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Still have to install the new batter side heads on the toms and tune them, but otherwise Im pretty much finished! To recap, the bass drum had been painted over with multiple coats of yellow, orange and flat black spray paint. I used Graffiti Remover to strip the layers of paint off, leaving the stained & lacquered (but dull and cloudy) finish behind. I wet sanded it with 1500grit and sprayed on 8 coats of Deft clear wood finish (nitro based). After it cured for several days, I rubbed it out with Maguire's rubbing compound, followed by a wax & buff with Carnuba wax.
Structurally, I had to do some work as well. One of the spurs (feet) on the bass drum was not original, and it was missing the reinforcement plate that goes on the inside of the drum that the foot bolts to. Using the one from the other side, I fabricated a new one out of 16Ga galvanized sheet. I actually found an original vintage Premeir foot on EBay. I installed heli-coil inserts in the threaded holes of the Tom mounts, since the original design has threads cut directly in the cast pot-metal and they were notorious for stripping out. I installed new swivel ball L-rods in the Tom mount as well, but I had to do some creative grinding with the Dremel to get the proper fit. All the chrome was polished with 0000 steel wool. I also installed a custom chrome wrap around the center of the bass drum hoops. The memory lock clamps were all missing, so I made my own from 2pc split clamp collars. I used my Dremel to sculpt some rubber mount pads to isolate the Tom mounts on the L-rods. All in all, with all new heads, I have just under $250 total invested. I'm guessing the set is now worth between $300 and $400 pretty easily. Thanks to all who offered advice on refinishing the lacquer. It turned out better than I had hoped for.
BEFORE
AFTER
Structurally, I had to do some work as well. One of the spurs (feet) on the bass drum was not original, and it was missing the reinforcement plate that goes on the inside of the drum that the foot bolts to. Using the one from the other side, I fabricated a new one out of 16Ga galvanized sheet. I actually found an original vintage Premeir foot on EBay. I installed heli-coil inserts in the threaded holes of the Tom mounts, since the original design has threads cut directly in the cast pot-metal and they were notorious for stripping out. I installed new swivel ball L-rods in the Tom mount as well, but I had to do some creative grinding with the Dremel to get the proper fit. All the chrome was polished with 0000 steel wool. I also installed a custom chrome wrap around the center of the bass drum hoops. The memory lock clamps were all missing, so I made my own from 2pc split clamp collars. I used my Dremel to sculpt some rubber mount pads to isolate the Tom mounts on the L-rods. All in all, with all new heads, I have just under $250 total invested. I'm guessing the set is now worth between $300 and $400 pretty easily. Thanks to all who offered advice on refinishing the lacquer. It turned out better than I had hoped for.
BEFORE
AFTER
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