Handpan care, cleaning & removing rust

The handpan is classified as a subgroup of the steel drum . It is a relatively new instrument and is enjoying increasing popularity. There are over 100 manufacturers worldwide of this difficult to access and sometimes somewhat expensive instrument.

The steel you choose for your handpan depends entirely on the sounds you prefer when playing. Warm sounds are achieved with amber steel, nitrided shells offer higher frequencies for playing in larger areas so the sound carries, and stainless steel offers great sound quality, versatility and corrosion resistance.

Don't worry, no matter which handpan you choose for beginners or advanced players, it will be love at first sight! Today we will talk about care , because there are a few aspects that should be taken into account. We want your handpan to last a long time and stay beautiful!

Clean handpan & remove rust

This article is focused on the initial cleaning and care of new handpans. The second-hand market is a completely different world, with many things to consider and many more dangers lurking, which are worth a separate article for used handpans .

We should treat cleaning and maintenance separately. Cleaning should become a routine after playing the handpan. Special maintenance is required at regular intervals and this depends very much on the material and the environment in which you live. We will come to this a little further down.

Clean your handpan EVERY TIME you finish playing

This works in the same way as all the stage musicians who wipe their instruments with a cloth before storing them. You've probably seen this after a concert.

Fingers and hands are usually greasy, from body oils, dirty and leave behind dead cells. The buildup of all this gunk stays on the handpan and that is not good. You should get into the habit of wiping the surface with a microfiber cloth after each play. Get into the habit and practice discipline to do it. If you only have one instrument, it is easy. If you have more than one, it can be a hassle, we know. But isn't it nice to play on a clean, shiny and smooth playing surface?

To remove other dirt, stains or oil residue, apply a small amount of a ketone-based product (available at pharmacies) to a rag and clean your handpan . Household alcohol can also help in urgent situations.

Rust on your handpan? How to remove it!

If your handpan starts to rust, don't panic! Rust will not affect the sound of your handpan unless it gets incredibly rusty (but then you would have to have left it out by the sea for many years). Rust is really just a cosmetic problem.

If the first rust spots appear on the handpan, you can remove them as follows:

Put some alcohol on a sponge with a fine abrasive surface and gently scrub the rust stain. Then wipe the pan well with a clean cloth and alcohol before applying some oil. An alternative product is WD40.

Handpan care: Why and how often?

There is only one thing you should do to prevent your handpan from becoming rusty - keep it dry while playing and store it in a dry environment.

The frequency of care and application of oil can vary depending on the climate. If you live near the ocean , it's a good idea to oil your handpan at least once a month, maybe even more often. Watch for small rust spots, and if you see any, it's time to reapply oil! Humid climates also require more care. Handpans kept in very dry climates can go months without re-oiling.

What should you avoid doing with your handpan?

• Do not let the handpan get wet and do not store it in a damp case.

• Do not drop your handpan.

• Don't play too roughly with her.

• Avoid touching the handpan with dirty fingers.

• Do not leave them in a bag for long periods of time.

• Do not play with the palm of your hand.

• Exposure to salt can accelerate rusting. If you play on the beach, clean your handpan quickly afterwards and pack it in your case.

• Remove rings and bracelets before playing.

• If possible, avoid playing with mallets.

• Do not place the instrument in a place where it is directly exposed to heat. The tuning always changes slightly in terms of Hertz depending on the temperature.

Handpan care: Nitrided vs. stainless steel

The steel is (in most cases) nitrided, and although this is often referred to as an "anti-rust" treatment, it is actually an effective " rust preventer " because nitriding slows down the process. It does not prevent rust altogether. Furthermore, any long-term damage to the steel will, over time, negate the effect of nitriding.

There is no best steel for a handpan among the options as they all have different properties and benefits . In other words, there is no downside to choosing one type of steel over another.

There is a lot of talk in some handpan community groups about stainless steel outperforming nitrided steel due to corrosion issues, and that is simply not true. There are many older handpans that were made from nitrided steel for the first 15-20 years of their life, and with regular maintenance and cleaning and good care, you will not find a single spot of corrosion or rust on them. Regular maintenance with an oil is important for both types.

So when looking for the best steel, we can differentiate them as follows:

Steel grade	Best for:	Corrosion protection
Stainless steel	Brightness of the sound	perfect
Nitrided steel	volume	99% perfect

Stainless steel offers a brighter tone and longer sustain than nitrided steel, but has less volume.

Step-by-step instructions for handpan care

Taking care of your handpan is not a time-consuming task. All you need is a good routine. Follow a few simple steps to keep your handpan in good condition.

• Clean with alcohol

Wipe your handpan with a microfiber cloth after each use. You can use a little alcohol as described under Cleaning.

• Protect with oil or wax

To preserve the look and sound of your instrument, you should treat your handpan with a natural oil. The oil protects the material from external influences. Put a few drops of oil on the handpan and spread the oil gently and evenly over the entire surface with a microfiber cloth. After many uses, this cloth will eventually be soaked with oil. You then take the cloth and tap the instrument lightly with it. This leaves traces of oil on the handpan. Once you have done this all around, use the same cloth to spread the oil evenly over the surface.

• Allow the oil to absorb a little

You can use an oil that is sold exclusively for handpans, such as Pheonix oil. But Balistol oil, olive oil, coconut oil or sunflower oil are also effective and you probably have them at home. However, these oils leave a sticky coating, so you should only apply a thin layer and let it soak in.

• Now you can polish the handpan

Once you've evenly applied the lubricant to the entire handpan and allowed it to soak in, it's time to take a clean, soft cloth - always use a clean cloth for this step - to begin wiping and polishing. You should end up with a super shiny oily seal that evenly covers the entire playing surface.

Your handpan is now sealed and ready to play. However, you should let the instrument rest for a day and admire the shine. Then you can polish it again to remove any extra residue and then you can start playing with the help of the handpan music book .

Remember that when treating any type of oil, you should only treat the surface and not the inside of the instrument.

Storage, transport and handling

There are a few things you should pay attention to when you are out and about with your handpan.

Let's start with the simpler situations. If you are just traveling around town or driving a car, a soft bag for your handpan can be a practical thing.

It is light, easy to carry even on longer walks and offers your handpan at least a little protection.

Of course, you still have to be very careful how you handle your precious sound sculpture. After a while, you get used to having a broader back and learn how to sneak through doors without hitting the edge on the walls

Humidity removers are a good addition if you live in a humid climate. Placing one of these bags in the instrument case will help remove moisture from hard-to-reach areas inside. Having one of these bags in your travel bag will also help prevent moisture from building up while traveling with your instrument.

Flying with the handpan in the flight cabin

In most cases it is possible to take the handpan into the cabin and it usually even fits into the overhead compartments with a flight case.

However, many low-cost airlines only allow a single piece of hand luggage and strict checks of hand luggage dimensions are carried out at the gate shortly before boarding.

Make sure your handpan is packed in a way that will allow it to be transported in the cargo hold and by baggage handlers if it is refused. If you arrive at the airport early, you can explain that you have an expensive instrument that you need to keep safe in the cabin.

Have fun with your handpan and… hope you can keep it for a long time with these care tips!