Ok this is embarrassing, because I've been primarily a drummer for 30 years, but I feel like I need to ask. How do other drummers attach the snares to avoid having to constantly adjust / tighten the tension (to the point where I am having to totally start over on a weekly basis.)

What am I doing wrong?

So they're slipping on the strainer, and I assume they attach either with a thin braided cord, wire, or a nylon strip? Some strainers or butt plates just don't have the oomph to provide good friction.

Any chance you could post a photo of the culprit?

Well, I'm not actually near my drums so I can't shoot any photos, but I loop the string through the bottom of the tensioner twice so that they don't slip. I don't use the plastic strips because they offend me on a aesthetic level.

Here's the thing with drums and hardware that aren't really engineered to be hit as hard as noise rock people hit them:
You can't rely on a system to function by itself. If you have two pieces of metal that are friction fit so that string won't slip through them, double tie it so that the string is doing some of the job as well. Use Loc-Tite on the threads of fasteners on kick drum pedals and tom mounting hardware (just the parts that hold metal to wood). Use memory locks where they're available.

And on the old school Ludwig strainer, I do something like this:

My drummers snare has uses the nylon strip style. I melted some heat shrink around the bit of metal that bites down on the nylon to add a little more friction there. It helps a little. I problem I see with the nylon strip is that if it isn't pulled into the clamp evenly the snare can kind of tilt so that the snares aren't on the same plane as the snare head causing a little snare singing. the string method sort of seems to self regulate as the loop of string can give with the tension. Drums are a pain in the ass.

Lemme guess, Ludwig snare/hardware? I think it's worth the $60-$100 to get something that won't slip. I like the INDe ones made in Kalamazoo, but like many things Covid era can be on back order.

I've had better luck with nylon than strings, personally. It also helps not to choke them out so much, rack tom and kick vibration rattle be damnded.

I completely forgot what I use on my Supraphonic (which means it's not giving me any grief!) but it's right in my office next to me so let's see....

Tape on one side, string on the other.

I have no idea why I did that, probably was whatever I had on hand the last time I gave the drum some love, but I guess it works.

I put Puresounds on both of my Ludwigs - using the included strip w/ cotter pin on one side and the string like Patrick's pic on the other. Both have stayed put.

Those plastic strips that come with other snare wires SUCK and slip like no tomorrow. Avoid.

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Tape on one side, string on the other.

jesus fhristsaba

dontfeartheringo wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:17 pm

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Tape on one side, string on the other.

jesus fhristsaba

LOL I know it's a mess.

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:40 pm

dontfeartheringo wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:17 pm

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Tape on one side, string on the other.

jesus fhristsaba

LOL I know it's a mess.

If it works, it works!