Dan Bryer Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 Good morning. A few years back, I took my 1st drum kit and replaced the black factory wrap with cherry veneer. I recently bought a new floor tom with a *close* match, but not perfect. I have some extra sheets of walnut veneer that I was thinking of using to redo the whole kit. I love walnut, but I'd like to do something other than a natural finish. Do any of you have any suggestions for a stain colour that might actually show on the darker wood. Maybe a dark blue or purple? Thanks in advance. Dan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 5, 2018 Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 We need pics of your drum kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 Here's one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 I've read that a dye stain may work. Any tips from the pros? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Here's a better pic of the colour that's on the kit currently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 General Finishes has a selection of dye stains if you want to darken the walnut yet still see actual woodgrain. I strongly suggest you practice on any scrap/leftover veneer before you attempt to dye the veneer on your drum kit. They also make a reducer to thin the dye/stain. 2 coats of thinned dye gives you much more control, lets you sneak up on the desired intensity of color. Practice and take notes ! Then follow your notes to achieve success. Best advice I ever received, ignore it at your own peril. Finishing is as complicated a skill as mastering woodworking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Thanks for the reply! I was planning on trying some scrap first anyways. I'm still not sure which ccolour i want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Another possibilty is to use a chemical treatment to enjance the wood's natural color. I can't locate it at the moment, but somewhere on this forum is a photo I posted with examples of what lye solution does to various woods, including walnut. The walnut took on a very rich brown, just a few shades darker that the raw wood. The reaction is quick, and goes a little deeper than stain or dye usually does. Of course, chemical reactions depend on the stuff already in the wood, so your mileage is likely to vary. FWIW, the product I used for making the lye solution was Drain-O crystals. A teaspoon of crystals to a quart of water make a solution plenty strong for coloring wood, but not so strong that is extremely hazardous. Wear safey glasses, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 If you can spray a lightly tinted finish or sprayable (spray on leave on) type stain can be used to creep up on the level of color desired. So many ways to do things. Practice is still key before you tackle the drums. Might be smart to investigate if a thick finish can affect the tone or sound of your kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Personally I like adding a drop of trans tint purple for walnut with a lot of grey in it. It will darken the dark but is a nice look to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 I am currently amking a box and wanted to stain the interior walnut liner. I happen to have some General finishes Georgia Cherry gel stain so Itired it on a scarp piece. I think it is beautiful. It does mute the grain so its not so easy to see but the rich red/brown result is, at least to me, a classy look. Here's a pic of liner with and with out the stain and with several coats of shellac. The grain is a little more visible in real lifr than in the pics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Thanks Ronn. That looks amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 13 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: Personally I like adding a drop of trans tint purple for walnut with a lot of grey in it. It will darken the dark but is a nice look to me. Does the purple show at all? I wouldn't mind a little colour, but I know the darkness of walnut kind of limits my choices. Thanks Brendon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 2 hours ago, wdwerker said: If you can spray a lightly tinted finish or sprayable (spray on leave on) type stain can be used to creep up on the level of color desired. So many ways to do things. Practice is still key before you tackle the drums. Might be smart to investigate if a thick finish can affect the tone or sound of your kit. Would that hide the grain more? I could always use a different veneer . I just think walnut is such a classy looking wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Dan Bryer said: Does the purple show at all? I wouldn't mind a little colour, but I know the darkness of walnut kind of limits my choices. Thanks Brendon It is subtle, but yes it shows, especially in Walnut with a lot of natural gett in it. I only found it though trial and error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Are you going to strip & refinish the existing walnut or re veneer then finish ? Tinted finishes will hide the grain more than a dye/stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 I was just going to scuff sand and veneer over top. I'd like the grain to show as much as possible, so dye it is. Thanks, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 3 hours ago, Brendon_t said: It is subtle, but yes it shows, especially in Walnut with a lot of natural gett in it. I only found it though trial and error Ya, I figured purple or a darker redish colour would be the way to go. Thanks, Dan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Dan Bryer said: Ya, I figured purple or a darker redish colour would be the way to go. Thanks, Dan. It's worth a test to see if you like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bryer Posted September 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 10 hours ago, Brendon_t said: It's worth a test to see if you like it. Absolutely. I'd like to mess around with a few colours before I decide anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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