Help me modify my old kit

[Jdrum14]

Today, while I was looking through the forum, I found a thread from this drummer that had modified his old Pearl kit. I was inspired! So I went downstairs into the back room of the basement (the lair of the crappy old Percussion Plus kit), and picked up the 12'' rack tom. From there, I had removed all of the hardware and took off the red cover thing ( I can't remember what it's called). I really don't know what to do now. How do I stain it and stuff, and where can I find cheap tension rods at, because when I was young I took off all of the bottom tension rods and tossed them in the garbage can. Is there a way I can make the lugs black? How do I remove the left-over glue?

If anyone is able to help me, please answer some of the questions. ANY advice is helpful at this point.

Oh, and by the way, I'm only 15. I will definetly have parental supervision when it comes to the staining and stuff. Plus, my grandpa is a very well skilled when it comes to building things. He self-taught himself mechanical stuff, he makes engines from parts that he makes all by himself, and he's very good with woodworking.

Here's some photos:

This is what I have so far (12x9)
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/jasonnewcomer/drumshell.jpg

Inside
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/jasonnewcomer/drumshell2.jpg

The excess glue that didn't come off
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/jasonnewcomer/drumshell3.jpg

What it used to look like, except it's a 13x11 tom instead
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/jasonnewcomer/IMG_0361.jpg

And one more thing:
Does anyone have an idea for the 13"x11" tom? What I mean is, can I possibly make it into a snare drum, or is it too complicated?

[harryconway]

There are plenty of places that sell all the hardware you need to do both projects. The main flaw to the whole concept is the basis of it being built on "crappy Percussion Plus" shells. For all your time and effort, plus money spent on new hardware (see link) http://www.precisiondrum.com/ your drums are still gonna be Percussion Plus drums (dressed up). What kind of drums are you playing now? You may be better off spending your money on up-grading your existing kit, or saving for a new one. Ghostnote is the place "drum builders" gather. http://www.ghostnote.net/GNWeb/georgeinterview.htm If you want to push forward with your projects, those are the guys to talk to. With regards to a 13x11 snare, that's a really deep snare. You might think to cut the shell down. If your grandpa has the right tools to cut a bearing edge (a router), then it's within your grasp. If you have to send the drum out to have a bearing edge(s) cut, again, time and money for parts and labor might make it a more worthwhile investment to simply buy a better new or used snare.

[Jdrum14]

There are plenty of places that sell all the hardware you need to do both projects. The main flaw to the whole concept is the basis of it being built on "crappy Percussion Plus" shells. For all your time and effort, plus money spent on new hardware (see link) http://www.precisiondrum.com/ your drums are still gonna be Percussion Plus drums (dressed up). What kind of drums are you playing now? You may be better off spending your money on up-grading your existing kit, or saving for a new one. Ghostnote is the place "drum builders" gather. http://www.ghostnote.net/GNWeb/georgeinterview.htm If you want to push forward with your projects, those are the guys to talk to. With regards to a 13x11 snare, that's a really deep snare. You might think to cut the shell down. If your grandpa has the right tools to cut a bearing edge (a router), then it's within your grasp. If you have to send the drum out to have a bearing edge(s) cut, again, time and money for parts and labor might make it a more worthwhile investment to simply buy a better new or used snare.


wow. good point. why invest in a crappy kit? haha. i didn't even think about that. they will still sound crappy. all i was thinking about was looks, but now that i think about that it would've been really really really dumb.

[dharma bum]

If your goal is just to have abetter kit, yeah, just buy another one - a decent kit, used. But if you want the fun of the project, to work on something with Granddad and really learn the physics of drums, then go for this!!

Tension rods are easy to buy from any on-line music site - Cannon makes 'em, so do others. Bag 'o 12, $7.00. All you need to do is re-wrap or lacquer the shells (a re-wrap is probably best for low-cost shells like the ones you have). You can make 'em look any way you want to.

Then put decent heads on. Search this site for threads on all of these topics.

There are a couple of excellent local drummers that play all their standard bar gigs with low-end kits fitted with decent heads, and you know what? They make 'em sound great.

[bojangleman]

hey!
if you have another kit that you play and the Percussion Plus set is just sittin around collecting dust, go for it. im not sayin spending a bunch of money, but if you can say. "dude, i re-finished this kit, you oughta come look at it" feels great to say that. and it just helps with your skills in the long run. like if you ever want to build a kit; you will be that much more knowlegible about it. so, i say go for it!

Alex