This is interesting and I might tend to agree with you, but it's worth remembering in this case, that the shell is still 98% Ludwig 3-ply with re-rings, with just a bit of birch glued on there. I could have used the 13" CS shell for this drum, [instead of cutting it up for plates :)] but the idea did not appeal to me at all - it really was about having a 60s 3-ply shell...

Mitch

Nice job and thanks for the thread. Cant wait to see the final pics!

Hoping there'll be a "family portrait" , and I like the idea of all different sizes

This thread gave me a little hope. I bought a 15" shell about a year ago for $20. Early 1900's no name snare shell, wood hoops,still had the original rods. The heads were town but had writing from 1912 on it. Didn't know until I got it but the shell was way out of round. Started to cut it to make it a 14", but didn't know how to proceed so I kinda left it to the side. Now I have an idea as to what I should do and how to make it work. Killer job on the snare.

Mitch, I did not realize those old lug holes were already plugged. Im looking forward to seeing this with the wrap, I love silver sparkle also. Great job buddy!

Thanks everybody as always for the good words of encouragement! It means a lot!

Jeff, yep those plugs with the black paint in the end-grain sure do look like unplugged holes! :)

There will absolutely be a "family portrait", with the drums set up, and also stacked and otherwise artistically positioned within the frame haha - I'll be going all out, especially since we got our new Canon G7X...it'll just be a matter of waiting for that bright sunny day to flood the room.

Jay I think that's just fantastic that this will help you move forward with your stalled project. Really always happy to be of any help, anyhow...and it was fun!

Okay where's that wrap?! :)

Mitch

Well the wrap arrived, and I glued it to the drum. Extremely happy with the results. I didn't take any pics of the process because we all know about wrapping drums and my method was nothing special that's for sure.

A word on plugging holes though - I used a drumstick for the off-center vent hole, as cutting a circle out of the shell off-cut would've been a bit tricky. Of course drumsticks are tapered so you just push it in to where it wants to stop, push it in a little more, mark it, and cut a disk. I also wanted to plug the BD spur mount holes as I've installed gull-wing fold-out spurs to get the front of the drum off the ground solidly. For those holes I was looking at dowels but they are like 5 feet long and more money than needs to be spent on two holes. I settled on a cheap "artist's" paintbrush, tapered, so same deal as the drumstick. Those plugs are currently drying, waiting for the circles of wrap to finish the job. When that's done I'll post a family portrait of the snare with the kit.

This has been an awesome project. I think the threaded rod is a viable method, and anyone can do this, probably better and more carefully than I did it. :)

More to come...

Mitch

Man that's a beauty Mitch! Drum stick and paintbrush great ideas too.

The drum looks really nice Mitch! It was an interesting project to watch start to finish, thank you for taking your time to share it with us. Whats next? A creative man like you must have something coming up.

Thanks Glenn! I'll admit I've stared at it for a good stretch of time...:) Luckily it sounds real good too - a very nice, woody *pop*.

Thanks Jeff! My pleasure sharing this one with the forum, fersure! Funny you should ask what's next - I told my Michelle when this was finished, that's it! No more cutting drilling filling or wrapping for me. :) Mostly I'll be focusing on playing from now on...I mean you never know what might come along but this is the plan for now.

We haven't had that bright day for pics yet but here are some with the kit anyway. It's funny, but because the snare is a couple inches higher than the floor tom, closer to the camera lens, it doesn't really look any smaller than the floor tom in the "aerial" shot.

The wrap on the snare looks a perfect match in some light and at certain angles, but as we all know it's more blue than old silver sparkle. My kit is only very slightly ginger-aled so they're pretty close though. I might post some more pics if there's a spectacular day for sunlight in the near future...

Mitch