Well, the drum just arrived, and it will definitely need to be bead blasted before anything else happens.

I checked online to see if I could find anyone near here who does small-job anodizing or powder coating -- no luck.

But the way I found the DIY media blasting place was by calling a local chopper shop to see who did their work -- a great resource!

I also have a newer black Acrolite that, if the shell turns out nicely (it will) I will probably use for parts. It was pretty inexpensive - cheaper than ordering the parts individually, strangely enough...

Did you ask the chopper shop about powder coating? I have mine done at a local auto body/custom car shop.

Not yet -- but first thing next week.

And thanks for the custom car place idea -- there isn't one here, BUT I do know a guy who manages two "Auto Body USA" shops... and restores Porsches for fun...

What a great hobby. Just finishing a SLingerland Yellowjacket with an interchangeable footboard from a Super Speed ... and it's a one piece LONGBOARD. How cool is that??

You are correct in assuming they are anodized. Since it's going to be tough to keep the anodized finish intact once it is either wet-sanded or bead-blasted the best thing to do after either of those methods are done is to buff it, not to a high luster, but enough to remove the fine scratches left behind from the sanding/blasting process and then clear coating it after to seal it. That's as close to an anodized finish as you're gonna get without actually sending the shell out to be re-anodized.

Hmmm

Sounds a bit pricey...

but do you know a good source? It sounds like you're very knowledgeable. Come to think of it, every reply I've got has been good.) I wonder if JR Froondelli has a tip..

I MAY be able to find a shop in MI (I'm in Kalamazoo, which is a much hipper town than you'd expect)