Summer 2020

 finally finished a drum for myself

I recently found this old photo from 2014. From Left to right: original drum I repaired with new hoops(sold) 16”x12” steam bent ash (sold), and 16”x14” steam bent ash (sold).  The 16x12 and 16x14 were stained with aniline dye (dark vintage maple transtint)  and finished with oil varnish (Waterlox brand). This finish was pretty easy to apply but wasn’t the most historically accurate. I was going for the look of shellac without going through the painstaking process of applying many thin coats.

I have two drums I am working on now that I will be french polishing with 100% shellac.

Zimmerman with the same tack design

This is a different drum than the "green drum" from my previous post. The tack design on this one is very similar to the pattern on the "green drum."

Restored drum

This was was converted into a "table" by its previous owner, painted green, and had all the original brass tacks pulled out. I stripped the green paint from the outside of the shell and added new hoops, rope, etc.

Color matching original ash shell

I

I think the original above may have never been issued. It looks like that is the original shipping crate. It's a good example as I'm shooting for the color of a brand new drum. The shell above has been stained but still needs to be varnished. After that I think I will have a pretty close match.

Ash shell, oak hoops, Abner Stevens style tack design

Hoops still need sanding and another coat of paint

Steam bent reproduction civil war drum shells

The second maple shell i made and the first and second ash shells I made