I was in college in the 1960's and bought a Blue Gray Duco Slingerland 5 pc. set. I thought the blue-gray paint job was horrid, still do, so in the 60's I spray painted the set black. Of course, no one told me someday the horrid blue-gray would be worth something. Where were you people in the '60's? :) The date stamps on the interiors and the badges show 1955. At first, I thought the date stamps said 1965. However, the badges with the curled S show the drums were made in 1955. Spray paint...I sinned. Well, later on, (before the internet was invented) I decided I didn't like the black spray paint so then I stripped off the black and the blue-gray (sinned again) and I put on latex antiquing to give the set that marbled look (sinned again) and put urethane over the latex (sinned again). The urethane yellowed. Obviously, I have a problem.
Toilet
The drum shells are in good shape. I am stripping off the antiquing and getting down to the bare wood. The exterior plies are all maple. I would like to hand these drums on to my descendants. I am sick about what I did but ignorance is bliss until you get a clue. My playing days are over since I am in my middle sixties with health issues.
The last time I got an estimate on a lacquer paint job the estimate was $500. Re-wrap would be around $300-400. The hardware is slightly pitted. The snare rims and lugs were nickel over brass stick-buster. I've never been able to polish the snare hardware to the point the black stuff stopped coming off. The rest of the hardware on the rest of the drums is chrome platting over brass.
Considering the economy is going to further crash and I am on Social Security with limited cash to spend, what is the most economical way of doing a restore? I have been considering putting new veneer over the shells and re-finishing. The veneer is thin enough the heads will still go on the shells.
Thank you in advance for any replies.
