nice job, i will post some stuff tomorrow for you.

Thanks so much! Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Adam

I really think the best thing to do would be to take it to a professional painter, ie a body shop and let them shoot it. The reason I asked about an orbital sander is not to sand with but to polish the finish with. I wet sand by hand with 1500 grit, then 2000 grit to get the "orange peel" off the finish then start really polishing with a 6" orbital sander with a wool cover on it. I do this with 3 different compounds to get a mirror like finish. Not that you can't do it, it just may be easier to pay a little and just get it done.

Mike

Hmm.

I have a friend who's dad runs a body shop...and he painted a 69 Mustang that he restored black a bunch of years back. He has tons of super pro level experience. I bet I could get him to do it for cheap...but...he isn't a drummer. I am a little hesitant to put this shell is someone elses hands.

How would you recommend I "prepare" the shell if I do end up taking it to him?

Thanks,

Adam

just like you did when you stipped it. i made a couple of cardboard "tops" that i put on mine when i shoot them because it puts a little feather of paint around the bearing edge without getting overspray all the way on the bearing edges or in the drum. the tops are like 14 inches, i just put the drum down on the cardboard, draw a circle then cut out the circle, i also put blue painters tape around the edge of the cardboard when i'm do so the edge is a bit uniformed.

Cool.

That sounds like a good approach. Otherwise I am sure my newspaper/tin foil barrier should work fine as well. I just want to make sure I tape off the edges perfectly. Shouldn't be hard.

I will ask my buddy what he thinks about getting his dad to do it up for me.

Is there a type of paint or a process that I should suggest he do? I would assume high-gloss car paint style, huh? I could probably even get him to throw a little sparkle in there while he is at it! I know that wouldn't be an original offering, but at this point...it is already refinished. Do you think that would hurt the value?

Thanks!

Adam

I would just go with gloss black and a clear coat over it for protection.

Cool.

Yeah you are probably right. Keep it original and classy.

Ad

bearing edge pic....this is the bearing edge when i just pit the "lid" on the drum, really nice feathered in with no hard masking line.

Gloss black like a mirror...

Some people thought this was a chrome wrap when I first posted my progress pics.