A handpan is not merely an instrument — it is a living object of steel that breathes with its environment. Nitrided steel (Ember Steel), the material used in all Enixpan handpans, is naturally resistant to corrosion thanks to its nitride surface layer. But no steel is completely immune to the effects of sweat, moisture, and neglect. A few simple habits, repeated consistently, are all that stands between a handpan that sings beautifully for thirty years and one that develops rust patches within months.
This guide covers everything you need to know — from what to do after every session to what to do if rust does appear.
After Each Playing Session
This is the single most important habit you can build. Every time you play, your hands deposit sweat, oils, and microscopic particles onto the steel surface. Left uncleaned, these accelerate oxidation — especially in warm or humid climates. The good news is that the remedy takes less than two minutes.
Wipe the entire surface with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Work in gentle circular motions across all tonal fields, the Ding, the gu (bottom shell), and the rim. Pay particular attention to the edges of the tonal fields where sweat tends to collect.
Remove all fingerprints and moisture. Even prints from clean, dry hands leave acidic residue. Make sure the surface looks uniformly matte and clean before storing the instrument.
Store in its protective bag. Never leave the handpan exposed on a stand or surface overnight. The bag protects against dust, accidental contact, and temperature fluctuations.
Never use paper towels, kitchen roll, or rough cloths. These are abrasive enough to leave micro-scratches in the steel surface over time, which can actually accelerate corrosion. Always use a dedicated soft microfibre cloth — the same kind used for cleaning camera lenses or eyeglasses.
Monthly Maintenance — Coconut Oil
Beyond the daily wipe-down, your handpan needs a periodic oil treatment to replenish the protective layer on the steel surface. This is the step most new owners neglect — and it is the one that matters most for long-term rust prevention.
Fractionated coconut oil is the gold standard for handpan maintenance. It is food-safe, odourless, light enough not to leave a sticky residue, and it does not affect tuning. It absorbs cleanly into the steel without pooling, and its natural fatty acid composition provides excellent corrosion protection.
How to apply coconut oil
- Make sure the handpan surface is clean and dry before starting.
- Apply a few drops of fractionated coconut oil to a clean microfibre cloth — not directly onto the instrument.
- Work the oil across the entire surface in small circular motions, covering all tonal fields, the Ding, and the gu.
- Wait 3–5 minutes for the oil to penetrate the steel.
- Buff off all excess with a second clean, dry cloth. The surface should look barely treated — matte and slightly satin, not shiny or greasy.
How often? Every 2–3 months in dry, temperate climates. Every 4–6 weeks in coastal, tropical, or humid environments. If you play outdoors often or sweat heavily during sessions, err on the side of more frequent treatment.
Oils to avoid
Never use olive oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, or any food-grade oil that is not fractionated. These go rancid over time, leaving a film that smells unpleasant and can actually promote bacterial growth and staining on the steel. Mineral oil (baby oil) is sometimes used but tends to leave a residue that attracts dust. Stick to fractionated coconut oil — it is the recommendation of the vast majority of professional handpan makers worldwide.
Protecting from Humidity & Heat
The two greatest environmental threats to your handpan are excessive humidity (which accelerates rust) and excessive heat (which can affect tuning stability). Both are easily managed with a few sensible habits.
Humidity
- Never store in a basement, bathroom, or any room that feels damp. Choose a dry, ventilated space — ideally somewhere with stable temperature and humidity.
- Consider silica gel sachets inside the bag. Small food-grade silica gel packets placed inside the handpan bag absorb ambient moisture and significantly extend the intervals between oil treatments. Replace or recharge them every 3–6 months.
- After playing outdoors in humid or rainy conditions, wipe the instrument thoroughly and let it air for 15–20 minutes before bagging it, to prevent moisture from being trapped inside the bag.
Heat
- Never leave your handpan in a car in summer. Interior car temperatures can exceed 70°C on a hot day — well above the threshold at which a handpan's tuning can begin to drift. Even an hour in a hot car can cause subtle but permanent pitch changes to the most sensitive tonal fields.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight. Playing outdoors in the sun for a short session is fine, but never leave the instrument sitting in direct sunlight between songs or during breaks.
- Allow the handpan to acclimatise before playing if it has been stored somewhere significantly colder or warmer than the room you are about to play in. Give it 15–30 minutes to reach ambient temperature — the steel will sound more stable.
Transporting Your Handpan
A handpan is a precision instrument that has been tuned note by note, often to within fractions of a Hz. Physical shocks can detune individual tonal fields, and the damage is not always immediately obvious — sometimes a hard impact causes a subtle loss of resonance that only becomes apparent weeks later.
- Always use the protective bag. Never transport a handpan in a bare carrier, a standard backpack, or wrapped in a towel. The padded bag designed for the instrument is not optional.
- Never stack objects on top of the bag. If the handpan is in the boot of a car, make sure nothing can fall or be placed on it during transit.
- Avoid checking the handpan as hold luggage on aeroplanes. Baggage handlers are not delicate, and the pressure and temperature changes in an aircraft hold are not ideal for a precision-tuned instrument. If you must fly with your handpan, carry it as cabin baggage whenever possible. If the instrument is too large for the overhead locker, contact the airline in advance to arrange special handling.
- On public transport, hold the bag between your legs or in your lap rather than in an overhead rack where it could fall.
What to Do If Rust Appears
Despite all precautions, rust can occasionally appear — particularly on instruments that have been stored in humid conditions or neglected for a period. The key is to act quickly: surface rust caught early is entirely treatable. Deep, pitting rust is a different matter.
Fine surface rust (orange tint, no pitting)
This is the most common type and is easily resolved at home:
- Apply a small amount of fractionated coconut oil to the affected area.
- Using 0000-grade (ultra-fine) steel wool, rub the rusted area gently in circular motions. Use minimal pressure — you are polishing, not sanding.
- Wipe away the residue with a clean microfibre cloth.
- Apply a fresh coat of coconut oil to the treated area and let it absorb for 5 minutes, then buff off.
- Repeat if necessary, but in most cases a single treatment is sufficient.
0000-grade steel wool only. Any coarser grade will leave visible scratches in the steel. 0000 is sometimes labelled "super fine" or "0000 finishing grade" and is available at most hardware stores.
Deep rust (pitting or flaking)
If the rust has penetrated below the surface of the nitrided layer — visible as pitting, flaking, or a rough texture that does not respond to light polishing — do not attempt to treat it yourself. At this stage, the structural integrity of the steel may be compromised, and aggressive treatment can worsen the damage. Contact a professional handpan maker or tuner for assessment. In some cases, light re-nitriding or professional polishing can restore the instrument; in severe cases, the affected tonal field may need to be re-tuned after treatment.
Prevention is always better than treatment
The best rust treatment is the one you never need. Wiping your handpan after every session and oiling it every 2–3 months takes less than 10 minutes per month in total — and it guarantees that your instrument stays in perfect condition for decades. Every minute spent on maintenance is an hour of rust removal avoided.
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