I'm very curious how this would work on the Black Panthers. Can't wait to see the results of all your testing, since you're a professional "car guy". On my own Black Panthers, I've always just used the Armor-All Protectant Wipes in the dispensors.

Back to the Panther restoration. I have the screws soaking in a barkeepers friend, and dish washing soap solution in a strainer with a vibrator. Meanwhile i started polishing the lugs and inserts and cleaned one shell. I had a 1"x 12X8 with holes drilled in it the my lugs fit on. I put the lugs in the holes and that holds them still while I polish them. The lugs were in fabulous condition, not a bit of rust, just a little grunge. they turned out fabulous!!!

When we paint plastic or vinyl with SEM, or Colorbond Spray paint, which is made for plastic or vinyl, we clean it real good, then wipe it with lacquer thinner. Lacquer thinner, not only sucks the oil out of it, but it actually softens plastic a little allowing the paint to adhere to it. The lacquer thinner will make old black vinyl turn whitish until you spray it. This occurs because the lacquer litterally sucks out all the oil in the vinyl. On the other hand, if, lets say a dash has ever had armor all on it, the paint will fish eye terribly. So I'm faced with the decision , weather to armor all them and keep armor all on them all the time or paint them and possibly devaluing the kit.

Those lugs turned out gorgeous!

That is a killer idea with the "polishing board" for the lugs

Thanks Kev,

It works well for me. Im soakin parts and waiting now.

I have a shell cleaned up the best I can get it. There are 2 sides that are perfect, and 2 sides that have scuff marks. There is also a few tiny nicks letting the wood show though. I got a sharpie and penciled in those tiny nicks. If I were to redye this, the scuff marks wouldn't show. Armor all might make em disappear also. Does anyone know what the sheen was on this wrap?

Best bet on this tom (and the others if they have similar stories) is to adjust the mounting position so the banged up sides face in towards you and the better looking sides face outward for people viewing the set.

I wish I knew the correct sheen you ask, but really right when you Armor-All them they're glossy, but a few days later they start fading out to a flat black.

This is a rack tom, I cant face it but one way.

Ok, I came home for lunch and dyed the 12" rack tom. The whitish looking spots all but disappeared. I couldn't stand it so I came home early and finished the 12" rack tom. I think it looks fabulous! ExcitedEye Ball