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Fixing Faded Sparkle Finishes

Guest

I have found a simple, common sense method to fix faded sparkle finishes; colored Sharpie markers and ink pads.

My MIJ Apollo set had some faded areas on the rack tom and bass drum. I had a red Sharpie at home and colored in a small area of the red sparkle faded area. It looked great. You could barely tell there was any fading, and it dried almost immediately.

Today, I bought a Sharpie Magnum marker at Staples and went to work on the drums. Outside of getting a lot of red ink on my fingers (the wife had nail polish remover that got most of it off), the drums look dandy. Not perfect, but much better. I'm going to let them dry thoroughly over night and then wipe them down with a clean rag tomorrow night.

Has anyone ever tried this method of restoring faded sparkle finishes? I can see that gold, silver, green and blue sparkle would come back to life easily with an appropriately colored Sharpie.

Posted on 5 years ago
#1
Posts: 6432 Threads: 290

Let's see a pic please.


Thank you!
Jeff C

"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
Posted on 5 years ago
#2
Posts: 6363 Threads: 223

DrumBob!

Interesting procedure! Like jc mentioned, can we see pictures?

I have a 1961 Star RK clone. Many of the panels look like they were exposed to sun and have really faded. Still, I think I'm going to leave them alone, rather than color them in with a red marker.

-Mark

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Posted on 5 years ago
#3
Posts: 167 Threads: 10

Sounds like a great idea !

I used a navy blue sharpie marker to fill in some scratch and chip spots on a silver/blue duco WFL marcher. I was very happy with the result but don't have any good pics.

Bob - like the other guys mentioned some before/after pics of your fix would be awesome !

Doug

Posted on 5 years ago
#4
Guest

I wish I could post pics, but I have already completed the job. There were a few spots that didn't come out too well on the bass drum (where there was a bit of fading also), so I bought a red ink pad today at Staples, and a small package of sponges. I moistened a sponge a little bit and applied ink from the ink pad. It worked beautifully. The drums look almost new. No more faded spots.

Sorry again about pics. Just try it. This method works, but use a Sharpie Magnum if possible. And an ink pad. I could see blue sparkle coming way back to life using an ink pad and sponge.

Posted on 5 years ago
#5
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

There has to be a color line as no direct match so is it lighter or darker

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 5 years ago
#6
Guest

From jaghog

There has to be a color line as no direct match so is it lighter or darker

The ink blends perfectly so far, so there's no color line at all.

Posted on 5 years ago
#7
Posts: 345 Threads: 47

I have heard of people using markers to rehab faded psych red and citrus mod wraps. I have used the silver metallic Sharpie markers to disguise some dark spots on chrome hardware here and there. It works great to brighten up things like small screw heads that have rusted beyond help.

Stop stringing and tuning your instrument, make music now.
-fortune cookie

Vintage Drums:
1970ish Ludwig Standard Avocado Strata downbeat
1970ish Star Acrylic 22,12,13,16
1950’s Gretsch tympani 26.5
19?? Sonor roto-tympani 13x12
70’s Ludwig Standard alum 14x5 snare
90’s Arbiter Adv. Tuning 12x5 snare
90’s Ludwig blackrolite 14x5 snare

Modern Drums:
Erie Drums 1-ply sycamore shell kit 18,10,13
Erie 1-ply maple 14x5 snare
Tama S.L.P. Acrylic 14x6.5 snare
Posted on 5 years ago
#8
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