. The key is to make this a habit to ensure the longevity of your handpan.
Protect Your Handpan with Oil
It’s essential to regularly apply oil or wax to protect your handpan. Use natural oils specifically designed for handpan maintenance, avoiding overly chemical or aggressive products. Put a few drops of handpan oil on the handpan and use a (microfibre) cloth to spread the oil gently and evenly over the entire surface.
The frequency of applying protection also varies depending on the environment. In humid or coastal areas, apply protection more frequently compared to dry environments.
Stainless steel and Ember steel handpans are highly resistant to rust and typically require minimal protection. Oil applications are needed only when the metal color lightens / get’s less shiny. This may occur after several months of non-use or multiple times a week if played regularly. In contrast, nitrated steel handpans should be treated with oil after each playing session, as recommended. Always consult your manufacturer for specific care instructions tailored to your handpan's material.
Clean Your Handpan with Alcohol
Periodically, depending on how much dirt has accumulated on your handpan (such as oil, dirt, and sebum from your hands), wipe the entire surface with a cloth with alcohol. Clean the outside, the edges, and the inside if desired. Use rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit, which are gentler on the instrument. After cleaning, reapply a layer of protecting oil as the alcohol will remove the existing protective coating.
Removing Rust Spots on Your Handpan
If rust spots appear on your handpan, follow these steps to treat them:
- Clean your entire handpan with alcohol (70% or 96%).
- Dampen a sponge with alcohol and gently rub the rust spot in a circular motion using the green side.
- Wipe the spot thoroughly with a dry cloth. You may notice the rust has diminished, and the underlying metal color may appear lighter (this change is irreversible).
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until (most of) the rust is removed.
- For persistent rust, a Cape Cod polishing cloth can be highly effective.
- After cleaning, wipe the handpan again with alcohol using a clean cloth.
- Apply a protective layer of handpan oil.
Keep in mind that rust spots indicate small damaged areas on the metal, prone to future rusting. Regular oiling and periodic rust removal (if new spots appear) are necessary to maintain the handpan's condition and prevent further rusting.
Conclusion
With a little care and love, your handpan will stay in excellent condition and provide years of enjoyment. Do you have any questions? Feel free to send us a message at contact@lidahdrums.nl or check out our handpans to find your perfect match. 💚
