Dang Gary, I would have thought about making it a 13" snare, as that was exactly my first thought. You still could, and have a very cool, and really sweet 6 3/4x13 beasty.

But then I'm warped in the head anywayz...

Good Luck with her!

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 placementsDOH

I 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...

Thanks a bunch! I watched & saved the video. I'm looking forward to tackling this. And yes, it was a little unnerving when I drilled the holes for the tom mount. But I was not drilling a new shell for a new drum. I even considered tossing (sorry) this shell because I thought it was toast when I took the finish off it. It was not pretty. Actually, it would have been really hard for me to toss a drum shell - no matter what the condition.

When my hoops arrive I will measure 3x - at least - and cut ONCE.

Thanks for the help.

This stuff should be on a "Sticky" thread. Maybe it is already - I don't know.

Hey Gary, This is the way i measure out lug's on the shell..I first take a new head place it on the shell then i take the rim put it on.Then i used blue tape and tape the head and rim to the shell running the tape up and down on the side of the shell.Then i put piece's of tape under each hole on the rim on the shell and make it with a small line.Then i re-move the head and rim and take my T-square and run my lines down the sides of the shell...On a drum 6 3/4" deep best to used snare drum lugs..The way i measure the lug holes out is i take a piece of tape place it on the T-square then take the lug say the drum is 6 3/4" deep and the lug is 2 3/4" long that leaves 4" to work with,take the lug upside down place it next to the square put the lug 2" down from top mark the first hole then mark the second hole..take the t-square put it next to the drum mark the holes on the lines that you have on the drum drill away...Mikey

Sounds good Mikey - thanks!

Finished the drum today.

It's a 6 3/4 x 13 tom....for now. In years (months?) to come I may decide to convert it to a snare drum.

Drilling the holes and lining everything up was interesting - it was my first shot at putting lugs on a shell. Everything went well though......a 'hicup' here and there but nothing major.

Hardware:

Vintage Gretsch lugs I had left over from my 58kit restore a year ago.

Gibraltar triple flanged hoops - 6hole.

Gibraltar Tom holder

Remo Coated Ambassador heads

Great job guy,...Did you start at the mount and center between those two lugs first ?

Let me say again,..it looks damn good !!