Patrick, good luck this will be a cool one for you really!, lets start with the stuck lugs, a few east ways to get them off, you can thread the two tension rods back into the lugs, and then use the tension rods to pull the lugs from the shell, If you follow me on this one, or, take a rubber hammer, and a wooden dowel the size of the lug inserts that go into or attach to the shell or the inserts that the screws attach the lugs to the shell, place the wooden dowel on the inserts and tap on the dowel lightly and lug insert with the rubber hammer? If this makes sense also? now are you going to hand sand it or orbital sand it? what stain or lacquer are you thinking of using?

You`re gonna love the sound of it!

Hang on to those tension rod locks, they`re hard to come by and really 'make' the drum stand out even more. Definitely keep us posted with pics.

There was a guy on ebay who was selling three 12-hole DC ludwig snare hoops. The sell fell through and I`m waiting to hear back from him.

Let me know if you`d be interested in buying one of them from me later on. Hopefully I`ll get enough of a deal to send you one and re-coup a little shipping cost.

I already have a top DC hoop.

DO you still want the lug locks you ask me about a week ago.If not i have another member who wants them...let me know...thanks Mikey

Thanks Mark!

The two tension rod trick worked like a charm and on two stubborn lugs, I used a hammer and phillips driver to tap them out. All hardware is going to soak for cleaning today.

I'm on my way to get some sand paper and look at stains. I've never done this and will buy a range of grits for the whole process. I want a dark reddish mahogany looking stain and the wood is maple. Any advise on sanding-staining. I'd like this to come out looking PRO with a nice shine protectant. I have no idea about sealers, shellacs, oils.

I read that the coliseum came with die cast hoops. How do you tell a die cast from a stock whatever? See my pic of the hardware

The die cast rims were an option.

Here are some 10 lug versions....

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28242&stc=1&d=1303511398[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28243&stc=1&d=1303511398[/IMG]

So far it looks like the shell was already sanded significantly. I don't know if that is bad or not? The fool who did the current stain didn't take the badge off and used a power sanded I think as this is a dip around the badge placement.

I've sanded at 120 grit and at 220 at this point.

Do I keep going till as I don't know if the goal is to have the crappy stain gone completely.

Coffee Break2

You want to remove all the stain, aren't you going to restain it? if so yes bare wood wood, use 100 to 120 to remove the stain completely, then go to220 to fine sand and restain.

Great -will do. I was just getting nervous about taking to much wood off the thing.

I think too much.

Fibes,

Yes let me know on that extra DC hoop.

Thanks