Badge removing

[harrismikol]

I am considering refinishing my Gretsch kit and would like some advice on removing the badges. I read on Jammin sams web sight that they reccomend filing the grommet end off and simly removing the badge grommet and all. This sound great but I was wondering if somebody had a better idea. I was alos wondering if any body has used the the threaded heavy duty badge grommets and if the liked them?

 

[jptrickster]

I cut the inside of the grommet with a dremmel w tiny cut-off wheel. Neat and quick. I prefer factory crimp edge done with a grommet tool. The screw on type work fine if that’s the look your after.

 

[mkelley]

I use a step bit from the inside of the shell. Will grind off the inner flange and allow you to pop out the bit. Just have a watchful eye and it should go well.

 

[ThomasL]

Gretsch badges are usually installed like this:

I think I bent up the 'ears' one at a time with a small screwdriver.

 

[Cheshirecat81]

Gretsch badges are usually installed like this:
View attachment 566129
I think I bent up the 'ears' one at a time with a small

I am considering refinishing my Gretsch kit and would like some advice on removing the badges. I read on Jammin sams web sight that they reccomend filing the grommet end off and simly removing the badge grommet and all. This sound great but I was wondering if somebody had a better idea. I was alos wondering if any body has used the the threaded heavy duty badge grommets and if the liked them?

I used a small pair of needle nose pliers and bent each tab up individually and just pushed it right out of the hole. I replaced them with the screw on ones that Jammin Sam sells. Very happy with the outcome

 

[ThomasL]

Btw, if you want to preserve the Gretsch look, here is a tutorial from stdrums.de:

https://stdrums-my.sharepoint.com/personal/colin_stegner_stdrums_de/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fcolin%5Fstegner%5Fstdrums%5Fde%2FDocuments%2Ftipps%2Ftipps%2Dgretsch%2Deyelet%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fcolin%5Fstegner%5Fstdrums%5Fde%2FDocuments%2Ftipps&ga=1

 

[DavedrumsTX]

I cut the inside of the grommet with a dremmel w tiny cut-off wheel. Neat and quick. I prefer factory crimp edge done with a grommet tool. The screw on type work fine if that’s the look your after.

I use the dremmel too. Just be careful. You can easily cut into the shell.

 

[K.O.]

If the badge has the "flower petal" crimp, as Gretsch often do, I bend the tabs up until the grommet will slide out. This lets you reuse the grommet.

On "normal" grommets I take a rat tail file and file around the inner edge of the grommet. Eventually you file all around the inner lip and it comes off freeing the grommet. It takes a bit of time but the chances of damaging your drum shell are minimal. You will need a new grommet though ( I make my own) if you want to put the badge back in place correctly.

 

[crestiferJ]

i've had pretty good luck removing old grommets using a counter sink drill bit. i just protect the shell with a towel or blanket and drill the inside diamter of the grommet from inside the drum. i've yet to damage a shell with this method. i just go slow and slowly drill with the counter sink bit until the grommet is loose and can slide out of the drum to the outside of the shell and i can then remove the badge. just did this on a 70's gretsch kit and a 70's ludwig that i'm recovering.