Painting Drum Shells

[JasonDeLima]

Should I paint before or after the drum shell gets drilled?
And what kind of paint works best?

[Timekeep69]

Before you drill.

Any auto paint will work but be sure to seal the grain first and prime it.

[JasonDeLima]

Before you drill.

Any auto paint will work but be sure to seal the grain first and prime it.

Uh oh. Before?
I'm ordering from AmDrumParts, and they include free drilling/bearing edges. Would that be a problem?
And how do I seal the grain/prime it?

[Timekeep69]

No it won't be a problem, just make sure to tape the holes from the inside. Paint doesn't seep through like stain does.

I think you can use sanding sealer to seal the grain, let me get back to you on that.

[JasonDeLima]

No it won't be a problem, just make sure to tape the holes from the inside. Paint doesn't seep through like stain does.

I think you can use sanding sealer to seal the grain, let me get back to you on that.

How do I tape the holes from the inside?
Sorry for asking so many questions, I'm new to this.

[Timekeep69]

masking tape.

[JasonDeLima]

masking tape.

I know I should use some sort of tape, do I take a tiny strip of tape, and tape around the inside of the hole?

[zen_drummer]

masking tape.

I know I should use some sort of tape, do I take a tiny strip of tape, and tape around the inside of the hole?

Rip off a piece of tape and cover the hole from the inside of the shell... you're not trying to prvent paint from getting into the hole... you're trying to keep if from running into the inside of the shell where it would be ugly.

[JasonDeLima]

masking tape.

I know I should use some sort of tape, do I take a tiny strip of tape, and tape around the inside of the hole?

Rip off a piece of tape and cover the hole from the inside of the shell... you're not trying to prvent paint from getting into the hole... you're trying to keep if from running into the inside of the shell where it would be ugly.

Oh alright. Thanks. I just thought that the paint layer would make it hard for the lugs to screw in.

[antiunderscores]

masking tape.

I know I should use some sort of tape, do I take a tiny strip of tape, and tape around the inside of the hole?

Rip off a piece of tape and cover the hole from the inside of the shell... you're not trying to prvent paint from getting into the hole... you're trying to keep if from running into the inside of the shell where it would be ugly.

Oh alright. Thanks. I just thought that the paint layer would make it hard for the lugs to screw in.

it could but it will also help them hold better in the long run and after that the whole will have widened so if you unscrew it/rescrew the lugs it will be the same as it would of been without paint

[Kaos]

You can also fill the holes with plumbers putty then after painting you can use a nice sharp drill bit and just twist it with your fingers to remove the putty. It works really good for stain too, if you have to do a shell that is pre-drilled.

[sarcasmsetyourhouseonfire]

masking tape.

I know I should use some sort of tape, do I take a tiny strip of tape, and tape around the inside of the hole?

Rip off a piece of tape and cover the hole from the inside of the shell... you're not trying to prvent paint from getting into the hole... you're trying to keep if from running into the inside of the shell where it would be ugly.

Oh alright. Thanks. I just thought that the paint layer would make it hard for the lugs to screw in.

i use artist's tape. it's not very sticky and won't leave any marks / take off any wood on the inside of the shell.

i had to do that on one of the last snares i did. i didn't have time to do the drilling so i had it done via amdrumparts.

worked like a charm.

[Cheerful-Bear]

Automotive paint is quite expensive, I've found.

[drumsjbutten]

what about painting the fade or did you just paint a straight colour?

did u find it easy overall as a first timer?

cheers

[eml]

My black wrap is starting to come off so I'm thinking about painting my shells too. Tough job?