This was an emotional process
My hairline definitely receded during these last few days.
Because these drums are made with tropical woods and I am in a tropical climate, I was told I would have to treat the wood after stripping it, to prevent fungus/insects from attacking it.
I went to a paint store and they recommended the best 'transparent' wood treatment.
I brushed it on and the wood turned black!!!! I freaked out. I called the company that makes the product and they told me that the product that I applied works by chemically BURNING the wood to prevent animals and fungus from being attracted to it.
Their response still didn't answer why something that is meant to burn wood would be labeled as 'transparent"!!!!
I was furious and gave up on doing the project myself, so took them a professional wood painter.
The painter suggested that he BURN the conga to match the color of the tumba, because the two drums were of different tones.
This was the second time my tubs were getting burned!! ... and this time it was a literal burn! Fire on my drums.
I freaked out once again, but my uncle has taken a lot of furniture to that guy and assured me that he is as good as they come.
Anyways, I lost faith and figured I'd lost these babies forever.
24 hours later.... the painter delivered these beauties!!
How they look at nighttime...
How they look with day light....
P.S. -- I know that the tension of the rods is completely uneven, but these are the original skins and the person who owned these drums previously seemed to only tighten the two lugs that were are closest to the handle. These old skins still sound incredible so I am not in a rush to change them; maybe for Christmas I'll buy myself a new set.