Resizing

[mmimoman]

hey guys, Id like to ask for little advice...I own Sonor 505 drums and I just dont like the depth of the toms and floor tom...I d like to have some shorter ones so Ive been wondering about cutting them down...but some guy told that they might break or fall apart so its probably big risk...what do you think?

thanks

[fourstringdrums]

If it's done professionally there will be no structural harm done, don't attempt it yourself. But, more important than that, you are going to ruin the resale value on the drums. If you ever want to resell them you will have a very difficult time because the drums will no longer be original. Also, it's not really cost effective. The 505 was fairly inexpensive and to have the drums cut down you will probably pay close to what you already paid for the drums because the shell would have to be trimmed, the bearing edge recut, re-drilled for the lugs and the old lug holes filled in. Are you wanting to do it to get the toms lower?

My advice is to save up and buy a kit with the depths you want and then sell the Sonor.

[mmimoman]

hmm I did some math and if I cut from both sides just small piece( something like re-cutting edges) I wont have to move the lugs...and I can cut 1 inch(1/2 inch on side)...so that wouldnt be expensive (probably)

but..is anyone out there who did this?

thanks

[fourstringdrums]

hmm I did some math and if I cut from both sides just small piece( something like re-cutting edges) I wont have to move the lugs...and I can cut 1 inch(1/2 inch on side)...so that wouldnt be expensive (probably)

but..is anyone out there who did this?

thanks

You're still best to move the lugs so they are the correct distance away from the edge. They are placed at that spot for a reason because that 1/2" is going to be the hoop down lower. If you don't move the lugs, you may not have enough room inside the lug to get the right amount of tension adjustment. Lets say that right now your lug only has 1/4" of adjustment left for you to tighten the rods. If you cut off a 1/2" you won't even have enough to get the rod to touch the hoop.

Redrilling for the lugs is not really that expensive so whether you cut from one side or both (you'd want to do both sides anyway so the drum doesn't look lopsided), so it really won't matter. The biggest cost is just from cutting the shell and redoing the bearing edge. Here, the 505 went for $300. To cut down a shell and redo the bearing edge I believe is about $100, so for the 3 drums, you just bought another 505.

Not worth it. Again, save up your money and buy a new kit and sell this one. Like I said if you decided to sell it later on, you may not be able to sell it because some may not want a kit that is no longer original. If they did, you'd expect that would pay alot less than the would if it were original. When you factor in the cost that you paid for the kit, and the cost to have everything recut, out of what money you'd make back, you'd take a huge loss.

[mmimoman]

ok...thanks a lot...

[Deathmetalconga]

Not worth it. Again, save up your money and buy a new kit and sell this one. Like I said if you decided to sell it later on, you may not be able to sell it because some may not want a kit that is no longer original. If they did, you'd expect that would pay alot less than the would if it were original. When you factor in the cost that you paid for the kit, and the cost to have everything recut, out of what money you'd make back, you'd take a huge loss.

Agreed. Some things (like drum hardware) can be modified fairly easily and with little consequence if something goes wrong. But the shells are the core of the drum. I'd just get new ones made to the size I wanted.