About those rusty tension rods: Pick up a bottle of Evapo-Rust from an AutoZone or Harbor Freight Tools store. Soak the rods in this stuff overnight and the rust is gone.

Thank you for that link Tommyp! that helped me understand alot more about this snare.

SkyDog75: thanks for that, ill try to find that stuff in some shop.

Even easier and much more available:

WD-40!!!

It (and a bit of the old elbow grease) will get rid of most of the surface rust. Use it with some paper towels....break some popsicle sticks in half and use the jagged edge to scrape the hard-to-get-to spots (the wood will not scratch the chrome, but will dislodge the rust)

There are also several polishes specifically for chrome -can get them at auto parts stores or Ace hardware or many places....Target, etc. that will work to get the drum really shiny. Just buff it out with some old torn up terrycloth towels or old ripped up cotton shirts, etc. You may find it to be very meditative! In any case, your drum will benefit greatly from a good cleaning.

Hmmm, Jack Lawton showed me the steel wool trick a year back or so, and since then I've used it to clean Supras with no ill effects.

Hmm.. maybe ill try using it then.

But in any case I shouldnt use it on the chrome shell right? only on the rims and tension rods/screws?

Thanks to all of you for helping me out here, I appreciate it. This is my first vintage drum ever so im a real newbie still LoLoLoLo

I know there are people out there who say they've used it with no ill effects, but I'm convinced that using steel wool is a BAD idea. I've come across some otherwise great drums that were absolutely ruined by some well-meaning individual who "cleaned" them with steel wool. There are cleaners out there that work just as well without the risk of scratching or clouding the drum's finish.

As Ploughman said earlier. DO NOT use steel wool on any chrome surface. It WILL cloud the finish, period. I use steel wool and mineral oil, in conjustion with my drill to clean t-screws and it cuts all the years of crud and rust, but NEVER on any chrome surface. I have done it in the past, thankfully on a MIJ hoop, and it DOES cloud the finish, leaving micro scratches that can be seen immeciatley after the grime is cleared away. Compare a chrome peice with one cleaned with steel wool, no matter what grade, and you will see the difference.

Yepper... why take a chance (not a chance really in my mind, but maybe to others) when there are very safe alternatives to steel wool.

Even the finest steel wool is still too abrasive, in my opinion.

THE Jack Lawton? I would have to see HIM endorse that.