Cleaning lacquer shells

[Pearl MCX Man]

I am interested in finding out what you use for cleaning or polishing your lacquer shells. I am skeptical of using anything with harsh chemicals that would destroy my beautiful Chestnut Fade finish on my Pearl MCX. I have read in the past some threads on this but like to know what is new now today on safe cleaners. Thanks for you advise on this but please only post if you have lacquer shells not wraps. Thanks

Gilles

[Northern Redneck]

Use a fine furniture polish.

[drumsetsnide]

Use a fine furniture polish.

+1

I would never use a towel though. Only plain white t-shirts or something soft like a cloth diaper.

[rmandelbaum]

for a true shine, high end carnuba wax. for a quick clean guitar polish.

[drumsetsnide]

I have heard guys using a high-end carnuba wax. In fact the guys at the drum shop have a bottle of it in the back room in addition to furniture polish. Some like the polish and some like the wax.

[Russ]

I have heard guys using a high-end carnuba wax. In fact the guys at the drum shop have a bottle of it in the back room in addition to furniture polish. Some like the polish and some like the wax.

What's the difference in the final result?

[drumsetsnide]

What's the difference in the final result?

Not too much to be honest. The wax MAY have a bit more gloss to it once it's buffed.

[DrumRookie]

+1

I would never use a towel though. Only plain white t-shirts or something soft like a cloth diaper.

Make sure it isn't a used one...

[Northern Redneck]

Make sure it isn't a used one...

Yeah they do a crappy job.

[marko138]

Yeah they do a crappy job.

[Pearl MCX Man]

LOL you crak me up with the funny answers. I will make sure the diaper is new would a pampers work LOL

[DrummerD]

What's the difference in the final result?

I've always had great results using high-end car wax.

Here's something that I copied directly from DW's website.
Caring for any of our Lacquer finishes could be compared to caring for your car. Since our lacquers are of the same caliber as those in the auto industry, we recommend a similar process. For a thorough cleaning, we suggest you remove all lugs and hardware from the shell. Clean the drums with a solution of mild detergent (dishwashing soap works well) and water, then dry completely with a soft clean cloth. To add a great shine, procure a petroleum-based liquid wax from an auto parts store. Follow the directions on the wax using small amounts on a soft clean cloth. Applied sparingly will yield the best results.

[Northern Redneck]

I would NEVER use dishsoap on my car. It will cloud your paint.

[marko138]

I would NEVER use dishsoap on my car. It will cloud your paint.

True, I wouldn't use it on my car either.

[Russ]

I've always had great results using high-end car wax.

Here's something that I copied directly from DW's website.
Caring for any of our Lacquer finishes could be compared to caring for your car. Since our lacquers are of the same caliber as those in the auto industry, we recommend a similar process. For a thorough cleaning, we suggest you remove all lugs and hardware from the shell. Clean the drums with a solution of mild detergent (dishwashing soap works well) and water, then dry completely with a soft clean cloth. To add a great shine, procure a petroleum-based liquid wax from an auto parts store. Follow the directions on the wax using small amounts on a soft clean cloth. Applied sparingly will yield the best results.

Hmm interesting, I never knew how DW tackled maintenance and cleaning. I guess I always figured they had their own brand of product to use for shining. Thanks for finding that information and posting it.

[DrummerD]

I would NEVER use dishsoap on my car. It will cloud your paint.

I agree. I never use dish soap on my car or kit. The reason I posted the excerpt from DW was to give confidence that using a high-end car wax was fine to use on laquer shells.

[Northern Redneck]

I would consider my drums to be closer to fine furniture than a chevy pickup.

[DrummerD]

I would consider my drums to be closer to fine furniture than a chevy pickup.

To each his own.

[Pearl MCX Man]

Seriously guys do we have to take all the hardware off to polish the shells. Sure sounds like a big job. I am afraid of taking off anything that comes from the factory cause everything is nice and tight and if tampered with will cause regrets in the future from screw, bolts etc losening off from vibration when playing the drums. Also how would you know if it is too tight. Just wondering before I attempt this. What is you input.

[marko138]

Seriously guys do we have to take all the hardware off to polish the shells. Sure sounds like a big job. I am afraid of taking off anything that comes from the factory cause everything is nice and tight and if tampered with will cause regrets in the future from screw, bolts etc losening off from vibration when playing the drums. Also how would you know if it is too tight. Just wondering before I attempt this. What is you input.

If you're doing a full polish I would take it off. I'd do that 1x per year. A quick wipe down I'd leave it on.

[longgun]

What's the difference in the final result?

I would think wax would last a lot longer, but furniture polish is definitely easier.

..if you have black hardware, the wax residue would show up alot, just like on a car........

I've never disassembled a drum to polish it, but if I did...would probably use wax then.

[marko138]

I would think wax would last a lot longer, but furniture polish is definitely easier.

..if you have black hardware, the wax residue would show up alot, just like on a car........

I've never disassembled a drum to polish it, but if I did...would probably use wax then.

I want to disassemble mine here soon and put a good coat of wax on them. I wipe them down fairly often with Pledge Multi Surface and a micro fiber cloth now.

[Northern Redneck]

I dont take my kit apart either. Just before a gig as Im packing them in cases I give them a good wipedown with Pledge. For quick dustings I just use a microfibre feather duster. My kit looks fantastic.

[Pearl MCX Man]

Thanks guys appreciate your input so Pledge Wipes sound good to me NR I will definitly check them out.

[Russ]

I would think wax would last a lot longer, but furniture polish is definitely easier.

..if you have black hardware, the wax residue would show up alot, just like on a car........

I've never disassembled a drum to polish it, but if I did...would probably use wax then.

What about brass hardware? It's not powder coated or anything but I do wonder if it reacts differently than chrome would. I only ask because I have a drum with brass hardware and eventually i'm going to need to clean it. I usually just run a dry cloth through things..