Noom Sound Studio · Guides · Handpan care
Handpan · Care guide
Wipe it, oil it, keep it dry. How to look after a stainless steel handpan in Koh Samui heat and humidity, based on what the major makers advise.
By Can, Noom Sound Studio, Koh Samui. Updated 3 October 2026. · ภาษาไทย
The short answer
Wipe your handpan after every session, add a thin layer of handpan oil every few weeks, store it dry and keep it out of the sun. That covers most of what a handpan needs.
Why it matters
Sweat, skin oil and salty air work on steel. Stainless steel resists rust well, and it can still cloud or lose colour without care. Makers such as Saraz ask players to wipe after each session for this reason.
After every session
Wipe the whole instrument with a soft, dry microfiber cloth: top, bottom and rim. Start each session with clean, dry hands.
Oil
Use an oil made for handpans. Ayasa names Phoenix Oil as its favourite. Saraz lists Isthmus Handpan Oil, Pure Sound Pan Wax, Phoenix Oil and Froglube.
Put a few drops on a clean microfiber cloth, spread a thin, even layer over the whole surface and wipe off the extra. Do this every two to four weeks, and after a sweaty session.
In a humid place like Koh Samui, start with every two weeks and adjust. Oil more often near the sea or after sweaty sessions, and less often while the surface stays clear.
Storage
Keep your handpan in its bag while you travel and whenever the room is dry. At home, a stand in an airy, dry room works well, and an open bag keeps air moving. Bags and cases can hold moisture, so put a silica gel pack inside.
A soft bag comes free with every Noom Starter handpan, and a hard case is available as an extra.
Tropical humidity
Dry the surface soon after you play, and after every sweaty session. An air-conditioned or well-ventilated room helps. A dehumidifier or silica gel keeps the air inside a bag or case dry.
Dry the handpan after rain or a day at the beach before it goes in the bag. Check the surface now and then. If you see a cloudy or orange spot, wipe it with a cloth and a little isopropyl alcohol, dry it, and add oil.
Heat and sun
Direct sun heats the steel fast and can change the tuning. Play in the shade, and let a warm handpan cool down before you play. Do not leave it in a parked car or other hot place.
After a cold place, give the handpan time to warm up in its bag, so condensation does not form.
Travel
A soft bag suits daily use. For trips, the hard case has a 10 mm shell, foam padding and backpack straps. Put a silica gel pack inside, and dry the handpan before you pack it.
Tuning
A handpan can drift with temperature changes, heavy playing or transport. If a note sounds off, record a short video and send it to us.
With Noom Starter, tell us within 15 days of delivery with photos or video, and we pay a local tuner or replace the handpan. After that, a professional handpan tuner can retune it.
Care kit
Sources and further reading
Handpan care guide. Saraz Handpans.
Taking care of your handpan in high humidity and extreme temperatures. Sound Artist.
Handpan care guide. Handpan Guru.