March 18th, 2009

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This morning order the Red Glliter wrap before going out to teach four hours of ensemble classes. Got home and after lunch managed to clean the die-cast hoops for the toms.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII008.jpg[/IMG]

plus the all the trods (for the toms).

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII009.jpg[/IMG]

and that's today's work as I have to go out to teach four hours more. Got to run... :D

March 20th, 2009

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Here's the FT legs, lugs and muffler. These were in great condition already. Just had to do a little cleaning.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII010.jpg[/IMG]

They shine up really nice.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII011.jpg[/IMG]

Those big FT leg bracket washers were full of rust.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII010-1.jpg[/IMG]

They're in a vinegar bath now. Let's see how they come out tomorrow!

March 21st, 2009

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Got those washers off the "bath". The rust is gone.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII012.jpg[/IMG]

Got some time before lunch so I managed to clean all the BD claws and L-rods.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII013.jpg[/IMG]

March 22nd, 2009

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Another Vinegar job. :D

Before:

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII014.jpg[/IMG]

After:

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII019.jpg[/IMG]

Before:

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII016.jpg[/IMG]

After:

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII020.jpg[/IMG]

and here's the BD lugs, spurs brackets and tom holder.

I had a pair of spurs lying around. I'll have to find some real proper Premier spurs latter. They'll do for now.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII021.jpg[/IMG]

now, here's that wrap? Can't wait!

March 23rd, 2009

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Not much progress today, time is tight. I did manage to remove the wrap from the 12" tom. Here's the two "naked" shells.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII023.jpg[/img]

These are in very good condition. No extra holes. The 12" is perfect. I just need to remove some glue leftovers from the outside.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII024.jpg[/img]

the 14" floor tom had two small dents on the top bearing edge and a little rering separation on the bottom edge.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII025.jpg[/img]

top edge dents:

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII026.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII027.jpg[/img]

Bottom edge rering separation:

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII028.jpg[/img]

March 24th, 2009

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Got the wrap today and already cut all the pieces except the inlays. I couldn't help myself and took this teaser pic. Looks a little foggy because the protective plastic film is still on.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII029.jpg[/IMG]

Here's the 12" before the glue removal.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII030.jpg[/IMG]

Applied the paint stripper with a brush over that glue. Let it sit for half an hour. Used a spatula to scrap the resulting "goo". The best thing about this stripper is that it's water soluble but it smells nasty!

After the scraping just cleaned it with a wet cloth.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII031.jpg[/IMG]

March 26th, 2009

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Yesterday, before sun down, I had time to plug all the holes on the BD shell and glue the wrap on the 12" tom and 14" floor tom. This morning I took my breakfast and just couldn't wait to start working on my 12" tom.

1st step. Going all the way around the edges to cut excess wrap with a file. You have to be careful not to touch the wood and only remove the plastic. It takes some time, but in the end you get to keep your original bearing edge so to me it's worth the trouble. Here's the tom after the two edges were done.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII032.jpg[/img]

No you have to "mark" all the holes that you need to drill. That's 6 for the lugs, 1 for the badge, 2 for the mufler and 3 for the tom holder. I start from the inside using that tool... what do you guys call it?

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII033.jpg[/img]

Now from the outside I pierce a hole with it.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII034.jpg[/img]

Time to drill all those holes to their correct diameters. After that I can finally remove my protective film and assemble the drum.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII035.jpg[/img]

Can't wait to see the rest of this kit.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII036.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/PremierBopIII037.jpg[/img]

March 27th, 2009

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Yesterday after lunch, I had the rest of the day off so I worked on the BD.

First I had to cut down the shell to the right size. The Floor tom was originally about 16" deep and a BD is actually ~13"1/2 deep. I worked on the resonant side. I draw a line all around the drum and start the cut with an hand saw. Then I had to make sure the new edge was straight/flat (sand paper flat table) and remove the re-ring from the cut piece.

Here's the edge being almost flat again.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/edge.jpg[/img]

and the re-ring being separated from the cut piece.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/ReHoop.jpg[/img]

after the the edge was flat again I could glue the ring back at its new position.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/kits/Premier%20Bop%20III/gluehoop.jpg[/img]

those are old pictures that I had from a previous project. I didn't want to stop at every step. Those holes were plugged too and new ones were drilled. This morning I removed the clamps. The re-ring seems to be in place and securely attached to the shell. I'll redo the edge after the new wrap is on.

It's coming slowly but it's coming!