The thing about Mahogany timber from Idonesia/Phillipinnes is the growth rate is very fast. It`s a hardwood and should grow slower.

Reguardless of the composition it still is a good wood to build a drum with. The fast grow leaves large pulp compared to slow growth and should better it`s acoustic values.

The process of the carpentry is why 3 ply drums made the way MIJ drums shells were done makes for poor quality shell. I could build a drum out of fast growth but I wood bookmatch veneer all three plies. I would start with a 6"x6" stock pile and not a 4`x8` sheet pile !i It all triples the cost !i

If constructed well, luan makes a great drum when it ages, especially kick drums.

Great, fat, round, low tone.

This Royal Star 14" floor tom has tones of tone. It's Asian Mahogany (Luan).

I was going to wrap it but for now I two-toned it.....the brown is stain....the Green is a Martha Stewart something-or-other.

Thanks for the feedback-Burger Kin

Well I have had my share of them. The kits that I painted and veneered actually sounded very good. I owe some of the sucsess to Jonistixs, he told ne to lacquer the interiors and I think that really helps. Right now I am getting my Apollo kit ready to take to a buddys house. I did not spray the insides of them and I am having a hard time getting them to sound good. THey have very old Emperor heads on them, I wonder if the heads have lost their quality somehow or maybe I just dont like these heads, duno.

Il say this, due to the verical grain direction, you have problems routing edges.

Yes - that sounds like it might be tough to router the edges but I've never tried. Maybe it would be good just to do a very carefully eyeballed sanding job. I've done that on a few horizontal grained toms with very good results - haven't tried it on a vertical grained drum but I think it would be no problem.

I didn't 'lacquer' the inside shell of my Royal Star but I did apply Tung Oil.

I've routed a few.

The lighter stuff tends to be tighter grained and routs well.

The darker, more reddish luan is more stingy grained and splintery. This can also be routered ok but trickier.

The secret, if there is one, is a REALLY sharp bit and take your time.

+1 on the finishing the interiors. I like using shellac because it penetrates well and really binds the fibers together nicely.

The secret is to use the right bit, an angle grinder prevents splintering on thin panels or top grain edges, like a drum !i They are made for steel or wood or stone !i

Nice to know. never tried this. I've had good success with my 45 deg chamfering bit but always good to have options.