DIY Drummer: Gator Combo kit bag roller bag

A work in progress.

Because I can’t drive at night, I’m transit-dependent. 
Going to jam sessions with a full kit is impossible on the bus; but luckily I don’t need more than a snare drum, little cymbal and sticks or brushes.

I wanted to be able to bring along a hi-hat or lightweight throne now and then, so I went looking for a used student combo kit case. Most of these come with all the stuff -- drum, bells, etc -- which I don't need.  Gator offers just the bag and rolling rack. 
Upon closer inspection, Gator's newest version of the bag comes with plastic feet integrated into the bottom of the snare compartment, but it's unclear whether there's an internal support frame as well. 

 

This didn't inspire confidence. So I kept looking.

Then, I found a used Gator Combo Kit bag that was an earlier version, with an external rolling rack that looked sturdier. 







This older used bag cost me $60. The new bag retails for around $170. Even with another $25 for shipping I thought I'd done well.

The bag arrived in a very large box with some Styrofoam panels and a lot of bunched-up paper. The front plastic feet had broken off the bottom of the metal rack in shipping, so I had to improvise a repair. Using leftover wood from a storm window project, I effected a repair that added new feet, stabilized the bottom of the rolling rack and strengthened what had been there before.

Sadly, this bag only holds a 13” snare, but that’s not a tragedy. Plenty of room in the main compartment for snare and hi-hat stands, clamp-on cymbal arm, sticks and a book.

 

 

 

One of the tiny “fenders” over the wheels was breaking off. I glued it back together and used a piece of Erector set as reinforcement.

 

 

Sliding hose clamps between the metal bars and the hard plastic shelf was almost impossible, so I opted for screwing the shelf directly into the wood pieces. The drumstick section holds the wood beams in place and adds more stability. It’s not going anywhere.

 

 

Without a drill to start the holes, I wrapped heavy-duty gaffing tape around the ends and used a self-tapping screw to affix an old drumstick to the front of the strengthened wooden frame.

 

 

Knowing the ends of the stick would split, I wrapped them in heavy-duty tape before screwing in place. I put some wood glue in the crack, then followed it up with a folded piece of the packing paper. When it dries it will hold solidly.

 

 

Additional small squares of wood affixed under the wood beams gives the stand a better tilt when parked. Right now they’re affixed with Gorilla Glue. Tomorrow I’ll add some thick tanned leather on bottom. I may run a couple of tiny wood screws through all of that to make sure it all stays put. It should be fine.

Since I'm only using this a few times a month to haul a snare drum and stand, sticks and brushes, and book and a music stand, it should be fine. If I want, I can fit a lightweight drum throne in there, with the seat and the music stand going into another bag, but at that point I'm at my limit for what I feel the bag can handle. Where our jam session meets, it's easy enough to sit in a chair.

The nice thing about this bag is that it's thick cordura, which should hold up awhile yet. I can always add patches as needed, and even spray a little waterproofing on the outside if I want.

I love being able to sort out what I need on a budget and make do using found objects and simply hand tools.

 

Happy drumming.