Wow! If the shells look that good with just the level sealer, I can't wait to see them after the varnish.

Keep posting.

-Tim

Beautiful job Jeff! You gt my mind racing now. Ill be in touch.

Curtis

Jeff,

Inspirational work as usual. How fine was the final sanding on the last leveler coat? Boy, it that glossy!

The large tom shell that presumably will be the floor tom... is that a parade snare shell? It almost looks like it has snare beds in one of the photos. What's the dimensions on all those shells? Just curious.

Please keep posting the progress shots on this project as you usually do. Again... inspiration to us all.

Mike C.

Ya, that level sealer is great stuff. It fills in all the pits/ low spots in the grain. It is especially made for filling in and making the surface "level". You could never spray four coats of top coat, it would be too thick and the finish will eventually crack. The level sealer can be built up to 10-12 dry mils, that’s the thickness after all solvents have gassed off. It looks shinny but it is not a top coat.

I sand with a 320 Mirka sanding sponge/pad after each coat. After sanding its easy to see the low spots because they remain glossy. The idea is you just keep spraying on coats and sanding until the entire shell is dull and no shinny pits left. Then top coat and you are done.

These shells belong to someone else. I will let him come forward if he chooses. I forgot to ask him if it was OK to start a thread on these. So any questions about the drums themselves will have to be answered by the owner.

Jeff, you do good work for sure! Those are indeed beautiful. Can't wait to see the finished kit.

Once again first rate work.

What exactly is "level sealer"? What's in it?

Jeff - I don't know how in Hell I missed this thread! And yes, you jumped the gun on me a little bit starting a thread, but it's more than ok with me. The reason I sent the shells to you for refinishing is because you're an artist with wood. The photos speak for themselves.

... and dude, did you clean up the inside of the bass drum shell for me? From the photos, it looks like you did. If so, I don't know how to thank you for doing all that extra work. (If you didn't do it, that's ok too as I had planned on doing the work myself already.)

You got the Gift bro! I may start sending all my project shells your way! Superb job. Can't wait to get them back and assemble them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Great job man. I didn't expect anything less from you.

John

PS - We both forgot to mention the size of the shells! It's an all 3-ply maple/poplar/mahogany 'orphan shells' Club Date kit: 14"x22", 12"x15", 9"x13". Looking for an old Jazzfest shell so Jeff can match the veneer and finish for me.

Well John, I was wondering if you were gonna wake up today, LOL!

Ya I re did the inside of the bass drum ,,,,, with cardboard, hopw you like it, lol.

Tomorrow, they get the last coat, clear gloss. Then I will let them gas off for a day or two then ship them out.

Sorry I got this thread going, just thought you would like to see them, and prove Im working on them , not just drinking beer and watching football.\

Finish pics tomorrow!

LOL - Hey, I'm on 'retired guy time'! My 'crack-O-dawn' starts at 12:00 noon... sharp!

The cardboard looks so good in the photos, I may leave it in! Falling Do

Can't wait to see the finished product. I'll just use this same thread to post photos of the kit once it's assembled.

Can't thank you enough, Jeff. Just great work man. Your work on the Rogers Koa kit is what sold me. That bugger came out 10x's better than anything the factory ever produced. My clubbies will look just as good.

You da Man! Bowing

John

I hope you get more work from the Forum, JC!! You deserve it...

Purdie, I can`t wait to see the finished product!! Your choice of stain is KILLER!!

Cheers