FWIW, this thing is 100% original, heads and all. Just beat.

Take it apart, sand it down, fill the wholes, fix the damage, sand once again, paint/laquer - done.

I have a drum exactly like yours with the exact same damage. Mine also has a 2"x3" hole cut in the shell on the opposite side. I'm also looking for repair suggestions.

must be something about these getting dropped on the strainer...

Gerald-I had already posted this on another forum, but will post mine again in case it helps..mine was already repaired when I got it. it was pushed in at the strainer. has an interior repair...

mike

Thanks for the info Mike. Still doing a lot of thinking about what I want to do with it.

When you do the repairs for the strainer end, I would suggest mounting the strainer on the Butt end and the butt end where the strainer was. For strength reasons while using it.

You know what I mean ?

You can`t move the beds but you can swap sides.

That is a very clever idea! I would have suggested a narrow,thin curved steel plate in and out to sandwich the smashed part and rebolt the strainer in it's original spot.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm well into the project now, here's a couple of shots of the metal work and the raw drum/hole. I PM'ed Jeff about his particular stain/level/varnish choices and hope he'll share a few secrets, that kit he veneered and finished looks incredible...

thought i'd share a few more shots of it. one in progress with the satin poly and then a few of it finished and sitting with the Eames kit. i'm totally just highlighting the good 'side' of the drum, the fix is definitely noticeable, but this drum is a player and not a collector at this point and man it sounds absolutely huge. 8x15 is nuts, but surprisingly focused. so happy i did this!