Applying veneers...

[Jules]

I have veneer to install on two shells, and have put it off since I have never done it. Any tips? I have seen videos, but curious who has actually done it themselves.

[Kelly]

I've done it. With great success.
I found applying it is not the hard part. Go slow, think it all out. The Seam and bearing edges need to be very well thought out. I practiced on some spare shells.
The hard part is the finish. If you are trying to match drums you can just forget it right now. There are a million variables how to finish and no two people will do it the same.

[tcbetka]

I presume you are talking about outer veneers and not the inside of the shell...

I've done it as well--but only with covering. In other words, a manufactured veneer. One was an actual champagne sparkle wrap, but the other was a wood veneer. I forget the thickness as it was decades ago--it was likely under 1/16" thick. But the difficulty though will be determined by how you plan to terminate the veneer. Are you going to butt the edge or overlap? I didn't have to "finish" the ones I did because there already was a finish on the wood veneer--and of course the champagne sparkle was a wrap.

As to the bearing edge, I found that to be simple. For the one thing you don't even have to run it all the way to the existing bearing edge, as it will be hidden by the hoop. But I just ran it slightly above the outside of the edge, and used a rasp and then a hand sander to lightly trim it back. We're only talking an overlap of 1/16-1/8" at most. It was pretty easy. My bearing edge went all the way up from the inside to the outer edge--there was no counter cut per se. However if there was in your situation, that might even be easier.

How are you adhering it to the existing outer ply?

[SonorBart]

I did it using the iron over a light cloth over the veneer method on this 8x8 tom. It worked really well even without prior experience.

[tcbetka]

DAMN! That looks INCREDIBLE dude! Wow...great job!

[SonorBart]

No ALPI - that's the real thing.

[Jules]

Ironically, I very seriously considered the Rosewood (ALPI). I am not too bothered by that. My SQ2 was in Fiery Red and it CERTAINLY wasn't an actual veneer. I went with the Teak for a few reasons: I like lighter colored drums if I am in a darker area of the stage which isn't unusual. Teak was the most recently released finish in the series and hasn't reached 'done to death' status. I say that last bit with tongue n cheek. Nothing wrong with Sonor's tried and true finishes.