Ok... In the last days I've been thinking how I should clean the snare drum without scratching the chrome and without using chemicals.

As you may know, I used vinegar to clean small steel parts (check the previous pages in this thread). It is safe, cheap, effective and I use it a lot.

Yesterday I thought I could let the shell stay inside vinegar for 24 hours but it would require many, many bottles... The space inside the shell would be filled with vinegar unnecessarily.

I took two plastic bowls, one big and one small, and a plastic bag. I used them to make a "mould" with the minimum volume possible, closest to the shell. The cardboard was used to reduce the outside volume.

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160706_212958_800_450_zpswb1skdrm.jpg[/IMG]

Yeah, call me crazy... this is was the first test I made.

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160706_213523_800_450_zps1ngnhvh5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160706_213714_800_450_zpsqtmrj42f.jpg[/IMG]

Unfortunately I made a small hole in the bag with my nail and the vinegar drained to the big bowl. I end up using a transparent thicker plastic sheet.

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160706_224318_800_450_zpsmenkxoi7.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160706_224349_800_450_zpsxicrkxo3.jpg[/IMG]

I used 6 bottles (1 Liter each) because the inner bowl wasn't tall enough. The first 3 bottles covered ~75% of the shell and the last 3 covered ~25%. Anyway, in the end I'll keep the vinegar in a jar and use it to clean other parts.

I hope the badge clear coat is hard enough to hold the vinegar acid... I believe it will be ok and the shell will clean up nice!

Please let me know what you think. :)

Very clever.

Creighton

a squirt of Dawn and some hot water in a kitchen sink would do the same thing and be much cheaper/easier

I assume Dawn is a product to wash dishes. Right? First of all it's not available in my country. Someone told me it's similar to Fairy (europe). Anyway, I think it would not remove the rust this shell have. It is pretty rusted... Check the previous page in this thread.

Yes I agree, Fairy/Dawn (it was I), won't solve that one.. I'd go the Coca Cola aluminium foil method for the rough stuff. I suspect you will get some Flaking Chrome, so wear leather gloves... There is a Utube video of a guy doing an Auto crash bar with the foil/coke. Later on you'll need some Chrome Polish and when done with polishing use the Turtle or Kitten wax to reduce the ongoing maintenance..

That's an innovative soaking method for the vinegar.... but, I would use a Baking dish/ Paint roller tray or the like... rest the drum on it's edge & do a section at a time... less messy & less vinegar..

Cheers

John

Most of you use the Dawn bath method. I avoid using water in my restorations. Oxidation occurs due to oxigen that is present in the air, water, etc.

The vinegar has acetic acid that dissolves and loosens rust. You can use other acids like Coca-Cola, Lemon juice, and many others. Personaly, I use vinegar because it's cheap and doesn't make the parts sticky due to sugar, coke does.

If I had put the shell 24 hours inside water I think now it would be worst than before. The chrome is very pitted in some areas and the steel is exposed to the oxigen. This will be difficult to protect and with a long period of time the rust will return, certainly. The best way to protect it would be a coat of lubricant, like oil, or a clear coat (varnish).

Anyway, you'll be surprised with the result in a few minutes, I guarantee... :)

Ok. 24 hours have passed and it's time to check how the shell is.

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_222212%20Small_zpsz3kjov2j.jpg[/IMG]

Before scrubbing

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As I said before I avoid using water but this time I decided to wash the shell with water and dishwash product. The tool used to scrub was a smooth toothbrush. It helped removing the loosen rust from the surface, ouside and inside.

While scrubbing

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_224012%20Small_zpsvn1ybkc0.jpg[/IMG]

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After scrubbing

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_225634%20Small_zpsdb4fgnqw.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_225649%20Small_zpsgchbgman.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_225743%20Small_zpschjj3rub.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y341/joaojanina/20160707_225814%20Small_zpssoq5wc9z.jpg[/IMG]

Shell is almost rust free. It will take another 24 hour bath to clean some spots. I didn't change the vinegar, will be the same. I will use baking soda to absorb the vinegar. It makes a paste that is good for cleaning/polishing too. After that I will use metal cleaner to protect and polish the shell. The vinegar will be useful to clean the hoops. Will use the same method.

just use the dishwater and a wad of aluminum foil... realistically, to clean an entire kit takes about three days; there's nothing wrong with taking two years and 600 photos, but you'll find the end result is the same

trying to be overly careful only adds months to the process when its not really needed