I did think about that - but this drum, the way it is....old 3ply....I thought it would be a great little 'quick' (short) tom. I would love to convert an old drum into a snare drum someday.I like to really crank my snares down sometimes and I just did not feel comfortable with this shell having that strees on it. I'll see how the tom-thing works out....and I'll test the wood stress a little with that tuning. Maybe later - if I have nothing to do and want to REALLY test the wood stress I may just convert this to a snare drum. All I'd have to do is find a strainer that would pretty well match the holes I cut for the tom hanger. I don't know if there is one that could be mounted in the middle like that - is there?? I'm really looking forward to a nice 6 3/4 13 fast tom though. I think it's going to be good........providing I don't screw up the lug placementsDOHI will take a lot of time lining up the lugs with the hoop holes, making sure the lug holes are straight and in the proper place. I drilled small pilot holes before I drilled the tom hanger holes....I was amazed that it fit and actually looked good haha. But...either my bit was dull or the wood was very hard...I may buy some new bits. I taped the area, marked it...twice!...and held some wood on the inside of the shell. The hole did not splinter....it was perfect.
One good way to align your lugs, and you must be vigilent, is to take one that is already set up with proper lug placement, stripped of course, and tape the shells together. Then, with a 16" T-square, line up and mark your holes, carefully. You simply hang the edge over the table edge so the T hangs over unobstructed. Make sure you are centered over the hole. Don't forget to use blue tape where your holes are going to be, placing it after you get your holes lined up. Then draw the line from top to bottom of the tape and you have a guide to now place your lug holes. I have short vid for it, showing only the tape and how to measure and line up for drilling, this is for a replacement strainer. However, the technique is the same as seen here:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl_lO0rtrGY[/ame]
It is quite unnerving the first time you take the drill in hand, but than you are drilling an old, otherwise dead drum...