Coming along nicely. Yes, that is going to look really great when you darken up that veneer. I still have the cymbals. I went and weighed them all at UPS so I can give the correct weights. I still have them all. Now how fragile are those Rogers badges if I ever wanted to remove mine to rewrap the shells. Don't have any plans to but they look delicate and easy to wrinkle or mess up. Are they thin metal or just foil?

The badges come off pretty easy. I heated them up a tad then slipped a razor blade under one corner to lift it up. Then a very thin putty knife to lift up enough to grab it with my fingers. Once I could do that I just pulled it off. It is a very thin material but dosnt seem to tear easy. I wouldnt call it foil, its much better than that.

Your drums look really nice. Mine were toast. They must have been cold then hot and cold and hot several times to crack all over the way they did.

Another thing to consider if you ever re do yours is the wrap is glued down with some good quality adhesive. It took a lot of effort to get the shells ready.

Jeff C

Very nice progress Jeff~! I am really enjoying the step by step process. You do excellent work. These are gonna be beautiful~! :) Keep it going buddy!

Jeff,

Your play-by-play accounts of your projects (is should it be ply-by-ply?) are always great reading. It's both entertaining and educational to be walked through restoration techniques by a professional woodworker. I can't say I'm sorry that your painting attemps to replicate that Blue Mist finish were unsuccessful, as your veneer work is going to blow away any stock XP8 finish. Ironically, your finished paint job did look a lot like the Pacific Blue finish of the Rogers Memrilok era drums.

I also like your critiques of the products you use. Your opinion on these products saves all of us from wasting time experimenting with unknown stippers, sealers, fillers, and putties.

Keep us posted and thanks!

Mike C.

[QUOTE=mchair303;231891]Jeff,

Your play-by-play accounts of your projects (is should it be ply-by-ply?) are always great reading. It's both entertaining and educational to be walked through restoration techniques by a professional woodworker. I can't say I'm sorry that your painting attemps to replicate that Blue Mist finish were unsuccessful, as your veneer work is going to blow away any stock XP8 finish. Ironically, your finished paint job did look a lot like the Pacific Blue finish of the Rogers Memrilok era drums.

I also like your critiques of the products you use. Your opinion on these products saves all of us from wasting time experimenting with unknown stippers, sealers, fillers, and putties.

Keep us posted and thanks!

Your welcome, Im happy someone is actually reading this. I enjoy sharing my projects with everyone. Not everyone will agree with my practice and method but thats natural. I have six more shells to wrap so it will be a few days before I strart finishing them. But when I do I will post some more pics.

Jeff C

Jcc, I am reading. I find this a very interesting indepth account. There is a lot to be learned here, and it will help down the road.

Thank you Sir, that means a lot coming from someone as knowledgeable as you. Glad to hear you are following the thread.

Jeff C

Question-are you planning to use any stain to raise or accentuate the grain?This is all very cool to me-Rogers drums getting REAL Koa-like a 67 Country Squire getting real wood side panelling!

I did think the unlacquered wrap a little light lookin g, but that piece you varnished darkened up nice. What if you gave the shells a coat of teak or Danish oil to bring out that grain and darken them up some before the lacquer. I bet they would look beautiful.

I do not plan to use any stain or oils. The sample peice that I shot some clear lacquer on looked beautiful, I honestly dont think it can be any better. The picture of the veneer with one pass of lacquer on it is a bad one, you would agree if you saw it in person that it looks outstanding. Plus I think its very close to the tone/color of the Rogers cortex wrap.

But,,,, I do have more scraps now that I am finished wrapping all six drums. I dont have the snare drum shell yet so Im not really done. Anyway, I think I will play around with some stains and oils to see how they look before I go and clear coat all of the shells. But I wish you guys could see the sample in person, every one who has seen it has loved it.

Jeff C