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Hi congueros
I have just received my Valje purchased from Ebay and now I would restore these drums , but I need some advice:
First I am going to re finish surface , so I would grind and paint again, question:
Is there some thing I have to be careful before grind ?
What kind of transparent paint is suitable to this work ?
Second I would to put new skin , could some advise me with this choose ?
Thank You

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

I think those Valje congas belonged to Dandy's dad at one point in time (Johnny La Vaca) according to Elvis, the prvious owner. Avoid a thick head on the macho on account there is no alma on an old Valje. A thick head will make that drum go egg shape.

Espresso wrote:Hi congueros
I have just received my Valje purchased from Ebay and now I would restore these drums , but I need some advice:
First I am going to re finish surface , so I would grind and paint again, question:
Is there some thing I have to be careful before grind ?
What kind of transparent paint is suitable to this work ?
Second I would to put new skin , could some advise me with this choose ?
Thank You

Danish oil works well for Valjes. I've used it on mine.

Hi friend , thank to Your advice.
May be these congas belonged to Johnny La Vaca but I have not more information than what told from seller , I did a research in internet but Johnny was famous as bongo player , so I have not found any photo.
In regards the skin , I would to know more about this matter:
What is the right thickness for qiunto for conga and tumba?
When do use cow and when mule?
Overtones come mainly from skin or from tube?
What about oil on skin?
May be all is already treated in this forum , could someone show the link?

Faustino , I'll place these congas near the Echo tone !!!!!!!!!!
I do not want to make hole to new feet and I have thought to remove the existing.
Yes they look nice in the photo ,but closer there are scratch that I do not like

Bye bye

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Micheal at LH Percussion will hook you up with the correct skin. You don't need oil on the skin, but some people use things like shea butter, lanoli and manteca de corojo. Just sand the Valjes to diminish the scratches then Danish Oil and you are good to go.

Yeah and get rid of those legs on the tumba. They look very bad.

Look up in the search funstion Gon Bops Restore, or Valje and you will fnd lots of info. There are many ways to restore a drum, it all depends on what you want and how much work you feel like doing to the drum.

This is an excellent find for Italy! Was this this on European Ebay?

An additional resource is, Tony's conga adventures blog has many excellent ideas for restoration as well. He uses the id of the "Conga Dr."

Hi Jerry , I found these Valje on Ebay US , seller is close to NY

Here are two photos of Johnny La Vaca, the first one he is playing your macho (smaller of the two congas) and the second one with his son and best bongocero in my book, Dandy.
You owe me big time brother (paisano), maybe some good pasta with Chianti. I just gave your Valje set its pedigree, Johnny La Vaca Rodriguez!

Dario

Espresso wrote:Hi Jerry , I found these Valje on Ebay US , seller is close to NY

The seller on Ebay was Elvis, he told me that those Valje you bought belonged to Johnny La Vaca, Dandy's dad. Now you have 2 photos of "La Vaca".

Dario

Thank a lot Dario , when You will come to Italy let me know , I think should be a nice time to have pasta and Chianti and play rumba , we can take a good espresso too!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjot them, you have a piece of Latin New York music in your hands!

Dario