While it's not the most ideal drum covering, Sparkle Brite film is probably as good as using contact paper. Google it.

I once saw a drum that was covered with a collage of pictures cut out of magazines and then clear coated over that. It was a neat effect.

You may have some of those same issues with contact paper or wall paper.

Mendel's makes their "Sparkel Vinyl" which is the material used to do vintage diner booths, bar stools, old Kustom or Plush speakers and amps, etc. The stuff comes in a wide variety of colors. The sparkle is pretty subtle compared to traditional drum wrap but it is still pretty cool. I've used this for some scenery fabrication but not yet on drums.

There was a thread along these same lines a week or so ago that included a link to some pretty interesting options.

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=38500

I have a pending question for the Sparklewraps seller - asking him to account for the complaints that we have seen on the forums. I will post his answer(s) if he grants permission to do so.

Could I lacquer over the Sparklewraps stuff? It might seem redundant but may be a good option to address the various issues that users have reported thus far. The story continues........

Yeah I started that thread ;) I just wanted to start a fresh one to include the idea of Sparklewraps and one specifically soliciting ideas for anything, including contact paper instead of wallpaper. I hope that this thread eventually grows very long yielding a bunch of ideas. I thought I had settled on the blue water droplets one (seen in that thread) but decided it might lack class too much...and also wanted to explore my options wider.

Thanks for any ideas you may contribute here.

I have a limited experience with the Sparklebrite... I bought some WFLs covered in the stuff. After 6 months installed, the previous owner just wanted them off his hands. Sparklebrite was rippled and contracting around every lug. Seams were loose. A big mess. Even messier to remove.

Don't do it.

Aaron

I needed to rewrap a snare drum overnight earlier this year (don't ask) and didn't have any wrap. I went to the fabric store and bought some black naugahyde. I put it on with 3M 30 NF contact cement. It worked pretty well, very reminiscent of Ludwig Black Panther (which I believe was black Tolex, so similar looking but a bit thinner).

That sparkling naugahyde sounds do-able too. Of course we've all seen drums someone has rewrapped in fake fur.

The sparkle brite stuff is very thin. Similar to a vinyl bumper sticker. As I said it might work as well as contact paper would...but that's not saying much. If you did want to use it I think it's cheaper by the yard from Dick Blick Art Supplies than from the dude selling it on ebay.

Huge +1!!!

John

Dear Lord John! Why would you wrap a WFL in that stuff then sell it to Aaron???? (just kidding)

I am going back and forth with the Sparkledrumwraps ebay guy. He's not a fool, a real nice guy. I don't believe he deceives anyone - and stands behind his product to give you what you pay for - and you get what you pay for. It serves a good purpose in the market - as if I had a kid whose drumset was just going to sit in his room and never leave the house, then sure, this stuff would probably be fine. We are not his segment of the market.

[SIZE="6"]Regarding Sparkledrumwraps[/SIZE] - here is what he says (permission granted for me to share):

Hello and thanks for your interest. I have well over 2500 drummer customers from around the world that are happy with my wrap skins. The wrinkles around lugs is an easy fix. I cover this in the booklet I send free with every order. I suggest buying sheets of thin green felt with adhesive backing at craft stores like Michaels. They are the size of a piece of typing paper for about a buck. I trace my lugs and cut them out and place under each lug. Also, don't over tighten lugs. I tighten my lugs like I do on my Ludwig vistalites. As you probably know acrylic shells can easily get "spyder cracks" around lugs. Lugs just don't need to be very tight. Another thing, some people compare my wrap skins to the thicker wraps and I do not compete with those wraps at all. These wrap skins can wrap an entire kit for $69, not $300 or $400 like delmar wrap. And my wrap skins are meant to bond with your old wrap, not really a stand alone wrap. Don't get me wrong, I love the wraps delmar puts out and do buy them occasionally. My customers can't afford or don't want to spend $300 to wrap a $300 kit. And in many cases don't want to remove their old wrap. Of course they won't hold up like $400 wrap. Although my daughters mapexkit wrapped in gold sparkle 4 years ago still looks great. She gigs with them too. She also has cases. I haveactually had more than one kit ruined in a hot car with the thick wrap. Everyone should have cases, hard or soft. I now also offer a new soft wrap that is the same thickness as delmar and the sparkle similar to glass glitter! Its soft and very flexible allowing the wrap to hug the shell and hi-bond tape is included for $79

sounds like your from the better business bureau. I supply an alternative to making ones kit look nicer for a very affordable price. Any drum wrap in 100 degree heat is subject to problems. Does jamin sams or precision drums guarantee against scratches or warping in high heat situations? Hell no. I complained about that on a white diamond pearl wrap I bought that warped in this hot bakersfield summer temps. You may post this if you wish, I do not at this time belong to any forums.

____________________

I wish he WAS part of our forum. As far as I understand, he is a drumlover just like us and we have more common / like opinions than differences, regardless of the quality of his product - and he probably is a really nice guy. We just need to understand that this is not for your father's Oldsmobile.

Regarding Aaron's warning - this is exactly why I do not want to just jump and click on the BUY button with Sparkledrumwraps. I bet the stuff looks GREAT and fact is, my project IS a low budget one. At the same time, if I can take another route that will result in a more durable long lasting result, I have to take it. Cost is not an option when you simply take the Delmar stuff off the table, as all the other options are likely very very affordable.

Please keep the ideas coming - as I do fear that I will regret my decision if later I discover something much better / cooler / classier, etc. I should also mention that I am not a big sparkle / glitter fan. Th eonly exception (for the most part) is Gold Glass Glitter (have one already) and that gorgeous looking light blue wrap on the Ice Sparkle ddrum Reflex.

John

Is Sparklebrite just a static cling film? It sounds like it. If you want to try something a little more "interesting" then you could try this:

http://www.holowalls.com/

This is another product I have used in fabrication.

JCCabinets is right though. "Shiny" does denote a very smooth surface which will be very difficult to adhere to.