How to Remove Paint from Wood Drums
- 1). Remove drum hardware. Using a drum tuning key, remove the tension rods, hoops and heads from the top and bottom of the drums. Once the heads and hoops are off, use the proper screwdriver and remove the lugs from the sides of the shells. Lugs are fastened from the inside of the drum shell. Be careful not to mar the inside of your shells. Store lugs, screws and rods in a small box and place it away from your work area.
- 2). Sand glossy finish. Using 320-grit sandpaper and small hand block, begin sanding away the first few coats of gloss (see Resources below). Be careful when sanding near the edges of the opening near the top and bottom of the drum. Damaging the bearing edges could affect the playability and sound of your drum once the heads are replaced.
Once the first few coats of lacquer are removed, wipe away dust with a rag lightly soaked in mineral spirits. This will allow you to see how much sanding you have left. When you reach the paint, continue with 400-grit paper until you begin to remove the top coats. Wipe the surface clean and allow it to dry while you repeat the process on the other drums in your set. - 3). Remove the paint. With a sheet of 400-grit sandpaper, begin lightly sanding the first few coats of paint. Do not use excess pressure. If you wish to use a small electric sander, adjust it to a low setting. Sanding away paint too quickly could damage the wood underneath. Be careful around lug holes and the bearing edges. When the bare wood surface becomes visible, wipe away dust with mineral spirits. Gently continue sanding by hand. Avoid sanding away the wood surface. Removing too much wood from the shells will make them thinner, affecting their ability to project the proper sounds when played. If you have trouble removing the paint with sandpaper alone, wipe the surface with acetone and allow it to dry. Acetone will loosen the paint so it can be easily removed. If you must, use a plastic razor blade to strip excess paint that will not come off with sandpaper. When the paint has been removed, wipe the surface clean with mineral spirits and allow it to dry completely.
- 4). Smooth the surface. Using a sheet of 600-grit sandpaper, gently sand the surface to smooth out any nicks, small gouges or excess paint. Wipe wood with acetone and allow it to dry.
- 5). Reassemble your drums. Start by replacing the lugs. Wipe away excess dust, paint and wood from the holes before inserting the lugs. If lugs will not fit, gently sand the openings. Lugs should fit tightly. After your lugs are secure, replace the heads. They should fit as they did when you removed them unless you damaged the bearing edges. Secure the hoops with the tension rods and tuning key.
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