OK, first off HAPPY NEW YEAR to all VDF members, OK now this is a Slingerland 12x15 field snare drum with large oval chicago badge dating to 1948-1950, this drum began life as a field drum for my local college lenoir rhyne college the drums original colors where red and black with a bears head painted on the side of the shell. when i received it it had 5 layers of paint and the last color was white, i used a gel paint remover, and when i finally got to the original paint the bears head was some what visible, the drum when i got it had all the beavertail lugs, and the butt end ,the wooden hoops with no inlay in them that's it,, so i stained the drum shell with VARATHANE brand dark walnut stain, then tri banded it with,VARATHANE caberne stain,the shell has around 6 coats of stain, the rims where stained as was the middle of the drum shell with VARATHANE caberne stain and the rims have 22 coats of stain on them, i didn't sand the rims until after the 3rd stain coat, after words, sanded after every 4th coat, i used a 000000 steel wool that cannot be purchased at any store, i purchased this special order steel wool from a very high end furniture manufacture in my area, the rims were topped off with gold glass sparkle rim strips, whew!! Clapping Happy2

I used the same stain on a book shelf....Excellent choice....Maple hoops would be great on the drum..