That's great advice to break it down into smaller jobs. I clean my drums by removing all the lugs/HW, using a soapy washcloth, like you are washing your face before bedtime:), rinse with another one that has no soap, then dry it with a dry towel.....then it seems inevitable that some water was soaked into the shell (wood) at the holes. I then simply take my (hair) blow dryer to it and it's done. Yeah, don't want long-term moisture/water on wood shells! NOTE: use SOFT towel that will not scratch, like a microfiber towels that are made to use on cars.

The probably issue was fairly confidently concluded as too much soap (too strong a concentration of the Dawn) and too long of soaking. So, much learned by that experience I am sure (myself included).

BTW, that white build-up on the inside of the lug is just the bare metal reacting with the soap....no big deal, brush it out and move on. My experience has shown that that issue is much worse when Bon Ami is added to the solution, so I just recommend(ed) straight water and Dawn.

BTW, Matthias, I think several of us are getting mixed up on what all drums you are cleaning, dealing with. Guess it is not a big deal, as we are dealing with problems encountered, not drums persay (doesn't matter to keep it all straight). It is good to know that you can work on these kits all you want considering you have another kit (your red Pearl Export) to keep you 'up and running'.

I remember one time I feared these chrome problems and did not have the time to do any cleaning before bed one night, so I emptied most of the water out of the (plastic large) tub (containing my soaking parts) and then added the water back, resulting in significantly weakening the soap concentration. It may have made a difference and I may have averted this peeling chrome problem.

BTW, a little 'trick' so to speak. Stay in touch with other drummers/friends. When somebody is planning to buy something online, ask to get in on the order and you can save alot of money on shipping. Example is at drumfactorydirect they offer free shipping if the order is $100 or more, let your friend buy something to add to the order, bumping it over the 100 mark, and both of you are getting free shipping. You get the idea.

Happy drumming.........

John

@johhnystix

So theoretically I could fix the separation myself? I have a new bottle of woodglue I bought for a project a few weeks back.

@Brian

Well the shells are decent condition. The bass drum may be out of round not really sure how to tell or not. The floor tom obviously has the problem. The wrap seems to be in pretty good shape although a little dirty. I don't think there are any stains... the hardware took it pretty hard there is some pitting, Chrome flaking on a lot of it as well as rust. I will need to repaint most of it. As for re-using heads... Well maybe a bass drum one for the res side... but I think thats it all the other ones are so dented and most of them have wholes.... Someone was not kind to these heads!!!

Thanks for the idea of breaking it up that probably is a better idea.

@John

yep way too much soap... and thanks for the cleaning tips for polishing :-)

As to the drums I am only cleaning working on the mystery "pearl?" kit which is the 3 toms and 1 kick sizes are 12",12", 16", and 20". I am going to wait on the whitehall kit until another time I think... although maybe if I have the spare time...

The main reason I am working and wanted to buy kit (hence these MIJ kits) is that I am moving out of state to go to college this summer and I want a drumset. The pearl I have is a long term loan from good family friends and they want it back in the next year or two and I would like to give it back before I go and honor them.

Also thanks for the shipping advice. :-)

thanks for all the help guys.... hopefully will continue on the project this weekend....

Shalom,

Matthias

Hey guys it has been a while... I recently stopped in the drum store (Ellis drum shop) it is a good drive for me and I was in the area (and my popcorn snare was in need of new head). Anyways I got to talking to the guy and we wondered onto the topic of vintage drums. (he restores them) so I told him I would bring the kit in to take a look. I did that today. He looked at everything and put some heads on which he said "mean they are not too out of round and that having heads on them will help bring them in better." He told me it should be an excellent sounding kit with new heads. So I got some extra cash recently and I pulled the trigger. He help me pick them all out. I spent $130 on heads and just my luck they were half off. I don't have money for $300 in heads.....

So I also picked up the car wax, some chrome wax, and the wood sealant for the inside.

Thanks a bunch guys...

I will hopefully get them all finished up this weekend... although they will still need a few screws... luckily where I work is right next to the hardware store :-)

Shalom,

Matthias

I love this part.......the payoff......when he discovers how good they can sound :)

Yeah, new heads are a fundamental part of the process. If you have not had somebody inspect them yet and re-cut the edges if needed, do the flashlight test and fix the edge yourself BEFORE putting new heads on there. Do a search for it on the forum if you do not know what I am referring to. (Repost or PM me if you still do not know what to do or what not to do) You may be one step ahead of me....having already done this or that your guy at the music store already checked them out.

Please definitely let me know if you notice a big difference in sound (projection) once sealing/painting the insides are done (or any difference in any way whatsoever). I actually have not done this yet.

I start my last class on Monday - 8 weeks to go. Time to get a real job!

I will keep on the lookout for updates....

John

Still waiting on the payoff part... ;-) soon though there is a lot of chrome to be polished... working on it piece by piece... Every little spring, nut, and bolt.... it will take a while.

The guy said the round on the shells was good. the only drum he said was in rough shape was the tome with the problem. I am going to clamp that soon though I think. He also said at the shop they can re-cut the edges. He thought looking at my drums it would not make a huge difference after he inspected them.

The inside is all sprayed with sealant... so far it looks a lot a better the wood is a darker and richer color, but I will see how it sounds :-)

thats awesome so soon! ;-)

\

Shalom,

Matthias

Hello,

So I have been working on polishing... and polishing... scrubbing, cleaning, and some more polishing... all week. I never want to see a little rusting piece of metal again... (I'm glaring at that other whitehall kit right now) I haven't worked on that one at all... Maybe in a few months..

Also I couldn't find one of my t-rods for the kick I found it later, but I tried grabbing one of my whitehall kit and it would not go in, because it had a different threading... so I am beginning to think this is not a pearl after all.

Anyways with some delays I finally finished the kick drum tonight, It looks like one of the sides is out of round, but the head should help that.

I carefully removed the kick drum from my drumset... placed in the vintage one I just finished. Put the kick pedal on... and it sounds pretty awesome... You guys were right it was worth it... (or as DrummerJohn333 calls it the "pay off")

Now to get those toms fixed... Which is where I am in a slight pickle...

You guys mentioned a "virgin kick" can sound better... I really do not like the look of the tom holders. You can't really adjust them. Also my low tom is missing a leg..So Probably find some new tom legs and maybe get some more snare stands for the higher toms?

Once I have a little more to spend on drums... :-D

thanks guys for all the help and I will post some pics when I am done with tims :-)

Shalom,

Matthias

So I finished in the wee hours on Sunday morning.

The sound... I was expecting decent and hoping they would sound as good (although different) as the Pearl Export kit I have been playing... WRONG...

These are the best sounding drums I have played... I like the sound better than Premier, DW, PDP, Pearl, Ellis Drum Shop, and anything else I have touched with sticks... They sound fantastic.

The kick has a surprisingly deep punch for the size. The toms aren't the most resonant things in the world so it looks like the dampers will not come into use... This is a great sounding kit and it looks great too...

Thanks guys for encouraging me and showing me it was worth fixing. Thanks also for all the tips... I had been looking to get a decent kit and someday down the road get a really nice custom kit... I never thought I could get a kit of that sound quality for as cheap as this.

So whatever it is I like it... Sure didn't look like much when I got them...

Here are two pics, but unfortunately it was with my camera phone... (Man when I could really use one of 'em really expensive camera's with a really gigantic lens) So my phone really did not capture the beautiful sparkle the drums gave off in light. Maybe one of these days I will steal my brothers Cannon 30D and do this kit a little more justice...

thanks again guys :-)

Shalom,

Matthias

That looks great and I can speak for the others in saying - we told ya so! Now go forth and preach the MIJ gospel! Yeah, we love American drums too.....though it is really fun to discover these gems and show everybody what they can be!

When you have some more money (shop around) invest in some suspension mounts (and perhaps some needed tom mounts) and mount them off a couple cymbal stands. Also, remember the suspension feet for the FT (only $10). Lastly, (perhaps first) when it is a really nice day outside with plenty of sun, set those pupies out in the sunshine and shoot them....no nice camera needed that way....as the sunshine really shows off the beauty!

Congrats and I actually am a bit anxious now to finish my latest MIJ project kit. Should be done in about a month or so.

John

Thanks again I had them in my dad's hometheater where he some really really bright spots in there... just my stupid phone camera didn't capture the sparkly goodness... tomorrow I will get some good pics...

;)

"Today Brethren we are gathered to talk about the Lord... but after we do that I got to preach about some drums"

Although my pastor won't speak in a sermon (well there are other things more important than drums) they might be used in church coming up soon ;)

Thanks a bunch John and blessings to you with your journey!

It's awesome :)

And thanks to rest of you guys who helped out too :-)