head polish - especially after using drum dial

[imispgh]

Novus #2 - works great. Removes the dial marks and a lot of the other marks.

I also tried Plexus on top of that as a protectant. I will let you know how that works over time.

[Sesh]

Originally Posted by imispgh

Novus #2 - works great. Removes the dial marks and a lot of the other marks.

I also tried Plexus on top of that as a protectant. I will let you know how that works over time.

Please forgive the ignorance...when you say head polish, do mean as in polish for the drum heads? I only ask cos if so I really don;t get the point, and if not I'll learn something!

[imispgh]

Yes the heads. They are mylar (plastic) and Novus is a plastic poloc (really good for taking small scratches out of acrylic too). Drum dials leave marks from where you set them down. The polish takes them right out. I also noticed that it removes a lot of the smaller stick marks.

Some have posted that drums are meant to be played and polishing the heads is a waste (especially since they are disposable). I understand the logic. To each his own. Given that premis does that mean one should clean the snare head as well? I have a coated head that Windex wipe cleans the hell out of. It drastically improves the appearance and makes brushes work better. (I wonder how many people replace the heads because they didn't know brush marks come off?)

I don't know of anyone who replaces heads because they're marked unless the head itself is worn out. They don't affect playability, even with brushes.

I don't play brushes but it seems to me that brushes remove the coating after playing for awhile. And wiping them with windex or anything else is pretty pointless. Sorry I am not trying to be rude thats just how I have been taught, I am new so if I am missing something here let me know.

I agree with 4 strings here, I don't know of anyone who replaces heads because they are marked up or dirty?

[Sesh]

that's quite interesting, thanks for the explanation.

It's not something I'd go for I don't think, not particularly because I think it's a waste, but more because I don't find heads get particularly dirty: they get scratched and worn and lightly dented, and the coating comes off snare heads, but I've noticed any real dirt personally. I've always wondered how rehearsal studio heads get so dirty to be honest!

Anyway, interesting idea though - if someone important was coming round or a gig was televised with an overhead camera or whatever I can see how you might want to clean your heads up a bit to like nicer, without the hassle of replacing a perfectly good head and having to retune. obviously most people who are on tv a lot have technicians and head endorsement deals but still, I can see the benefit.

[imispgh]

Originally Posted by nhzoso

I don't play brushes but it seems to me that brushes remove the coating after playing for awhile. And wiping them with windex or anything else is pretty pointless. Sorry I am not trying to be rude thats just how I have been taught, I am new so if I am missing something here let me know.

I agree with 4 strings here, I don't know of anyone who replaces heads because they are marked up or dirty?

From what I can see the brushes leaves a residue that is dark in color - not white. What comes up with the Windex wipe is dark. It cleans up extremely well. From touching the head after it does not feel like the residue was the coating. The coating does not feel or look diminished. I think the dark stuff that comes up is whiskers etc from the brushes. I use the GAdd brushes - with bent tips.

I could be wrong but it looks like the wiping prolongs life and playability.

[cnw60]

Originally Posted by imispgh

From what I can see the brushes leaves a residue that is dark in color - not white. What comes up with the Windex wipe is dark. It cleans up extremely well. From touching the head after it does not feel like the residue was the coating. The coating does not feel or look diminished. I think the dark stuff that comes up is whiskers etc from the brushes. I use the GAdd brushes - with bent tips.

I could be wrong but it looks like the wiping prolongs life and playability.

Interesting - and you are right about brushes leaving a dark residue, although I never considered the possibility that cleaning it would make the head last longer. As others have said, eventually the coating wears off.

I've always liked that blackened, used look that you get when you've been using the brushes a lot. Maybe this is like the debate over whether or not you should clean your cymbals - and we know people are adamant both ways on that topic.