refinishing congas

[AlexV]

deadhead hey whats going on. yep the stripper was garbage. the only thing it did was strip off the clearcoat finish. i sprayed the conga and tumba down. when i couldn't get anything off the conga i stopped and wiped the spray off the tumba and didn't try to strip it at all. i had left the conga a mess and wasn't going to let that happen to the last drum. basically i had to wipe down both drums. i used 409 and some cloth towels. i wasn't worried about the finish since i knew i was going to sand them as soon as they dried. it worked out better this way actually because i found out that i hadn't sanded the quinto correctly. remember the picture of the quinto sanded down had spotty areas? well the spotted areas was the bare wood. i was scared to sand too far down and didn't get it that the dark shading on the drum was some kind of chemical reaction on the wood. i thought it was supposed to look like that :laugh: . onile and JimG were correct. i hadn't sanded down to the wood. oh well trial and error and first hand experience are worth it in the end. the drums are ready to stain after a lot of hard work and sanding. tonight i'll post the pictures of correctly sanded tumbadoras . man sanding is a LOT of hard work! but it's really fun to see things come along.

[AlexV]

bongosnotbombs. first of all great name!! second you're a day late and a dollar short to have helped me :;): . thanks for the input really. future projects will be easier now due to these and other topics. question- i was worried about the joints loosening using a stronger product like you're suggesting. was i worrying for nothing? thanks again.
alex

[AlexV]

incorrectly sanded drum exhibit A.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... pics_2.JPG

[bongosnotbombs]

Alex,
Oh well, next time eh? Thats a good point about the joints.
I do know the Jasco is a gel, and may not seap into the joints,
also, stripper works best when applied several times, especially if
there is a thick coat..apply stripper, wait a while, scrape, then repeat.
Like the reverese of painting, dig?
really only the last application would threaten joints, if at all, so
just sand that last layer instead, and remove most of the stuff with stripper.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1175914242

[AlexV]

Ok here's a pic of the conga and tumba sanded down.
I believe this is what I was looking for but did not achieve at first. lol. Ok on to staining tomorrow.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... l___2_.jpg

[AlexV]

a different angle..

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg

[pidoca]

You gus are a great inpiration. you make me want to out and do some sanding. the results you guys are achieving are great.

have any of you ever though of starting a new business? drum reconditioning?

pidoca

[AlexV]

pidoca, it's a fun project! i'm glad i did it. ok here are some more pics.
first a coat of stain.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg

[AlexV]

red cherry stain. interesting color.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg

[AlexV]

stain wiped off..

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg

[AlexV]

i'll let this dry for 4-6 hrs and add another coat of stain. hopefully it will get a little darker. what do you guys think?

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg

[bongosnotbombs]

Looking GOOD, my man!

[JimG]

They will get darker with each coat and the finish poly coat will darken them a little too. I can tell they are going to come out the way you want. Good job.

One last advice.... Before starting your poly finish coating, slowing work you hands over the wood feeling for any bumps from dust or particles that may have settled with the stain. Use your fingernail and gently, that's GENTLY scratch them off. You don't want to poly over em, because they'll be there forever. And in between each poly coat, I recommend a verry fine steel wool (0000 grit) and a tacky cloth to clean up any and all dust left from the steel wool or air particles. Once you poly over a spec of dust, it will remain a bump and bother you every time you rub your hand over it. Keep posting the pics, it's nice to see the finished project.

Jim

[GuruPimpi]

AlexV, great Job!!!
Can't give you any advice, just a word of admiration!

Keep us posted!

Primoz

[AlexV]

a second coat of stain.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Small_.jpg