Attention Rookies: Drum Wrap Tutorial

**Guerrilla Drum Making** · 10-09-2008, 03:24 AM

Heres a blog I recently wrote at guerrilladrummaking.com/blog. It may be helpful to some of you.

###

Recently I came across a Tama Starclassic Birch snare drum. The drum had some horrible battle scars that were deep into the lacquer coats, but had great lugs that were in perfect condition. My good friend Greg at Drumdesigns.com (found here on GN) prints beautiful laminates that resemble exotic woods, scenery, and more.

This blog quickly runs through the process of turning my newly found snare drum into a beautifully wrapped, exotic looking drum (thanks Greg!).

After removing all the hardware from the drum, sand into the lacquer coats with 60 grit sand paper. I sanded with the grain of the drum, and against it as well (give it the scoring effect). Avoid sanding the bearing edges.

Get the depth measurement of the drum (slightly below the bearing edges), and the circumference with a 1" to 1.5" overlap.

As seen in the GDM DVD for the veneering chapter, measure and mark yoursheet, tape it to the base of the cutting jig, align the top straight edge, clamp it down, and make a slow... continuous... smooth cut with a utility knife or razor knife.

Score the back of the laminate with 60 grit sand paper. When working with satin flame laminates, skip this step.

I'll be applying 3M 30-NF contact cement to adhere the laminate. Avoid any glue getting to the inner shell through the already drilled hardware holes by puting blue tape on the inside of the drum. Also, avoid getting glue on the bearing edges by taping them as well.

Locate where you want your laminate overlap to be, and draw a straight line down the drum with a straight edge or square. This acts as our anchor point for lining up the laminate edge nice and straight.

Apply two coats of contact cement (3M 30 NF) to the drum shell with thirty minutes of drying time between each coat. Apply one coat to the laminate...but first put about an 1.5" of tape on the overlapping end (not the underlap). Let the laminate dry for one hour.

Remove the blue protective tape from the laminate and the tape from the drum, and line the laminate's underlap to the anchor line drawn on the drum, and roll it on (as seen in Guerrilla Drum Making).

Use the J-Roller to set the laminate and work out any air bubbles.

Tape down the overlapping edge with 3M Double Sided Peel and Stick Tape, or Killer Red Tape...Remove the inner blue tape... re-assemble the drum...and go play it!!!

Again, a huge thanks to Greg at DrumDesigns.com
###

**latzanimal** · 10-09-2008, 03:50 AM

Nice job and Greg's stuff Rawks!!!!!!

**Guerrilla Drum Making** · 10-09-2008, 03:56 AM

Greg's wrap is really cool... in this case, a great alternative to getting an exotic "looking" cover versus attempting an exotic wood veneer (which isn't that hard either...but is slightly harder).

**Greg** · 10-09-2008, 05:42 AM

That's a super cool tutorial... Thanks for the plug, John! (And Latz

) I've found I like watching your DVD better than most network TV. Sit down with a sandwich and a beer, and watch some Guerrilla Drum Making. Doesn't get any better than that!

**Prog Dog** · 10-09-2008, 05:43 AM

nice tutorial, that wrap looks awesome
greg is a genius

**Greg** · 10-09-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Dog

greg is a genius

nah... Greg just got lucky and stumbled onto something cool. But my ego thanks you!

**Prog Dog** · 10-09-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

nah... Greg just got lucky and stumbled onto something cool. But my ego thanks you!

same thing ^^

**mojo drum** · 10-09-2008, 07:30 AM

Looks like you cut the dark end of that fade off. Me too.I was thinking about not putting glue or tape on it so I could change it to a different wrap and back to the quilted maple. I'm sure greg wouldn't mind selling me like 10 different wraps for one drum.... Yes I am a dumbass.....how would this effect the sound as apposed to all that glue?

**Guerrilla Drum Making** · 10-09-2008, 01:52 PM

Yeah I cut the darker end off because I wanted to see more of the figuring design.

**Guerrilla Drum Making** · 10-09-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojo drum

I was thinking about not putting glue or tape on it so I could change it to a different wrap and back to the quilted maple. I'm sure greg wouldn't mind selling me like 10 different wraps for one drum.... Yes I am a dumbass.....how would this effect the sound as apposed to all that glue?

You mean using nothing at all to adhere it?

10-09-2008, 03:24 AM	#1
Guerrilla Drum Making Pro Builders Asylum Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California, USA Posts: 244 Thanks: 65 Thanked 114 Times in 34 Posts Rep Power: 14	Attention Rookies: Drum Wrap Tutorial Heres a blog I recently wrote at guerrilladrummaking.com/blog. It may be helpful to some of you. ### Recently I came across a Tama Starclassic Birch snare drum. The drum had some horrible battle scars that were deep into the lacquer coats, but had great lugs that were in perfect condition. My good friend Greg at Drumdesigns.com (found here on GN) prints beautiful laminates that resemble exotic woods, scenery, and more. This blog quickly runs through the process of turning my newly found snare drum into a beautifully wrapped, exotic looking drum (thanks Greg!). After removing all the hardware from the drum, sand into the lacquer coats with 60 grit sand paper. I sanded with the grain of the drum, and against it as well (give it the scoring effect). Avoid sanding the bearing edges. Get the depth measurement of the drum (slightly below the bearing edges), and the circumference with a 1" to 1.5" overlap. As seen in the GDM DVD for the veneering chapter, measure and mark yoursheet, tape it to the base of the cutting jig, align the top straight edge, clamp it down, and make a slow... continuous... smooth cut with a utility knife or razor knife. Score the back of the laminate with 60 grit sand paper. When working with satin flame laminates, skip this step. I'll be applying 3M 30-NF contact cement to adhere the laminate. Avoid any glue getting to the inner shell through the already drilled hardware holes by puting blue tape on the inside of the drum. Also, avoid getting glue on the bearing edges by taping them as well. Locate where you want your laminate overlap to be, and draw a straight line down the drum with a straight edge or square. This acts as our anchor point for lining up the laminate edge nice and straight. Apply two coats of contact cement (3M 30 NF) to the drum shell with thirty minutes of drying time between each coat. Apply one coat to the laminate...but first put about an 1.5" of tape on the overlapping end (not the underlap). Let the laminate dry for one hour. Remove the blue protective tape from the laminate and the tape from the drum, and line the laminate's underlap to the anchor line drawn on the drum, and roll it on (as seen in Guerrilla Drum Making). Use the J-Roller to set the laminate and work out any air bubbles. Tape down the overlapping edge with 3M Double Sided Peel and Stick Tape, or Killer Red Tape...Remove the inner blue tape... re-assemble the drum...and go play it!!! Again, a huge thanks to Greg at DrumDesigns.com ### __________________ The Guerrilla Drum Making DVD- An Uncommon Guide To Build Drums Like The Pros. «Get the To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. «Read The Blog: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Why buy when you can build? Last edited by Guerrilla Drum Making; 10-09-2008 at 03:25 AM.. Reason: spelling

10-09-2008, 03:50 AM	#2
latzanimal Drum Labs Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Halfway between the quads & windy city Posts: 3,191 Thanks: 398 Thanked 481 Times in 319 Posts Rep Power: 57	Nice job and Greg's stuff Rawks!!!!!! __________________ "If a black man can become president, surely a scrawny white honky like me can get my girlfriend to agree to anal" - Fourstringdrums JMSmithCustom - Sponsor & Supporter of ALL lifestyles Never take life too seriously because you'll never get out of it alive!! "When I was young, I wanted to do something low-key, like become a drummer in a rock band." - Brooke Burke

10-09-2008, 03:56 AM	#3
Guerrilla Drum Making Pro Builders Asylum Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California, USA Posts: 244 Thanks: 65 Thanked 114 Times in 34 Posts Rep Power: 14	Greg's wrap is really cool... in this case, a great alternative to getting an exotic "looking" cover versus attempting an exotic wood veneer (which isn't that hard either...but is slightly harder). __________________ The Guerrilla Drum Making DVD- An Uncommon Guide To Build Drums Like The Pros. «Get the To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. «Read The Blog: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Why buy when you can build?

10-09-2008, 07:30 AM	#8
mojo drum Drum Labs Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: louisiana Posts: 7,048 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 1,707 Times in 1,049 Posts Rep Power: 187	Looks like you cut the dark end of that fade off. Me too.I was thinking about not putting glue or tape on it so I could change it to a different wrap and back to the quilted maple. I'm sure greg wouldn't mind selling me like 10 different wraps for one drum.... Yes I am a dumbass.....how would this effect the sound as apposed to all that glue? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-09-2008, 01:52 PM	#9
Guerrilla Drum Making Pro Builders Asylum Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California, USA Posts: 244 Thanks: 65 Thanked 114 Times in 34 Posts Rep Power: 14	Yeah I cut the darker end off because I wanted to see more of the figuring design. __________________ The Guerrilla Drum Making DVD- An Uncommon Guide To Build Drums Like The Pros. «Get the To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. «Read The Blog: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Why buy when you can build?

10-09-2008, 05:42 AM	#4
Greg Wanker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,671 Thanks: 342 Thanked 595 Times in 253 Posts Rep Power: 65	That's a super cool tutorial... Thanks for the plug, John! (And Latz ) I've found I like watching your DVD better than most network TV. Sit down with a sandwich and a beer, and watch some Guerrilla Drum Making. Doesn't get any better than that!

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