How To Take Care Of Your Conga Heads

Just wanted to take some time to show you the product I use to take care of my Conga Heads.
As well as letting you hear the difference in sound it makes after applying the Manteca de Corojo (Palm Oil).
Also, wanted to give you an update on the bongo heads I just put on and the heads I put on my Tumbas... Can't wait for you guys to hear them in their fullness.
*SOUND DEMOS AT:
4:40
8:29
10:24
11:42
Manteca de Corojo (Palm Oil)- amzn.to/2Ug8B2R
I hope y'all enjoy this one. Tell me what you think...
I'm using:
My Conga- amzn.to/2pkq3oM
My Bongos- amzn.to/2yT59lW
My Throne- amzn.to/2sl8XZU
My Ring- amzn.to/2Gy9PDl
My Shekere- www.mobetamusic.com
My Heads- www.manitopercussion.com
My Main Camera- amzn.to/2rkhFGC
My Second Camera- amzn.to/2F67StK
My Main Mic - amzn.to/2AwUFGM
My Lighting - amzn.to/2IsHqep
My Other Camera- amzn.to/2CvX9ah
My Main Lens- amzn.to/2qwcc20
My Second Lens- amzn.to/2CvHsQk
My Cheap Mic- amzn.to/2CIoXfw
My Recording Mic- amzn.to/2CWmxGX
My Gig Mic- amzn.to/2D0e2KY
My Audio Interface- amzn.to/2qykfeR
InEarz- IE-P350
Channel Logo- www.paulmdougherty.com/
Follow me at:
Instagram- / ericperezperc
Facebook- / eric.perez.311
Twitter- / eric_conga

[@joelebron7382]

Eric, Palm oil seems to work great. However, I've used liquefied coconut oil which also works very nicely. In fact, coconut oil has traditionally been used for numerous skin, scalp and various other treatments by different world cultures. The coco oil penetrates the conga heads deeply and for a long time.

[@moonquake1967]

Joe Lebron and the orangutangs appreciate it! 😀

[@mozilla2576]

I received my first set of bongos the other day. And after watching this video....i had already ordered my Manteca de Corojo palm oil. I played my bongos for a couple of days...and to be honest...they rang like a bell instead of like a bongo. The heads were rough and splintery. I spent three days rubbing in the Manteca de Corojo....small amounts at a time. And I can say...the heads feel and sound soooooo much better after about 3 days. I didn't want to over do things....so small amounts twice a day was how I did things. At day 3...I can totally feel and hear a huge difference. I have to imagine...the heads were dry as hell. Thanks for the great recommendation and instruction on this item. I highly recommend lubricating the heads of your bongo. Rock On!

[@ralphcepeto1982]

Thank you Eric for the great tutotials and share those secrets about how to take care of the Conga Heads, Thanks.

[@LeonDeVoseII]

And I love your passion for the craft!!!

[@ralphcepeto1982]

I really appreciate all your work, effort, etc.

[@LeonDeVoseII]

Thank you, Eric. I have used shea in the past, but I will try the palm oil. I have played since before kindergarten, learning from my father. He was lead drummer for the Essex County African Dance Society during the 60s and 70s. He is now 83, and I have yet to hear hands that excel his. At any rate, I have only recently, like the past 10 years, come to believe that my music and skills are marketable. At 13 I picked up sax as my lead voice, and started composing in the 2000s. Therefore, I am only now tuning in to sites like yours to get tips and pointers to improve my play and maintain my instruments at optimum playability. I use rosin also, because it seems to give me a crisper sound, conditions my hands for playing and being a dry treatment, does not prevent me from doing slides and other sounds. I just got my first order from Manito, a cow head for my vintage 1990s Toca Players quinto. It is mounted and drying now, but already I love even the low-tuned sound. I can hardly wait until I can crank this baby up and play her at normal tone. I will be listening again. Again, thanks!

[@cornelllewis5919]

I was skeptical of using the Manteca De Corojo on my Congas. I tried the treatment and noticed the drums looked better and cleaner. The drums sounded different after letting the ointment dry. Thank you my brother. Cornell

[@williamrivera6818]

Great job they look good

[@mYcRaZyLiFe95]

Eric I love your tutorial about putting manteca de corojo on the congas and bongo skins , my dad always to me about that method when I was a kid , and told me that this method would give my heads a longer life span maintence wise.

[@lpsalsaman]

Awesome looking Bro, really nice work on the heads! They look really good on both the congas and bongos.

[@APercussionLife]

lpsalsaman thanks brother!!!

[@phillyman5000]

Thanks so much for your awesome videos!! Just ordered Manteca De Corojo lube!!! I am fairly newer to playing congas. (yes, I know their are different names for different size heads). Had a starter Pearl Primero set of congas and recently sold them and just got a set of LP Uptown Quinto and Tumba (Conga size is on back order til May). Really love my LP Uptowns!! The are made so well!! Thank you again for your excellent videos which I will continue to watch and learn from a master like you! Doubt I'll ever be even close to as good as you playing them but it sure is fun trying! Stay well!! :) Now onto adding some Manteca De Corojo to the heads!!!

[@georgecline276]

You have a really nice right hand slap. I studied for a long time and then stopped playing for a long time. Trying to get my chops back up. You're going to be an inspiration for me. Thank you for the video

[@oldmanofcotati]

Just got my TOca Conga's out of storage and their beautiful travel cases; 16 years. Still have the hang-tags on them. I guess they are made from blonde oak. I'm an old old singer guitar player from San Francisco. But I'm excited to play these after listening to this nice young man play. Wow. Beautiful sound. But first I will order the Palm oil cream "Manteca de Carojo". Thank you for this great video. -- Lazoma Chavez-Walton.

[@tanmoybanerjee4922]

Great Lesson! It is very Important to Take Care of things that are close to U! Knowing the way to Care for it makes Your effect fruitful! Thank U Sir! Thank U Sir!

[@APercussionLife]

Very well Said!!! Thank you!

[@tanmoybanerjee4922]

Thank U for Guiding Us!

[@joeykarateka]

I enjoy your videos and your awesome enthusiasm. Thank you for sharing. On this matter of conditioning the skins I’d like to add. There is nothing really special about Manteca de Corojo. In Africa they prefer Shea butter (Karite), and many pros use lanolin instead. The tradition of Corojo comes from Santeria. Depending on your family tree and the specific ceremony you would use a red substance (Corojo) or a white substance (karite). They both moisturize the leather. However, if your intent is for the leather not to lose the moisture that is within it, then you want to use lanolin which seals moisture that is already there. The Manteca de corojo thing is overstated. I hope this information is useful, thank you.

[@andrewsalmon9627]

Well i can tell you that when you treat the inside of the skin they sound eeeeeeven better still man aaaaamaaaaazing!!!!

[@kfelix2934]

I also use Palm oil on my heads for bongo and congas. It help preserve the heads and condition the heads. For 1929able we ave alternatives like coconut oil or blends of both, but as he stated they are skins and needs to be condition.

[@Raysmusicchannel]

Thanks for the info brother

[@alexshams8694]

Thank you brother for your videos. I am learning a lot from you. How often should skin be smeared on kongs? Thank you.

[@jbjohna]

Just ordered from Amazon, thanks.

[@APercussionLife]

Awesome! Let me know what you think!

[@91Terez]

That necklace && color 😍👍🏾

[@chrispantazi81]

Can’t seem to find it anymore, but, toca made a pure lanolin treatment oil that was great. I am a big fan of “bag balm” which also contains lanolin. However, definitely need to try this “corojo”. Another great video! Keep on rockin’ Eric

[@joegonzalez2481]

Oh I love your lessons. On your congas. Because I learn. Ftom every conga. Player. On youtube. Likie. DANCEING. PAPI. HIS VIDEOS. ON KZbin

[@hectorlugo7832]

Hi Eric. I’m new to this and love your videos but How long do you let them dry.

[@hectorrivera2624]

I have used Shea butter and it works well also.

[@augiedelharo1321]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@LuisTorres-zg8er]

Profe, I got the palm oil, thanks! One question, do you have a video on how to take care of the rims, specially the "gold" plated ones? I got spots all over and don't know whether I should use Brasso, or some other method so that I don't erode the plating.

[@KwandoRay]

Eric, I use, Pure Lanolin Cream, Have you tried that? And what is your opinion? Great Videos, keep up the good work! Ray

[@surfer103]

Yo uso Aceite de Culebra. Trabaja phenomenal!!! I am going to try corojo.

[@APercussionLife]

Vaya!!!!!

[@jeremypoythress4995]

A good cleaner for real and synthetic heads I use is pam cooking spray.also works good as a leather conditioner and/or gun cleaner.

[@carlosrivera2788]

After applying the palm oil, how long should you let them dry for before playing? By the way, excellent videos!

[@johndobbins1105]

Bear grease works great for me

[@GuitarKitchen]

What about on other (under) side of the the congaheads? Thanks!

[@vaslav030547]

GET ON WITH IT!

[@jazzfusionaire]

Eric,I just picked up some Manito heads for my LP's,But I've got a little problem with them and that is the edges of them are sticking up way to high when I play and practically almost cut my hand.When I check yours out in this video.They're perfect! Did you have to trim them also? What would be the safest way to trim them without damaging them.Peace

[@channel6a]

Hi Eric - I don't play my Congas on the regular so I wanted to find out how often do you apply the manteca de corojo to your drums and what you recommend for those that are beginners and don't play as often...I play them maybe once a month and it's just for practicing as I still need to develop

[@KenMarc1970]

Those skins are legit, where could i buy them?

[@deweywise5573]

I'm new to conga 's and playing them. use to play a full set of acoustic drums but took up too much space in home. so i got a double pair of these. where do i buy this oil ?

[@jpspira8651]

Eric, I'm a new subscriber and love your channel. I've watched dozens of your videos in the two weeks since I subscribed. I watched this video and started using the palm oil you recommended on my conga heads and it works perfectly--thank you for the suggestion. However, I've been reading a lot lately about how destructive and unethical the palm oil industry is environmentally and in the humanitarian context. Expansion of plantations for Palm oil production is driving a lot of deforestation. Animals in the targeted area are often burned alive in the fires used to clear forested land. The industry also has a tendency to exploit plantation workers and child laborers. I'm sorry to raise such a sad issue in a discussion on something as beautiful and uplifting as percussion instruction, but we all have a responsibility to do what we can to make this world a better place. Some of the comments to this thread mention coconut oil as a good alternative. Are there any other alternatives you could recommend?

[@acousticguitarforever3204]

How is the maintenance of synthetic head congas

[@jamesdarylthomas3684]

I'm in U.S.A.,can you tell me where can in some Manteca de Corojo( Palm Oil) Pittsburgh Pa 15221 or anything else that would work Thanks 👍

[@Tapanova]

New to the Conga. I’m recently acquired a 10 yrs old set that have rawhide heads. Palm oil on those as well? Sorry, I am a newbie.

[@doorraeymaekers6328]

Thanks for the great tutorials, How often do you oil your skins? every week, every time you play, once a year? saludos desde Holanda

[@APercussionLife]

Door Raeymaekers I try to do them once or twice a year... or if I start noticing the heads feel way too dry.

[@nstv23]

A Percussion Life has anyone ever used coconut oil ?

[@bongoscongasantiquecashreg4544]

I will get some palm oil! Shay butter ok but I will go what you use for I want my bongos & congas to last a long time & don't mind that you have to re tune them for that is the percussion life!

[@angeloavilla6421]

I would like to buy some and where can u get it. Can u write the name and where can i get it in line. Thank you mijo. Bless u.

[@1fjz]

Would saddle soap do the same thing.

[@thaalamusicacademykandy8657]

Bro hi , can I it using for bongo also ?

[@vocalistkampung]

is this works for fiberskyn too? i use evans fiberskyn

[@daves485]

Back in the days we used to use extra virgin olive oil, even soaking both sides! I didn’t see anything in the comments about it. Did I miss something? Was this a bad idea lol? I’m 60 and been out of the loop for a while and I know things change, still have my congas, last time I did it was 2002, they seemed to be ok.

[@andrewsalmon9627]

Hello Eric so i have treated my skins about a week a go and wow they sound so much better soooo much better and most of my drum heads are not too old but some needed atention.And then im sitting here tonight and thought well what if you take the head off completely and treat the under side of the skin too.... I will let you know how this goes but surely this must benefit the skin

[@APercussionLife]

Andrew Salmon yesssss!!! The sound difference is very noticeable! Glad you liked it!

[@croonerdude]

I was wondering how did it go with using Manteca on the bottom of the skins. Any difference?

[@darbukaflores]

Hey eric, so it seems they get lower after applying the oil, do they get to their normal pitch after sometime or do you have to tune them up? Saludos

[@APercussionLife]

Alejandro Lopez you have to tune them up again...

[@richardamsterdam7542]

Alejandro, no, you just ruined your conga head. Best is NOT to put anything on the conga head. After leaving the factory it is treated already. And if you put anything on is, it will lose the tone. You think it sounds lower, but actually the tone has lost its power. Dont’t mess with already good sounding instruments. If you think you need replacement, just buy another one. So dont get mesmerized by promises made that your instrument gets taken care of better, whil in fact you just damage the product. So now you know and succes for the next time.

[@Raysmusicchannel]

I just subscribed

[@danielkrawiec9859]

Do you ever treat the underside of the head?

[@nstv23]

can I use for cow and goat djembe?

[@Dave_The_Beatmaker]

Will it help reducing the overtones of my hembra? Man your Meinl Bongo looks delicious, I am really diggin them skins. Where did you get them from? Thanks in advance

[@APercussionLife]

I don’t think the lotion does much affect on the sound of the drum… just on the feeling of the skin… now the kind of skin you put on will definitely change that! and the skins I have are from Manito Percussion

[@jamesdarylthomas3684]

How can I get some of this cream from the u.s.a. Pittsburgh Pa 15221 raw high Thanks Be Safe God Blessing 2 All

[@davewebb9452]

Newbie here. I like you. You use that hipster/slacker language that makes other people doing like poseurs, but you're genuine. And you're clearly in love with your drums. I just picked up a used pair (conga and tumba) that have been sitting for years. I want to rejuvenate the skins instead of replacing them if I can. They're pretty loose now. Should I loosen them a little more before using palm oil or will that cause cracking?

[@davewebb9452]

*sound* like poseurs.

[@feliciajennings4398]

I need help tuning my bongos. I'm new to trying to play the bongos. I did some quarter round turns to each but I am still not hearing that crisp sound for the bongos. Thank you for your help.

[@asbel65]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2mQg52krbFra7M

[@juanortiz1955]

Eric, is the best way to apply it when the heads are tuned? Also, whats the thickness of the skins on your Conga Drum and Tumbadora Drum?

[@APercussionLife]

Juan Ortiz I would say “slightly” tuned.... not all the way tuned but enough where the head isn’t soooo loose. And the Conga is about a 2mm and the Tumbas are about 2.2-2-4mm

[@juanortiz1955]

Thank you Eric for your response. I just purchased the Manteca de Corojo as well as a set of Dark Brown skins from Manito. Can’t wait to use them both.

[@nestorjovan]

Cada cuanto tiempo sugieres aplicar la manteca, recomiendas aplicarla a los parches de cuero LP Hand Picked que usualmente vienen con las congas LP Classic? Saludos desde Veracruz, México¡¡¡

[@APercussionLife]

Lo menos una vez al año... Y tambien se puede usar con esos parches. Yo lo usaba con esos cueros tambien.

[@jonassantana6480]

Olá dá pra colocar legenda em português, Pra que nos brasileiros possamos entender as suas explicações??

[@bongosabroso]

Pa la BOTANICA VOY!!!!....HAHAHAHA....I woooonder who influenced u to do a vid on corojoooo? Hahahahahaha

[@APercussionLife]

HAHAHAH Buuuueeeeno!

[@sunrise77ful]

Eric, those conga heads are beautiful even before the oil .. What are they made of?

[@APercussionLife]

Hey Rebecca! These are Dark Steer skins

[@patiohomesheatherwood8212]

What about the wood? cleaning/care?

[@cesarjain]

Hey Eric! I wanted to ask you a question. I recently bought a pair of LP 35th anniversary Quinto and Conga. They came with Remo synthetic heads and sound pretty good. Are there some heads you recommend I buy? I always thought synthetic would sound better but now I'm not really sure. I would appreciate your opinion on this. Thank you. (I play cumbia!)

[@APercussionLife]

Great question… conga heads are all a matter of preference and the sound you’re looking for…. Remo synthetic heads are great if you’re play outside or if you’re playing a lot and are trying to conserve your hands… if you were looking for rawhide (a more natural sound) then my personal preference is Steer skin… Manito Percussion has great options

[@cesarjain]

@@APercussionLife Hey Eric, thank you so much for your reply. It helps a lot!

[@dennisshaikewitz916]

Eric, are your heads tightened up or loose when you do this.

[@APercussionLife]

Dennis Ben Shakh I would say “slightly” tuned.... not all the way tuned but enough where the head isnt soooo loose.

[@jamesdarylthomas3684]

For next time taking care of conga heads can you spell the name of the palm oil thanks be safe God bless each and everyone

[@asbel65]

Hey, Does this work for Bongos? I have Tycoon Percussion Supremo Series Bongos

[@APercussionLife]

Asbel Rodriguez yes it will! I put it on my Bongos as well.

[@brentbreault7606]

I want to play like you!

[@percussionz]

I’m from Malaysia & my country are on the Equator line like Indonesia & some other countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil & etc which means that my country is humid... So, can you recommend other brands or products or any types of oil for the drumheads?

[@samidsyah]

salma palm oil

[@Gk2003m]

I have LP Gen 2 bongos since 1988. Never oiled the skins. They sound great. That said, it pays for all of us to grasp that the process of mounting skins requires they soak in water for some hours. That process of course is not the best thing for them. So I don’t know the answers here, but a bit of oil to offset the drying of years (or decades) might not be a bad thing.

[@Gk2003m]

So I did it. The big bongo head got taken off yesterday, and coconut oil (congealed in a jar, but liquefies when your body heat touches it) applied all over including the unplayed side. Did likewise with my CP 11” conga. The residual oil on my hands got rubbed on the playing surfaces of all the other hand drums. Remounted and tuned the CP conga, and the overtones have diminished. This is a GOOD THING. I’ll let the bongo head rest a few days, then tune it up.

[@JorgeRodriguez-sd7yf]

And you took the skins off to give the bongos a tune-up after not being played for long? I just bought 2nd hand 2nd gen bongos and I want to give them some love before putting them to work Would like to hear your thoughts 😊

[@hawkrider88]

Question out of context if you don't mind. Are there one or two drums that are considered the holy grail? Would they be newer drums or old vintage drums that may have belonged to pros that have been passed down to other world class players? As a set drummer, there are a few cymbals that have been passed down from jazz drummer to jazz drummer and other drummers know what they are, why they are special, what albums they appeared on and who owns them now. Just wondered? Thanks, love your videos.

[@APercussionLife]

hawkrider88 very good question!!! Well.... for a lot of people some Vintage Valje congas are considered “grails”... as well as some good Junior Tirado Congas.... or SOS congas... the grail is more based on the fact that they aren’t made anymore or made the same way.... I loved the old Meinl Woodcraft German made congas from the 80s... those were crazy.... or some LP PP Classics fiberglass were my grails.

[@MrRljohnson77]

I am a relatively new player. I would think the honor of having a vintage piece handed down would be overwhelming. It would be like your grandfather handing down his favorite .Sometimes you go with what is right not what is always best. I hope that made sense.

[@LeonDeVoseII]

It seems like you have started a sub-thread. Twelve years ago, I stumbled across a 1936 Conn 6M alto sax. It is featured in Barbara Kukla's book Swing City, with its original owner, T.O. Swangin, a swing saxist during the heyday of the Newark, NJ, jazz scene which rivaled what was going on across the Hudson River. The horn changed my life. It is one of the factors that made me seem my talent and work as marketable. From the way I acquired it to what it sparked in my life, this horn is my "Holy Grail". According to T.O.'s widow, the horn was borrowed by Billy Eckstine for a local gig. Eckstine was not a saxist, but he had employed a rather notable sax man, one Charlie "Bird" Parker who during the period in question was still long on talent but short on instruments. He kept selling them for drugs. Is it possible that I am blowing into the same pipe that this late great one did?

[@georgecline276]

@@APercussionLife Valjes are fantastic! Have you ever played with vintage Gon Bops ? I managed to get a hold of a couple and restore them. Lol My first set I got off of eBay and didn't do research. They were called Zimgar. When I got them I was really disappointed. Really thin fiberglass. I think they sold him a Kmart years ago in the '70s. I managed to strengthen one up by adding more fiberglass and it's actually not bad. The awesome thing about it is it's so light to carry around to gigs.

[@CONGAKING123]

Eric, advise please, debating between a 11 inch quinto and a 10 inch quinto, im incline for the 10 inch, which one do you recomend? Thanks.

[@APercussionLife]

Personally for me.... I’d do an 11” Quinto... my hands aren’t that small so I know I’d have more room to do more on an 11” Quinto vs a 10”... 11” Quinto is also very versatile

[@CONGAKING123]

@@APercussionLife thanks

[@bcheesman77]

Eric, how often do you apply that to your heads? Thanks

[@APercussionLife]

it really depends.... but I try to get the feel of the head... so if it feels too dry... then I apply this.

[@Raysmusicchannel]

How long do i have to wait til I can play the bongos after I apply the corojo? One or two days?

[@APercussionLife]

Depends on the room it’s drying in and how thick the skin is but about 48-72 hours

[@horacedouglas4534]

Wooooooo!

[@alexlaureano17]

Eric!!! Is this the same as palm oil? How often you do you use it? Saludos

[@APercussionLife]

It is Palm Oil... the texture is a bit different which works great on conga heads. I try to do maintenance on my drums every 6 months or so... so I analyze the head then to see if it needs it or not...

[@ikeeptime]

Another option...When you play and find your hands moist, swirl hands around drumheads to spread the oils evenly. Do this after exercise or after any activity making your hands sweat. The change will be much much more gradual. But that process is worth it if you have patience. And the change is progressive... unlike coating a head with the large amount of oil you used.

[@Michael-Oh]

Some people don't have oilily hands when playing, I really have dry hands. But your skin oils are acidic and can damage your heads over time.

[@roliventura4523]

I have a question what is the name of that cream.

[@fredericinduni]

manteca de corojo

[@feliciajennings4398]

Do you need to put it on the bongos heads also? Thank you

[@APercussionLife]

Yes you should. Keeps the heads healthy

[@feliciajennings4398]

Thank you so much for sharing your gift.

[@louisjuarez9084]

This video helped but where can I find "Manteca de Corojo" ?

[@proverbalizer]

Palm oil is red, can anyone explain why this is yellow?

[@johngalan9265]

Anyone looking to buy the same 2oz cream jar please compare prices. Walmart is almost $3 dollars cheaper than Amazon on line? Just saying... thank you Eric!

[@APercussionLife]

John Galan uffff!!! Now that’s A Deal!!! Thank you!!!

[@rzxuumjoty2824]

Where can I find this Manteca Del carajo

[@APercussionLife]

rzxuu mjoty I put the link in the description of the video! Thank you!

[@azarellediaz4892]

I just started attending a new church, they have a set of LP congas but no conga players. The heads look likely have never been treated at all, how should I treat those heads so they don’t get too much COROJO and become weak? 3:50 you call your large drum a quinto (5th) but that is actually a Tumba. The quinto is the smallest of the ensamble, at least that is how I learned them over 50 years ago. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga#:~:text=The%20tumba%20or%20salidor%20is,inches%20across%20(24.8%20cm).

[@MrRljohnson77]

How often do you do this to your heads?

[@APercussionLife]

Rick Johnson maybe once or twice a year... of if I see the heads getting too dry

[@MrRljohnson77]

Thank you. Love your videos.

[@cjferro_percussions]

Hi Eric, where you buy this?

[@APercussionLife]

Here amzn.to/2Ug8B2R

[@joegonzalez2481]

I have. LP. HAND. PICK. HEADS ON. MY. .( LP. SANTANA.) LP. COLLECTORS. SANTANA. ALBUM. AFRICAN SPEAK. CONGAS. ALL. 3 OFF. THEM. THE PRODUCT. YOUR USEING FOR YOUR CONGAS. HEADS. IS IT GOOD FOR MY. LP CONGAS. HEADS. AS LONG. THEIR MADE OFF. LP HAND PICKED . LEATHER HEADS?

[@gumobe55]

Hi man, love your playing & love your tutorials. But the use of palm oil products is leading to the extinction of the Orangutan - as far as I know all palm oil products come from the trees of the forests that Orangutans live in. The trees are cut down to get the stuff. Please look at some other product!

[@fredericinduni]

Manteca de Corojo is made with a palm tree that comes from Cuba. The Palm oil you think avout comes from West Africa, it is a very high quality and healthy oil that has been used there for centuries for cooking, skin care, religious offering (it is considered food of gods) and... drumskin care. We can't give up this precious product just because Indonesia and Malaysia have decided to cut down their rainforest to grow it. They grow that because it is the most profitable thing, if we boycott that, they will grow the next-most-profitable thing instead, it won't bring back rainforest nor orang utan. First they cut forest to sell timber, than they use the land for farming, it's the whole development model that is problematic. In fact palm it is the most productive plant for oil, so if we switched to others like rapeseed we would need 3x more land to get the same amount of oil, not a better option is it. The real problem is not Palm, it is deforestation, unreglemented insecticides and the process of hydrogenation that makes this great oil unhealthy in industrial food for the sake of money.

[@richardamsterdam7542]

Do NOT(!) oil or put anything on your conga head. You will lose the tone IMMEDIATELY. I placed new LP congaheads and they sound great. Of course it is tempting when someone says ‘to take care of your congas’. But again, you will lose the tone. So don’t do anything on your conga heads. After leaving the factory it is treated already. I had to come and make this comment to be of a help to my co-musicians. Tone is important, so keep it clean and don’t be tempted by promising words. But in fact it will ruin your sound. Dont do nothing and if you need another conga head, just buy a new one

[@karolienverheyen7168]

I think coconut oil is better. Palm oil has too much environmental issues...

[@mangospeed-wagon5849]

save the jungle and don't yous palm oil use the coco one insted, seriosly animals from the jungle are the best

[@rajrajput8989]

Pl talk properly

[@1929able]

Brother I love you but I disagree with you on the use of palm oil. The devastation of rain forest and the negative effect on our planet is to great. As responsible human beings we need to search and find a safer means to condition our Drum heads. Palm oil is not it. With due respect. Peace

[@APercussionLife]

1929able thank you.... this was just brought to my attention.... I wasn’t aware on how destructive most of these companies have been conducting business... I’ll do another video of Coconut Oil which I’ve used in the past as well. Thank you!!! No offense taken!

[@hawkrider88]

Are you suggesting that palm trees are being over harvested or that the way the industry practices harvesting is doing long-term damage?

[@hawkrider88]

I looked up the answer to my now questions. It does appear this is a real global issue. The amount of Palm Oil used by conga players is meaningless...but obviously if after looking at all sides of this issue you decide to take a stand, you could start here. But to be fair, it appears that Palm Oil usage is huge in all sorts of industries and products and just not buying a bottle of hand creme probably won't have any effect at all. Changing policy will require people speaking to business and political leaders and insisting on changes.

[@derbeno]

Hope you don't use any bar soap in that case

[@manadadelobos1593]

@@APercussionLife Eric, any chance you can explain the use of coconut oil soon? The winter is doing a number on my heads and I would love to treat them without using palm oil. (Really just need to know about type to buy and whether to liquefy it before applying) Thanks so much for all your videos! They are always inspiring!

[@penol200]

Bro, me puedes enviar una de esas grasas para mis congas, acá eso no lo venden, yo vivo en Suecia. Saludos bro