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Any wood filler tips?

Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

Hi guys, I have a snare that started out life as a marcher and was later cut down to a 14 x 6. The only reason I'm going to the trouble is because the drum has a cool feature and that's the parallel strainer. There are a lot of holes drilled in this shell. I want to use a wood filler and I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any luck doing this. The drum was drilled for 16 side by side / offset lugs. The workmanship was shoddy at best, so I've decided to start from scratch and fit the drum with 8 lugs.

I think the wood is Birch and I would like to stain it after the holes have been filled with wood filler.

Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Al

Posted on 9 years ago
#1
Posts: 558 Threads: 60

If it's holes all the way through the drum then you may want to try filling them with pieces of dowels. The dowels can be glues into place and if you can't find a dowel to fit then you can always make the holes slightly larger.

Posted on 9 years ago
#2
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

+1 on the dowels. Best fix. Wood filler shrinks over time, not the 'best quality' way to go.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 9 years ago
#3
Posts: 6432 Threads: 290

Al,

With great respect to the other respondents I have to agree with the use of actual wood instead of a filler. My advice is to use a face grain plug like this,

http://www.widgetco.com/products/wood-plugs-side-grain-face-grain

dowel rods will show the end grain and will look bad. The face grain plugs will look better but will still not take stain like the rest of the drum and wont look that great either. But at least you can get the correct wood species and attempt to run the grain in the proper direction. If the shell has a lot of holes then I would paint it or wrap it. To me, there is no good way to fill or plug a hole and make it look good with stain.

Post some pics for us. Good luck to you!


Thank you!
Jeff C

"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
Posted on 9 years ago
#4
Posts: 2241 Threads: 379

From jccabinets

Al,With great respect to the other respondents I have to agree with the use of actual wood instead of a filler. My advice is to use a face grain plug like this,http://www.widgetco.com/products/wood-plugs-side-grain-face-graindowel rods will show the end grain and will look bad. The face grain plugs will look better but will still not take stain like the rest of the drum and wont look that great either. But at least you can get the correct wood species and attempt to run the grain in the proper direction. If the shell has a lot of holes then I would paint it or wrap it. To me, there is no good way to fill or plug a hole and make it look good with stain.Post some pics for us. Good luck to you!

Seems like some excellent advice , Jeff! I certainly agree with everything.

Brian

Just a drummer who loves all things about vintage drums! Nothing more, nothing less.
Posted on 9 years ago
#5
Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

Thanks for the tips guys. I had thought of plugging the holes with dowels. I'll get on it. The shell looks like swiss cheese with all the holes that were drilled.

Posted on 9 years ago
#6
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Consider a good primer coat and a paint job! The drum will look great for you. Paint it to match one of your kits or bass drums.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 9 years ago
#7
Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

From Purdie Shuffle

Consider a good primer coat and a paint job! The drum will look great for you. Paint it to match one of your kits or bass drums.John

Thanks John. That's a nice idea. I might give that a try. Here's a few photos I've been taking of various stages of restoration to give you an idea of what I'm up against. Normally I wouldn't buy a drum in such poor condition, but I got this cheap and at the time I didn't realize that this drum was a chopped marcher with non original lugs. The casings inside the lugs are shot and rattling around, but I like the strainer and other members here have confirmed this drum to be Dutch by a company called Royal. They did make some fine drums. I want to fix this thing up so any suggestions would be very welcomed.

Posted on 9 years ago
#8
Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

After removing the wrap and sanding the shell. Now what? :)

Posted on 9 years ago
#9
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

A doweling we will go! :D

You're going to need wood filler anyway to level off those chipped areas.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 9 years ago
#10
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