Owning a drum kit is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that you can play music whenever you want, and a curse in the size it may take up—especially if space is at a premium where you live. Thankfully, there is self storage.
Placing a drum kit in a storage unit allows you to keep your drums regardless of whether or not you need to temporary stash them between places or even for the long haul, and with the right steps and preparations, you can safely store your drums in self storage.
Prepare your drum kit for self storage
The first step in storing your drums is disassembling them. Even smaller kits can be bulky and awkward to move, not to mention each piece may require different handling and preparation. As you do this, be sure to remove the drumheads as well and carefully set them to the side as they are more sensitive.
Be sure to keep small plastic bags handy to place in all hardware and bits in, labeling each as you go. If possible, wrap each of the legs used in bubble wrap or a cloth that is secured with tape and label everything.
As you pack up the drums, it is recommended you place the kit in larger plastic or cardboard boxes to help any dust build up or accidental damage—especially if you’re storing long term. As the drumheads have been removed, you can start with the bass drum and then place each smaller drum inside one after the other, keeping all your drums in the same box. Be sure to store all the drum heads together but separate from the drums themselves.
When it comes to cymbals, place them and their stands in a padded case. These are an expensive investment, so it’s not worth risking breaking.
If there is any negative or empty space within the drum box or cymbal case, then you need to fill it with packing materials to avoid any shifting and accidental damage.
Find the rest storage features for drums
Protection is key for your drums when they’re not at home. Expensive, personally valuable, and somewhat sensitive, you need to keep your drum kit secure when it’s placed in storage from both threats inside and outside of the storage unit.
For the later, you can find storage facilities with strong security features such as electronic gate access, which requires a code to enter the facility, as well as onsite management and video surveillance. These features limit the number of people on the property, making it easier to deter any risks.
But to keep your drums safe inside a storage unit, you’re gonna need climate control. Ideal for long term storage or places with extreme seasonal weather, climate control will maintain a constant temperature and humidity level within your storage unit. This will prevent your drums from warp, your drum heads from cracking, and even prevent metal components from rusting.
Lastly, and especially if you have a huge kit, you may want to consider drive up access. This feature allows you to pull your vehicle directly up to your unit for easy dropoff and pick up, which is great when hauling larger and heavier boxes.
Store your drum kit in a storage facility
Once you’ve taken the right steps and found the best storage features, you can set your drum set into your storage unit. If you’re storing other items alongside your kit, we recommend that you do not stack anything on top of the kit box. Also, if possible, place the kit on top of a pallet on the floor or at the very least a plastic tarp. This final step will help prevent any damage from moisture or water on the floor.
No one in the band has more fun than the drummer, but sometimes it’s not fun having to find the space for your kit when you don’t have the time to play. Thankfully with the right preparation and best features, you can safely keep your drum set in self storage.
