Ok... I think I may have not been clear, so I'm going to stop here and clarify things, just so there's no confusion. Please bear with me.
I have TWO, nearly identical 32" bass drums.
Drum #1 had a WMP finish which has since been removed. Those pictures are 3yrs old.
Drum #2 has a natural clear finish.
BOTH drums came from the factory with TWO of those brackets installed, 180 degrees apart. The brackets were used to support the drums in concert/orchestral cradles.
The brackets were already gone from Drum #1 when I bought it. It only had the gaping holes left behind, and as seen in the photos, the area around one of the holes was severely damaged.
Drum #2 still has the brackets installed, and the shell is NOT damaged.
However, the brackets are of ZERO use to me. Mounting a tom or even a cowbell using that bracket would be impractical given the size of the drum. I mean, I'm tall, but not that tall. Laughing H
Having said that, I will be removing BOTH of the brackets from Drum #2. Obviously, that would mean that I'd just have yet another drum with huge holes in the shell, albeit without the damaged surrounding area. I want to fill the left-behind holes using material from Drum #1's shell. Drum #2 is in nicer shape, and I only need one 32" bass drum. Drum #1 is not worth saving. Especially given that the non-damaged areas of its shell could be used to fill in those holes on Drum #2.
And I haven't even yet mentioned that the bearing edges and re-rings on Drum #1 are splitting... :(
So, I am declaring Drum #1 to be dead. But don't worry, it's an organ donor, and it's organs will live on in a recipient (Drum #2). LOL :)
...............
Ok, having said all that...
I'm not worried about seeing the repair on the inside of the shell. I won't be looking in there that often. However, I do plan on splicing in a big enough section that will cover the big center hole as well as the bolt holes, all in one plug. Meaning: The marks left by the washer are going to be removed when I cut them out completely...the "new" wood that gets spliced in would be from a section of Drum #1 where there were no holes...like say, from the next panel over.
As far as the plug not fitting the hole, that's just a matter of sizing it correctly.
I'm planning to use a custom jig to cut out and bevel the area to be replaced in Drum #2. I'd carefully cut out a section of Drum #1's shell, and use a different jig to size/shape it into an exact fit.
I'd size the plug to be the same size and shape, with the same along the edge. Assuming that the two drum shells are of the same thickness (they should be) the plug would sit flush on the inside and outside of the shell. The 45-degree bevel would keep it from falling through the hole and, again, provide more gluing surface.
Also, this need NOT be structural. Yes, I want the repair to be sound, but it will never support weight. No bracket would be reinstalled on the drum. The only thing I'll reinstall will be the lugs.
Given the darker color of the mahogany, I don't see it being super-noticeable. I mean, sure, you'll be able to see the repair if you look for it, but it'll just show up in the form of a circle on the side of the drum shell.
