Handpan is a beautiful and valuable musical instrument. To enjoy it for a long time, it is essential to take good care of it.

I. Basic Care

  • It goes without saying that we must ensure the handpan does not fall to the ground and that nothing falls on it – in such cases, one or more tones will certainly go out of tune.
  • Always keep the handpan stored in a safe place.
  • Never touch the handpan with dirty hands – for example, after eating, with salt, etc.

II. Playing the Handpan

  • The handpan is played only with the fingers, not with the whole palms (as with a djembe). The handpan is not played with sticks either – they would damage the surface and affect the tuning of the tones.
  • Before playing, always remove any bracelets or metal or plastic objects from your hands.
  • Always play the handpan gently without strong or rough hits.

III. Humidity and Temperature

  • To prevent corrosion, it is necessary to protect the handpan as much as possible from moisture. Use a cloth to immediately remove any moisture. Prevent condensation by not leaving the handpan in its case and always placing it on a stand, cushion, or shelf.
  • Salt can accelerate the corrosion process. If you play, for example, at the beach, immediately clean the surface (including the inside) and store it in its case. Do not leave the handpan in a humid and salty environment for too long. Sea salt is very aggressive and can leave marks on the surface of the handpan. In this case, it is good to apply handpan oil, leave it on the surface overnight, and wipe it off in the morning.
  • Avoid extreme temperatures, do not leave the handpan exposed to direct sunlight or near a source of intense heat. Heat changes the tuning of the handpan – the good news is that this is only temporary. Once the handpan cools down again, its tuning returns to normal.

IV. Handpan Care

  • To keep our beautiful instrument in good condition, it is necessary to take care of it regularly. It is very useful to treat the handpan with oil often (or even after each playing session) (e.g., Phoenix oil). Oil protects the material against external influences (dirt, acidity, sweat, and grease from fingers – factors that can cause surface corrosion).
  • Drop a few drops of oil on the handpan and spread the oil evenly over the entire surface using a nano cloth. You can then wipe off the excess oil with a clean cloth.
  • What oil to use? You can use Phoenix handpan oil or possibly Balistol oil. Occasionally, olive, coconut, or sunflower oil can be used, but these oils can leave a slightly sticky surface. Therefore, apply only a thin layer of oil.

V. Cleaning the Handpan

  • For occasional cleaning of the handpan, we can use pure alcohol from the pharmacy. Soak a cloth with it, wipe the surface of the handpan, and then treat it again with oil.

The handpan is a very delicate metal musical instrument. However, if you take good care of it, it will bring you joy and inspiration for many years...