I would consider wrapping it in some cool color - and painting the hardware a darker color of that color (to match). Then, of course - perhaps a metallic or special type of color like a candy apple ______. Even perhaps something that changes color a bit in different lighting. Considering your friend will let you sand blast all your parts - little/no cost there. Then the only cost will be for the paint and heads.

I have a kit that I want to wrap but am not sure what color or even what type of 'covering' - as I may not use conventional wrap - may decide to try something else.

It is a MIJ 3ply with rings - 12,13,16, 20, 14sn - but the 16in FT is a Slinger/Leedy mid 60s shell. I have all the Slinger-type hardware for it....have everything I need except the snare strainer....and so far the investment cost is....ZERO. This kit even came with wood hoops! This kit came as parts of larger deals. That is the sweet part - and if I decide to go with some experimental 'covering' - it will be for the reason of keeping the overall cost low.

Thanks for reading - not trying to hijack the thread - just sharing a bit about....same type of situation - the thread theme....cheap/nothing for a kit.

Keeping an eye on your project - fun to watch!

Nice project! Looking forward to seeing what you do with them.

The Tamco pedal is worth at least twice what you paid for the whole kit.

Sounds like you're on the road to banishing the oxides.

As for how to finish the sandblasted metal parts, I would go with the Rustoleum Hammered finish that someone mentioned. Comes in a spray can, good coverage, hides surface imperfections, and is TOUGH. I screen print on top of the stuff, use it for my boutique guitar effects. Comes in a variety of metallic colors, but they do have silver if you just want to stick with that.

If it were me, I'd sparkle vinyl it, but perhaps you have experience/equipment to do a good paint finish. Something light with a decal stripe or two from the auto parts store?

The biggest issue with painting lauan is that it's such an open grained wood that one can't get a flat finish without filling.

Hello fellow drum nuts

Thanks very much to everyone on the great replies and ideas

I have had no further progress with these old cellar dwellers

save for the great work my pal Lou put into the bass drum shell

first he filled the areas on the very bottom of the drum

where some fair sized splinters of the Asian mahogany had unavoidably come off along with the old wrap,

(where the glue strips had been applied).

He then gently sanded not only that area but the whole shell inside and out.

Lou loves messing with drums also and he is one heck of a drummer too

anyway, the shell has some dark almost black blemishes in the wood

which makes it a poor candidate for a stain or poly job over the actual wood

so it will either be paint or maybe some sparkle upholstery vinyl

One of the issues with the vinyl is that due to a layer of backing material

It makes the stuff thicker than regular drum wrap so most heads especially Aquarian fit sort of tight

I sent away for some (larger sample sized pieces not the small swatches)

of some of this vinyl upholstery wrap

The backing material differs from one source to the other

But I found some with what appears to be a white cloth backing

after some careful manipulation at the very edges

I was able to peel back and completely separate all in one piece

the backing cloth from the vinyl portion

leaving a material much closer in thickness to actual drum wrap unfortunately the size of the actual metal flake sparkles in that particular blue sparkle sample was smaller and more fine than I would prefer on a drum kit ..so I am looking into some stuff with both a larger more coarse sparkle pattern and also the same white cloth backing I mentioned above

Thanks Mike, I was thinking the kit was most likely Taiwanese

I still have not found anything with these "isa's" badges

But I did find a kit with nearly the identical combination of hardware

the only difference on these "Powersonics" is the Tama Omni-sphere-like tom holders rather the older Tama "L" bracket style holders on my kit

The bass drum mount receiver is the same, as are the spurs, lugs, rods, and claws.

Even the floor tom legs have the same large rubber feet

that can be adjusted upward to expose spikes at the bottom

The same as those found on the ends of the bass drum spurs.