I have never wrapped a drum before but if I was going to this is how I would proceed.

I would find 2 straight 2x4's as least as long as the wrap is. I would screw these down to a sheet of plywood so that they ran parallel to each other and were spaced 1/16th" wider than the drum is wide. This will in effect, create a jig similair to a bowling alley with the kiddie bumpers on it. Now you can just do the normal gluing stuff and that and when the times comes to roll the shell over the wrap, the drum CANNOT go askew causing crooked wrap.

After reading this thread again, I decided to add that in order to place the wrap down without worrying about trimming around the bearing edges, I would use tape loops to secure the wrap down to the plywood to guarantee the wrap will be exactly where I want it on the shell. The tape loops should be a mild tape the just holds the wrap good enough to keep it straight, so when you roll it, you can pull the wrap away from the plywood easily.

I would think you should be able to order the wrap to the exact size needed using this jig too.

I have never tested this method but it just makes sense to me that this would be the way to wrap a drum without worrying about going crooked.

hope this helps

drumhack band2Jumping2guitar2;)Sumo Dude

You're close, you can do a jig that is 1 2x4, only one alley so to speak.

I guess a single 2x4 would serve the same purpose, with a bit more room for error. I think if he used the tape looping and had it all lined up, he should be able to use this jig and order the wrap exact size, and not have to worry about trimming it at all.

2 things...

1. You really don't want to trust them to cut to an exact size. Your exact size and their exact size may be 2 different things and you're the one that will pay for the re-do.

2. You don't want the wrap even with the bearing edge, you want it a little below, so you're going to need to trim, that's why I leave a little and then trim with my snips on an angle then feather.

I've attached some pics for you to see some examples. You also have to remember that you have to deal with the snare bed too.

I do not disagree with anything you have said, as you obviously have done this before and I have not. I do have a problem with assuming that they will not provide an accurately cut piece of wrap. If I am laying out my own cabbage for a product that is being cut, and I specify a measurement, they had better provide this or it will be going back. I don't understand why you would be holding the bag on a cut piece of wrap THEY did not measure and cut correctly. There would be an electronic paper trail, so to speak, of the desired measurement upon ordering the wrap and if they are worth their sand they will deliver.

Again, I have never ordered wrap either, but if they are selling it and cutting it to order, the wrap should be accurate. I mean, hell, I could make a jig and use my Roto-Zip or even a diamond tile blade on a power saw to cut it within a very small fraction of an inch. Better yet, clamp a straight edge down over it and use as a guide for a razor knife. I have one of those big four foot T-Squares for drywall that would do the trick nicely. They sell the stuff so they should have a tool that cuts it dead-eye-dick.

Just my :2Cents:

drumhack Violinguitar2Cool1Eye Ball

Thanks drumhack and GoneDrumming! Those are some excellent ideas and I just may try the 2x4s to make sure the wrap goes on straight. Thanks again.

Great ideas from all! I love the "bowling alley" jig.

A couple of notes:

1) Precision Drum deliberately does not cut to the exact dimensions you order. If you order wrap for an 8x12 tom, they'll leave it a bit wider than 8" so you can cut it down after it's wrapped on. If you order a bass drum inlay strip, they'll cut it a bit narrower than you ask just to make sure it fits in the inlay channel. (That said, their customer service is great--I suspect that if you told them it was important to cut exactly to size, they'd be willing to do so.)

2) I wasn't bright enough to conceive of the bowling alley jig, so I just followed the instructions Precision Drum gives you: to ensure the wrap goes on straight, push a table up against a straight wall. Lie the wrap on the table's edge along the wall. Then hold the drum with its bearing edges against the wall, and carefully lower it down onto the wrap. Presto! You've got a straight alignment.

On my first wrap job, I tried to just stand the drum up vertically, with the bearing edges against the counter, and wrap the wrap around it. That's when I learned that it takes Herculean force to remove drum wrap glued with contact cement once it's made the slightest bit of contact with the shell. I barely got out of that one alive. It never did go on quite straight, but thankfully the rims covered up my mistake.

3) It's true that you're going to need to trim no matter what, since you want the wrap to below the bearing edge, not right at the edge. I agree with the cut-then-file method.

Good luck!