How is a Handpan Made? The process in detail
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The handpan is much more than just a musical instrument: it is a work of sound art born from exceptional craftsmanship. Unlike mass-produced instruments, each handpan is made with precision, patience, and expertise.
So how does a simple sheet of steel become this bewitching instrument with celestial resonances? Let’s discover together the key steps in the manufacture of the handpan.
1. The Choice of Steel: The Basis of Sound
It all starts with a sheet of steel. Two types of steel are mainly used to make a handpan:
📌 Nitridal Steel (DC04)
It is the most common material because it offers several advantages:
✔️ Corrosion resistance (even if it requires regular maintenance).
✔️ Clear and percussive sound, with a relatively short sustain (duration of the note).
✔️ Good tuning stability over the long term.
How is it treated? The steel undergoes nitriding, a thermochemical process where it is heated and impregnated with nitrogen to strengthen its structure and limit oxidation.
👉 A nitride handpan is perfect for outdoor play thanks to its more powerful sound projection.
📌 Stainless Steel
Less widespread, this steel has other advantages:
✔️ Longer sustain, ideal for meditative melodies.
✔️ No rust, so less maintenance required.
✔️ Deeper, softer sound.
⚠️ Its major disadvantage? It is very sensitive to heat. A stainless steel handpan can go out of tune if exposed to the sun for too long.
👉 If you want to play by the sea or in a humid climate, this is the ideal choice.
2. The Formation of the Dome: A Hammering Job
Once the steel has been selected, it must be transformed into a dome, the characteristic structure of the handpan.
🔨 Shaping techniques:
- Manual hammering : The steel sheet is struck thousands of times to give it a rounded shape.
- Stamping : A hydraulic press forms the dome in a single press.
- Hydroforming : water pressure used to obtain a homogeneous hull (more recent technique).
👉 Each method influences the timbre of the handpan, its resonance and its stability.
Once the dome is formed, the craftsman marks the location of the notes on the surface. This is a key step that will determine the harmonic balance of the instrument.
What if you discovered my guide “How to Choose My First Handpan”?
3. Heat Treatment and Nitriding
🔥 Why heat the handpan?
The steel is subjected to heat treatment at around 400°C to:
✔️ Strengthen its structure and stabilize tuning.
✔️ Optimize the resonance and duration of notes.
✔️ Improve its resistance to temperature variations.
Then, in the case of a nitride handpan, nitrogen is sprayed onto the surface to strengthen the steel and slow down oxidation.
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4. Tuning: The Art of the Maker
Tuning is the most complex and crucial step. A good handpanist can hear a wrong note immediately, but only an experienced craftsman can tune a handpan perfectly.
🎵 How do you tune a handpan?
- Each note is shaped by precise hammering, giving rise to the vibrant zones (the “tone fields”).
- Each note produces three main frequencies :
✔️ The root (the main sound of the note).
✔️ The octave (a higher harmonic).
✔️ The fifth (another harmonic enriching the timbre). - The tuning is adjusted several times throughout the process to ensure perfect stability.
⚠️ A poorly tuned handpan will sound out of tune and have interference between notes.
👉 That’s why it’s best to invest in a quality instrument made by an experienced craftsman!
Your free eBooK “Everything you need to know about the Handpan”
5. The Assembly of the Two Hulls
Once the notes are tuned, the upper shell (with the notes) is assembled with the lower shell (where the “Gu”, the resonance orifice, is located).
🔧 Two assembly techniques exist:
✔️ Bonding with a special resin, allowing good sealing and better stability.
✔️ Welding, used by some manufacturers, although less common.
The Gu, in addition to releasing air and sound, can be tuned to produce an extra note, often used to create percussive effects.
6. Finishes and Protection
Once assembled, the handpan receives its final finishes :
✅ Oiling or protective lacquer to prevent oxidation.
✅ Final tuning tests to make sure everything is perfect.
✅ Polishing and checking for defects.
Each instrument is unique, and no two handpans sound exactly like another. This is what makes it a magical and personal instrument.
Summary of the Key Steps in Making a Handpan
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Choice of steel | Selection of nitrided or stainless steel. |
| 2. Dome forming | Hammering or stamping of steel sheet. |
| 3. Heat treatment | Heating to 400°C to stabilize the steel. |
| 4. Tuning | Precise tuning of each note and harmonic. |
| 5. Assembly | Fixing the two hulls and creating the Gu. |
| 6. Finishes | Oiling, polishing and final tests. |
Why is a Handpan So Expensive?
The price of a handpan varies between 1200€ and 3000€ on average. What for?
✔️ Handcrafted : each handpan requires 40 to 50 hours of work.
✔️ Quality of materials : the steel used is specially selected and treated.
✔️ Precise tuning : a long process carried out by experienced craftsmen.
✔️ Unique sound : each instrument is a piece of sound art, with its own identity.
⚠️ A low-cost handpan (less than 1000€) is often of poor quality : fast detuning, metallic sound, industrial manufacturing… It is better to invest in a real handcrafted instrument.
Conclusion: An Instrument Made with Passion
Making a handpan is a precise, time-consuming and delicate process. Each instrument is unique and sounds different depending on the craftsmanship of its creator.
👉 If you want a quality handpan that is suitable for beginners, check out our selection on Bapst Handpan and find one that resonates with you. 🎶✨
Charles Bapst is a creative and passionate entrepreneur, behind projects like Bapst Handpan, Le Monde d’Isis (well-being), and Bapst Technologies (SEO & Technology). Despite pigmentary retinopathy, he transforms each challenge into an opportunity, building a universe aligned with his passions and convictions.
Guided by intuition and harmony, he invites you to follow his credo: “Do what you love ❤️.”
Follow Charles:
Hey, I’m Charles Bapst. I created a comparison of Handpans for beginners, do you want to see it?
Charles Bapst is the founder of Bapst Handpan, Le Monde d’Isis and Bapst Technologies. Why is he involved in so many projects? Following the diagnosis of retinopathy pigmentosa, Charles chose to transform this ordeal into a driving force. He decided to adapt his work environment to focus only on subjects that fascinate him and that make him tick.
Among his inspirations, he likes to recall that:
“Intuition is a driving force for the future.”
And he encourages everyone with this philosophy:
“Do what you love ❤️”.
My Handpan store:
- Artisanal quality, for a durable and ethical instrument, perfectly tuned.
- Enchanting sounds and ease of use, perfect for meditation or musical exploration.
- Ideal for beginner, with intuitive handling and resources to get you started.
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