terrycloth towel with a little bit of rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't work, then get some lacquer thinner at the hardware store and GO OUTSIDE TO DO THIS...dab a little onto a towel and then rub it off. WARNING: Lacquer thinner is extremely volatile and it will absorb through the pores of your skin like a hot knife through butter and you will get a severe headache from it. So try not to get it all over your hands! But lacquer thinner will take almost anything off. Try not to get the calfskin too "wet" with whatever solution you use. Try to work quickly and just enough to take off the goop. Good luck.Mister T

O-Lugs, you are my guy. I feel like i should be paying you for all this. thank you. I'll try to post pictures after I'm done. It is an old ludwig marching bass drum.

Isaac

No problem. I'm glad to help. The thing about calfskin is...it's SKIN! I have actually sewn torn calfskin heads back together by wetting them a bit to get the skin pliable and then stitching! You could even "tattoo" calfskins! (Hey....tattooed calfskins....hmmmm...)

If anyone reads this and then goes out to make a million dollars tattooing calfskin heads for the custom drum market, then don't forget me! singer