is it possible to destain maple or sand off stain?

[wolfereeno]

I have a great spare BD that is stained with a black satin type stain. I'd love to match it with my purple stained precision kit. (broken link removed)

The color is not deep black and looks almost grey. Just curious if there's a process to destain and restain maple? It would save me a lot of money over building a new drum if it was possible.

I'd figure going from a dark color to a lighter color might be difficult to impossible. But then perhaps there's a trick you guys know!

Thx!

 

[stickinthemud]

With solid wood, it's completely doable, but requires lots of patience and elbow grease. With a thick ply (1/16ths inch or thicker), doable, but be careful lest you sand through to the next ply. With typical veneers, I would not recommend it. Far too thin.

I suppose it is possible the color could be bleached, but even if this would work uniformly (big if), one has to wonder how it would affect the wood.

 

[wolfereeno]

Thx! Not sure of the shell type. Its an Ayotte BD. It seems like a regular Keller shell with re rings. Its a relatively thin shell I think, hence the re rings.

 

[rhythmace]

I am stuck with this project. This 14" Rogers parade drum has some bad places in the walnut, and places where the top coat has come off. I suppose it can't be refinished a lighter color? I was hoping that a finish remover would work. Ace
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[stickinthemud]

I am stuck with this project. This 14" Rogers parade drum has some bad places in the walnut, and places where the top coat has come off. I suppose it can't be refinished a lighter color? I was hoping that a finish remover would work. Ace

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Probably not. Stain soaks into the wood and stripper just takes varnish off the surface.

Your best hope for this would be to fill the bad places, smooth it using sanding sealer, and either wrap it or put a faux wood finish on. If you start sanding it, you will most likely expose the layers underneath, and those areas that are repaired with filler will take whatever new stain you put on differently and stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[jshand]

I would just veneer it and stain that. I imagine that would work.

 

[stickinthemud]

I would just veneer it and stain that. I imagine that would work.

I agree this would be your best bet. Be sure to fill and sand the shell good and smooth first, or the irregularities will "telegraph" up through the thin veneer. You may need to keep the top and bottom edges clear of the head hoops.

 

[wolfereeno]

Hmm, if I had someone veneer a 16x20 BD with basic maple and then stain and gloss finish it, what might that cost? Should be cheaper than getting a new BD, which would be about $1200.

Another option is to just cover the BD with purple sparkle or glitter wrap. And have a bit of a mutt kit. Just less so than it is presently.

Thx!