Skin tension problem with frame drum

Question

I own a frame drum with a rawhide skin tacked on. Recently the skin tension dropped quite significantly. I know this might be due to temperature or humidity.

Is there a way to tighten the skin without re-tacking the skin? Perhaps by wetting the skin?

Thanks

Answer 1

Wetting the skin will loosen it further. The only thing you can do is dry it out, for instance over a woodstove- something I had to do at a concert once. But eventually, the only solution is to re-tack it. Drums you can tighten the heads of- with srews, strings, wedges, or whatever- are easier to keep in tension, but more expensive.