Hi Everyone:
I recently recovered my rb kit and am really anxious to play it, but I've left stored in my cases in the basement, fearing that Northeast cold and snowy winters would ruin the shells. Are my fears legitimate or just over protective? I have no idea what my basement temperature is, but it's freezing outside, and there's over a foot of snow in the ground. Would the drums be okay set-up in basement, or would extreme cold compromise the shells?
Thanks!
Take a therometer and get the basement temp. below freezing isn't good for the old wrap etc, and hide glue in the shells.
I can't imagine it being below 32, but it's cold. Also, the drums were rewrapped last year.
I've owned drums, and guitars, that have sat in garages, basements, and barns for years. Never had problems from freezing except; If the drums are frozen, thaw slowly. Very slowly. Saves the finish from cracking.
I've owned drums, and guitars, that have sat in garages, basements, and barns for years. Never had problems from freezing except; If the drums are frozen, thaw slowly. Very slowly. Saves the finish from cracking.
That freezing and sudden warming can be a blessing if what you're trying to do is -remove- the wrap. Great way to get off hard to remove wrap! Out on the picnic table over night in sub freezing temps, then into the warm house in the morning. The wrap literally pops off of the shells in pieces as it expands from the heat.
Depending on what you're trying to do, (like fire,) it can be a friend, or a foe.
John
All I'm trying to do is preserve the drums for…the rest of my life. :-)
I just don't want to damage them in any way. With the drums in the cases, they only feel moderately cold, but when I walk in my basement, it feels very cold. I don't want to compromise the integrity of the wrap or shells. I don't want anything to split, crack, warp, or otherwise get damaged.
That freezing and sudden warming can be a blessing if what you're trying to do is -remove- the wrap. Great way to get off hard to remove wrap! Out on the picnic table over night in sub freezing temps, then into the warm house in the morning. The wrap literally pops off of the shells in pieces as it expands from the heat.Depending on what you're trying to do, (like fire,) it can be a friend, or a foe.John
Thanks for the reminder. I need to remove the faded wrap from one of the marchers I picked up.
To the front porch. It's going to get down to below 0 in Ohio tonight. It should be spelled "0hi0". :)
-Tim
Info from the land of the cold and it`s -21 Celsius out there right now.My 1979 Ludwigs in cortex wrap have lived in my vehicles (parked outside-no garage) for 32 yrs. and not one problem in any regard-no warping,pitting,rust or anything.Mind you they are always kept in there cases and the biggest threat would be theft(lucky so far).Not even any probs with taking them directly out of the freezing cases in a warm venue.I`m not saying this is fine for vintage drums,just making a point on mine.What is far worse than extreme cold is extreme heat-very hard on the kits.
Poetman-you should be fine with them in the basement as long as it`s not too damp-a small heater and a fan will help too.One thing is for sure...if your going to store them there for a long time,keep them in there cases.
Wayne
Based on my results from this weekend, I think it might come down to the type of wrap and how well it was applied to the shell.
I put the shell that I want to re-wrap on the front porch this past weekend and the temperature went down to below 0 F. The next morning, I brought the shell into the house and set it next to the heater. Nothing changed with the wrap. It's still tight to the shell without any cracks or separations. The seam is still tight too.
Looks like I'll need to heat it up to make the glue tacky.
BTW, this is a 1960 Ludwig shell with White Marine Pearl wrap.
-Tim
