GrindStix uses all American wood and our sticks are manufactured right here in the U.S. Our "Hickory Blast" series are designed with one thing in mind, Blasting!  We chose a common wood, diameter and length to tailor to the Metal Drumming community. Sure, you can go buy a set of Hickory drumsticks pretty much anywhere, but our products are strictly tailored to the relentless beatings you will be giving them! Our development process has covered all the main characteristics you look for in a stick: straightness, wood type, taper, length, balance, tone and durability.

Hickory is the most popular wood used today for drumstick manufacturing. This is true because Hickory is heavier, more Wood or Nylon Tips...dense & rigid than Maple and it can also absorb greater shock than other wood types. This reduces the strain and fatigue on both the hand & wrist. We are also very, very picky about the moisture content, in the "dowels" used to produce our line of sticks. Too much moisture can cause an almost "rubbery" feel and too little, produces a less durable stick. With all the knowledge and experience available for drumstick manufacturing today, you can rest easy, knowing that we have looked at, studied and are aware of it all! The result of all this, is the "Hickory Blast Series" from GrindStix.

The Manufacturing Process:

1. Dowel Selection: Every stick starts in the form of a dowel. Only the best dowels, within certain moisture guidelines, are accepted and used for the finished product.


2. Back Knife Lathing: Each model is lathed with it's own steel knife, designed specifically for that stick model.


3. Sanding: Each stick is then sanded with custom machinery to an exact tolerance.


4. Tip Shaping: The sticks are then inserted into a cylider, where a custom knife shapes each tip perfectly every time. This process has been perfected through delicate, precise, measurement. The finished product is identical tips on every stick!


5. Nylon Tip Applications: The next step utilizes a custom machine designed specifically for this process. The stick spins while even amounts of glue are applied to the area where the tip will become permanent. The tips are then placed on the stick using compressed air. I'd like to see you try and remove one!


6. Finish Coating: The sticks are then placed in a tumbler for the application of sealer and finish coating.


7. Straightness Checking: The sticks are then put through a primary, then secondary,  "roll" test. Any stick that is not 100% straight is removed!


8. Printing: The GrindStix logo and model name is currently printed on each stick by hand.


9. Pitch & Weight Matching: The tone and weights are then computer matched and "like" sticks are seperated by result.


10. Packing & Shipping: After all this, the sticks are individually sleeved, packed in bricks and shipped to their final destination. Your hands!