Larry
"Uncle Larry"
Hey all,
Over the previous holiday season, I pieced together a set of 1976 3 ply WMP Luds, 24, 12, and 16 x 16..
I stripped the bass drum and cleaned the hardware. I was toying with the idea of sending the shells out to Precision Drum to do the edges. Old Luds edges...not a fan. Not precise enough. Anyway, I'm still on the fence about that. My intention was to just put the drums together, and don't worry about the age. They're not in the best of shape cosmetically, but the shells are good. The wrap is yellowed, slight lift at the seam on the floor, nothing unuseable, and the used parts I found, spurs, lugs, BD tree, have some pits and rust so they wont be perfect. I'll clean them up the best I can of course. The drums are in limbo right now, half apart.
The wrap bothers me. Yellowed stuff looks bad to me. So I did some research. And I found something that just might be huge to yellowed drum wrap owners. It's a relatively inexpensive way to literally reverse and restore yellowed plastic. It works on ABS Plastic.
Here's the website.
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/home
It's not a commercial website selling anything. It is an instructional website that tells you how to unyellow plastic.
It explains everything and goes into great geky detail if you care to read the links. I haven't tried it yet, but I will. Today I located all the ingredients I need. 2 stops, a CVS drugstore and my local health food store has everything I need. Total cost about 50.00 USD.
Here's the recipe for those who just want the method. Wear gloves and goggles, don't get this stuff on you or in your eyes.
1 pint 12% hydrogen peroxide (no more than 12%. The website has alternative recipes that call for 30% hydrogen peroxide, but one of the links tells why you shouldn't do it.
2 heaped teaspoons of Xanthan Gum
1 level teaspoon of Pure Glycerine USP
1/4 teaspoonful of an Oxy type laundry booster
Add the Hydrogen Peroxide and Xanthan Gum to the blender. Mix on high speed for 5 seconds. Add the Glycerine and mix for a further 5 seconds. Let the mixture rest for a minute then mix again for 5 seconds. A smooth, non-drip gel should have formed. This gel can be put into a dark coloured jar or tub (e.g. a coffee jar covered in tape) and stored, as long as you DON’T add the “Oxy” until you are ready to use it..
Add the Oxy right before use, mix it good. Smear the gel on your wrap and let sit in the sun. Don't let it dry out. Don't do it on a real hot day. You can do it indoors under a source of UV light. They say leave it out for a day but definitely keep checking on it.
This method works on ABS plastic. My only question. Is drum wrap ABS? Bob you would know that. BOB!
I am very excited about this.
Over the previous holiday season, I pieced together a set of 1976 3 ply WMP Luds, 24, 12, and 16 x 16..
I stripped the bass drum and cleaned the hardware. I was toying with the idea of sending the shells out to Precision Drum to do the edges. Old Luds edges...not a fan. Not precise enough. Anyway, I'm still on the fence about that. My intention was to just put the drums together, and don't worry about the age. They're not in the best of shape cosmetically, but the shells are good. The wrap is yellowed, slight lift at the seam on the floor, nothing unuseable, and the used parts I found, spurs, lugs, BD tree, have some pits and rust so they wont be perfect. I'll clean them up the best I can of course. The drums are in limbo right now, half apart.
The wrap bothers me. Yellowed stuff looks bad to me. So I did some research. And I found something that just might be huge to yellowed drum wrap owners. It's a relatively inexpensive way to literally reverse and restore yellowed plastic. It works on ABS Plastic.
Here's the website.
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/home
It's not a commercial website selling anything. It is an instructional website that tells you how to unyellow plastic.
It explains everything and goes into great geky detail if you care to read the links. I haven't tried it yet, but I will. Today I located all the ingredients I need. 2 stops, a CVS drugstore and my local health food store has everything I need. Total cost about 50.00 USD.
Here's the recipe for those who just want the method. Wear gloves and goggles, don't get this stuff on you or in your eyes.
1 pint 12% hydrogen peroxide (no more than 12%. The website has alternative recipes that call for 30% hydrogen peroxide, but one of the links tells why you shouldn't do it.
2 heaped teaspoons of Xanthan Gum
1 level teaspoon of Pure Glycerine USP
1/4 teaspoonful of an Oxy type laundry booster
Add the Hydrogen Peroxide and Xanthan Gum to the blender. Mix on high speed for 5 seconds. Add the Glycerine and mix for a further 5 seconds. Let the mixture rest for a minute then mix again for 5 seconds. A smooth, non-drip gel should have formed. This gel can be put into a dark coloured jar or tub (e.g. a coffee jar covered in tape) and stored, as long as you DON’T add the “Oxy” until you are ready to use it..
Add the Oxy right before use, mix it good. Smear the gel on your wrap and let sit in the sun. Don't let it dry out. Don't do it on a real hot day. You can do it indoors under a source of UV light. They say leave it out for a day but definitely keep checking on it.
This method works on ABS plastic. My only question. Is drum wrap ABS? Bob you would know that. BOB!
I am very excited about this.