Mill my own veneer? I dont think so. Thanks for the vote of confidence but that wont happen.

I`ve done it, it`s not hard as long as you have a bandsaw. I did it with a Redwood gutter from the late 1800`s I pulled off a house. I cut the damaged front off, squared the meat back on a tablesaw, put the stock between two 1x`s and after each pass through the bandsaw, removed the slice, closed the 1x`s cut another slice. I also took the returns and squared them up an made drum sticks. In the 80`s I had sticks made from many trash, cut-offs and pieces I got from the woods !i The apple lasted five minutes and broke at one of the gazillion knots, same with the cherry. It`s hard to find a piece more than five inches without a bend or split growth !i

The Redwood veneer went into the homeowners stairs as inlay by the Master on the site !i

Well worth $100 bucks I would say..and the mtching snare too!

I had a few of those kits

See my link below

The long tube lugs look pretty cool

I believe they are maple

And the ones i had sounded nice and fat

Beat on them, and enjoy them!

Thats a neat idea with the two 1xs, I will remember it. For a bass drum you would need a peice at least 14x72. My band saw is only a an 18" Jet about used mainly for cuttung the arch in cathedral top doors. Isnt the carpentry trade fun!

I have seen this site before, very nice! And the drums are too! Nice job on the Mapex drums you did. I assume there is no way to save those badges due to them being a sticker. For now my kit will go down to my brother-in-laws building so we can make some noise. But eventually I will refinish them.

My drums were pretty new when I refinished them, but I was able to peel off the badges and save them. I just never had the heart to stick them back onto my new paint. I have saved them for this many years though. I suppose I could humor re-mounting them, but I kind of like the ?? when it comes to what kind they are etc.

Also, I think those bass drums are 18" deep... I saw that you were doing some quick veneer figuring off of 14".

Thanks, Ryan

Well good to know the badge came off. It is nice to save it for re-sale purpose but I agree with the decision to leave it off. Like my Rogers big R koa, cant put those ugly badges back on.

I have not actually measured the drums yet, just saying it takes large peices of veener.

Can you post a pic of yours, I would like to see the rainbow flake.

Hi Jeff

a guy who i bought a luddy kit from who swore up and down his mapex was it a older guy so who knows i would not play them but thats me good luck gary

Hey Gary, how are you? This kit came from a young guy here in the Quad Cities. Its the pefect kit for me to monkey around with finishes and stuff. I look for these $100 or less kits all the time.

Long over due, but here are a couple pictures of my Mapex Kit.

I hope you are learning to like yours.... Not vintage, but very trusty!!