Bubinga! The wormy rotted kind.

[metallitroy]

My next step will be to fill the worm and rot holes in a way that I don't lose their visual character, but still allow a smooth gloss finish free of pits and holes.
[/QUOTE]

I recently saw some snares by a company called Outlaw drums. They specialize in turning wood from old abandoned buildings into drums. Mostly pine, but the point is that they leave all the pitting and texture in the drum. They all look and feel like old, worn wood, with a new coat of paint or finish on them. They sound great too! If you haven't already done it, I would not fill those holes and pits. They'll make the drum even more unique. More pics of the finished product please!

[longgun]

Here is a mock up to make sure things are lining up. I stripped the clear off the lug casings, did not like the look. I am making a go at an oil finish. I may switch the throw off wood to the rosewood that was used for the vent and lug casings. I think this will keep the contrast more consistent. One of my unwritten rules off drum building, do not mix up too many colours or you will end up with a drum that looks like it was cobbled together using the spare parts box.

That looks gorgeous!............definitely unique.

[signia fan]

I recently saw some snares by a company called Outlaw drums. They specialize in turning wood from old abandoned buildings into drums. Mostly pine, but the point is that they leave all the pitting and texture in the drum. They all look and feel like old, worn wood, with a new coat of paint or finish on them. They sound great too! If you haven't already done it, I would not fill those holes and pits. They'll make the drum even more unique. More pics of the finished product please!

I am familiar with those Outlaw drums. Not too impressed with the fact they are Pine, but they do look cool. The holes and pits are filled, and the way I did them they are still very visible. The advantage is I can still have a smooth gloss finish without the dimples. The holes are still there, in essence, so character remains while keeps a nice surface.

[Texdrumr]

Looking outstanding!

[signia fan]

I stalled out for a while, but today I wet sanded and polished out the clear coat. The pictures do not do justice, I think I need to take it outside to show the depth of the finish. It looks stunning but the camera is not capturing it too well. I am hoping to have the whole drum assembled by tomorrow night.

[signia fan]

[FlyByNight]

That looks amazing so far!

[Ray on the Drums]

A work of art is what it is!

[N2Bluz]

You can tell from the pics that the finish looks very deep. Is it a nitro based lacquer? How many coats?

[Johnny G]

Utterly stunning. Not seen a snare its equal, ever. I hope it turns out to sound as sweet as it looks. Such a complex wood, with the spalting and whatnot. Just amazing. Thanks for sharing your craftsmanship. Inspiring to say the least.

[signia fan]

It is done!!! Will get some photos and video up tomorrow night if all goes well. There is about 12 coats of brushed on polyurethane. Although I have good automotive spray equipment, for the set up and gun cleaning just for one drum, this works just fine. The trick is building up enough finish so it can be sanded out smooth without burning through the finish. Today I sanded the clear off the bearing edges, and sharpened the dual 45's by hand with 100 grit on a sanding block. Polished the threaded lug tubes and assembled the lugs. Edges and inner shell got a good rub down with beeswax. The drum drum sounds really nice. How unfair is that, good looking and sounds good too.

[signia fan]

OK, two teaser pics. My IPad takes horrible pictures, but good enough for a sneak peak for now.

[marko138]

WOW. That looks awesome.

[signia fan]

Got a break and had time to get some better pics and a quick video. Not really warmed up and stoked to play at 8 A.M. but I wanted to get this up and done.
Here is a shot of the bearing edge after hand shaping and beeswaxed







and a 2 minute you tube video
http://youtu.be/IQQ3PXM0NAc

[signia fan]

Not sure if that link worked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQ3...ature=youtu.be

[late8]

^Wow!! What a beauty!! Sounds awesome too...nice playing

[PopsOldSkins]

That is one sharp drum.

[Markadiddle]

Wow! Just wow!! You have an incredible talent for building drums, sir. My hat's off to you.

[dangermoney]

Wow! Looks and sounds impressive. Excellent playing too ... seems like I heard a little Rosanna shuffle in there ...

[ratmycue]

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Johnny G]

Yup, you win! Most beautiful and unique looking natural finish snare of the year! And, she sounds freaking great. You play well and shouldn't apologize, even at 8 AM. Officially very jealous and in awe of your work. Such patience, too. That took a long time to see through to the end. Thanks so much for sharing this journey.

[MDK]

What a beauty. Love everything about it. How did you record that? Are the drums through a mixer and into a camera? The toms sound great as well are they bubinga as as well?

[slinglander]

I want that snare! Great job-wish I had an entire kit with that finish!

[signia fan]

Yup, you win! Most beautiful and unique looking natural finish snare of the year! And, she sounds freaking great. You play well and shouldn't apologize, even at 8 AM. Officially very jealous and in awe of your work. Such patience, too. That took a long time to see through to the end. Thanks so much for sharing this journey.

Thank very much for the compliments. I have built quite few, maybe 50 or more and have rebuilt way more on top, and yes this one took a lot of time and patience. Building up the clear with a brush, sanding it back, then add more clear, rinse repeat, I talked myself out of saying "good enough" on several days.

MDK: the drums are totally acoustic recorded using a finepix Fuji camera. The camera must have some sort of compression/limiter built in because I have used it on stage too and it records really well. The kit is my Premier Signia kit. 10,12,14,16 and 22. Thin maple shells with re-rings.

[SpazApproved]

that is simply gorgeous!! And being able to see it made first hand and the rarity is just amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing this!