Drum center fabrication

Once the aluminum tube had caps welded to the ends and the edges were filed/sanded smooth, it was mounted in a lathe and bored in the center with a 5/8" bit. I commissioned a local machine shop to customize flanges that would be bolted to the ends of the tube, which would in turn be bolted to the machine shaft. This fixes the drum to its shaft in a way that I can still disassemble it for shipping.

Pictured below is the tube sitting in an MDF housing, which I made solely for the purposes of allowing it to sit straight while I drilled and tapped holes in the side. These threaded holes will be where the drum's struts will screw into. Note my rudimentary solution for extending the table of my cheapo drill press: wood blocks, masonite, and newspaper. Work with what you've got!