Camco Project
 

I just bought a set of Oaklawn Camco drums in Moss Green. The drums are in great shape and almost completely original! The one exception is the snare. It looks like a wrapped drum that was stripped and sanded for an attempt to match it to the rest of the kit. It didn't end up matching. I'd like to finish the job right but am not sure what kind of stain to use. Anyone have experience that can shed some light? The drum is prepped already and just needs stain/clear coat.

Also, if anyone knows where to find a set of legs and brackets or 13"/16" rolled hoops, I'd appreciate the help. Thanks!

-Nathan

Re: Camco Project
 

How exciting. And no painted black interiors! Just curious of what you paid though I understand if you don't want to divulge. Congrats! Welcome to the club. I thought I'd never say that either but I got lucky a few months ago .. :)

Re: Camco Project
 

Gosh those are beautiful shells. Inside and out.

Mitch

Re: Camco Project
 

Oaklawn Camco's are the best! Welcome to the club. A -very worthy- project kit. Do whatever you have to to put them right again. Can't wait to see that kit put back together. It has a finish you don't get to see very often.

John

Re: Camco Project
 

Beautiful set. Enjoy those wonderful instruments.

SC

Re: Camco Project
 

Here's 5 pictures of a Camco kit that sold on eBay way back in March of 2003. Sure looks much greener than Moss Green! Anyway, this should help whet your appetite to restore your Camco kit!

Mark

Re: Camco Project
 

I remember seeing that set! I wonder if that is the original shade of green or if they were refinished. It definitely looks much greener than the chanute catalog finish. My bass drum actually has matching stained hoops with silver sparkle inlays.

Re: Camco Project
 

Good luck with your kit!

Re: Camco Project
 

If I would have to finish that snare I'd think I'D have two options. These options are based on my assymption that the Shell is already laquered.

1. Buy transparant laquer and some small bottels of higly pigmented liquid, you can buy that in paint shops, it is for precisely altering the colourless of paint. Also buy Some sheets of veneer same wood as your drum (maple). Sand the veneer. Laquer it colourless until it matches the snare in current shape. Then use the sheets to make tests with colouring clear laquer. If you are happy with a vertaling mixture Apple to the snare.

2. If outer ply of shell is think enough to allow it, sand of the current laquer until the wood is clean again. Make wet with clear water, will make fibers stand up. Sand down fibers. Repeat this couple of times. Shell is ready to be stained with water based stain. Buy some colurs of water based stain (green yellow brown for instance) and again use sheets od veneer to make tests including finishing it with clear laquer. When happy, stain. Laquer clear afterward

I think method 2 would be nicest.

Re: Camco Project
 

Thanks Bartw. I shouldn't have to do much sanding because of how thin the finish is on the drum. It has rubbed off in many areas and there is little gloss on the shell. I was thinking water-based stain. I'm told my local hardware stores will mix a stain to match what I need.

On a separate note, the rims on the drums are interesting. They are heavy triple-flanged brass hoops with a weld spot under the chrome and the ears are curved. They are very similar to the rolled edge hoops, just a bit shorter and without the roll. Could these be original? Based on the mounting hardware and sizes of the drums, I would bet these are a very late model Oaklawn kit.

Re: Camco Project
 

Who saves the photos? Lol ... Gorgeous! We're a crazy bunch aren't we?

Re: Camco Project
 

What a great kit, congratulations!

Be aware that they're 2 versions of moss green.

The pale version is the early one seen in the Oaklawn period.
The darker one is from the later Chanute and Los Angeles periods.

Re: Camco Project
 

After seeing those two pictures I think I would leave these drums as they are, original.

Re: Camco Project
 

I have no intentions of altering the toms and bass drum. I had been looking for this kit in this finish for nearly ten years when I found these. The drums have no modifications to them and I intend to leave them that way. The snare drum is the only thing that needs attention. Someone already ruined it's originality by stripping it's wrap while trying to make it match the rest of the set. I only want to put a better quality finish on it and make it match a little better.

Re: Camco Project
 

This must be the kit with all the Rogers hardware that was on Ebay.

A beautiful set of drums, congratulations!

The snare is clearly a stripped shell as it has a white interior. The natural Camco finished drums in the Oaklawn and Chanute period all had clear interiors. They're 2 versions of COB Camco hoops. Both have the curved ears but only the earlier ones have the rolled over top edge. They're also taller and heavier. The ones you have are slightly lighter and have indeed a weld spot.

When trying to match the snare to the rest of the kit, be aware that, what Camco used in those days, is not a real stain. The areas where the finish is scratched off, are clearly lighter so the color never really penetrated into the wood grain. What they used is more like a colored varnish. It's fairly easy to remove it. I hope your snare is done the same way. Attached you can find some pictures of a Camco Chanute kit that I restored. I used a walnut stain (1 coat) and 4 layers of polyurethane vanish. By using this method, the stain penetrates deep into the wood and won't come off. Achieving a perfect match will be difficult and what bart said: you would need to try out different swatches. Also be aware that once you start applying the top varnish coats, the appearance changes dramatically.

Re: Camco Project
 

Stedi, you sure did a wonderful job on those! Makes me want to strip the wrap off of mine and make them natural wood.

NSparkman, I have been reading the entire thread but had already forgotten that you were only speaking of the snare drum as far as refinishing is concerned, sorry I made that mistake.
I have done a lot of stain, paint and finish matching over the years and the biggest problem will be the fact that the snare will have a new finish and will never look like the aged finish on the other drums. I am struggling with that right now on a cabinet job. I think your getting some good advice on what to do, especially the part about experimenting with some maple veneer. Please keep us to date on the project, this is interesting stuff!

Re: Camco Project
 

I own a set of Chanutes and sure sure would love to see a copy of that catalog. I poked around on line and found some low resolution pics. Anybody got a better on line link or info on a Chanute Camco catalog ? I see a Camco catalog sold last month on ebay for $40.

Best of luck with your Camco project. You're gonna love those drums !

Doug

Re: Camco Project
 

The Moss Green finish is a bit of a mysterie,...

During the Oaklawn period, they're was only the pale version, just like the set NSparkman bought. During the Chanute period, there seem to have been 2 versions. The catalog shows the light version but the link and the second picture clearly shows the other version.

On Los Angeles drum, I've only seen the darker/brighter version.
The brochure however, doesn't advertise Moss Green,...

http://www.classicvintagedrums.com/i...roducts_id=627

Re: Camco Project
 

Stedi,

Thank you very much for the links and info - I appreciate it !

Doug

Re: Camco Project
 

Just wanted to say congrats. Beautiful drums. The interiors look so nice and clean too. I hope to someday see what all the Camco buzz is about and grab some of these. On a long wish list of mine. The only Camco's I played was my old drum teacher's kit back in the 70's. He and his Dad were jazz drummers and both had Camco 20-14-12-14s kits. Great sounding drums! Your finish is such a cool color too. Very nice hope you enjoy them for many moons.

Re: Camco Project
 

Thanks for all the comments and help. I'm going to start the assembly process this week. I'll post pictures along the way. They were taken care of but played as well so they need a bit of TLC. I can't wait to set them up!!

Re: Camco Project
 

I drooled over this set on eBay for months, it seems. I'm glad I don't have to fret about them any longer. I really dig the Moss Green finish.

Re: Camco Project
 

Agree with you Dan,...

... and what about the silver inlays on the BD hoops?
Normally Camco drums with natural finishes didn't have inlays.

Anybody here knows more about that?

Re: Camco Project
 

I drooled over these for months as well. I probably emailed the lady 50 times about selling without the stands before she finally made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The silver sparkle inlays look so awesome. I wish the hoops weren't faded so bad. It would have been great to see how the original Moss Green looked against them.

Anyway, here is the snare drum before and after a coat of stain. The color matches the unfaded parts (under the mounts) perfectly! Kinda makes me wish the rest of the drums were in worse condition so I could refinish them all. I still have to put a coat of poly over the stain before I can button it up and play it. I should have the snare finished in the next day or two.

Re: Camco Project
 

Holy great match-job, Batman! :)

Mitch

Re: Camco Project
 

Look at that,.... well done !!!

I never thought you would be able to pull that off,...

Let us know which stain you used please.

Re: Camco Project
 

I went to a local Sherwin Williams Paint store and had them mix a can of Minwax water-based stain. The color is called "Green Tea." Unfortunately they only mix a minimum of one quart so I have enough to stain another 100 drums. The whole can was about $12. Maybe I'll build a Keller/DW 12" clone to match...

Re: Camco Project
 

Big compliment!

Re: Camco Project
 

Late in on this one but colour in the lacquer was how they were done (as Stedi points out). I've got a similar potential project but just one moss green Oaklawn bass drum and a lot of odd formerly lacquered drums that may one day go green.

I've seen the occasional lacquered kit with an inlay. Certainly remember a black lacquer kit with a similar silver sparkle inlay. Probably just an ordering option. I wouldn't overthink it.

Re: Camco Project
 

Looks like a dead-on match to me. Excellent job on that snare! Great save for the kit.

John

Re: Camco Project
 

Great call on the that recipe. Man, it looks awesome.

Re: Camco Project
 

Looks fantastic!

Re: Camco Project
 

Here are the completed drums. These sound incredible! This is by far the best sounding 20" bass drum I've ever played. I'm hooked. Now, to find a 12" tom...

Re: Camco Project
 

Looks good. Congrats!

Re: Camco Project
 

What's with the Camco inner shells painted black thing? Mine are afflicted with the same disease. Where can we find the person responsible for this atrocity? :)

Re: Camco Project
 

Great match on the stain. Looks perfect. Nice job on the finish too. Green with envy here. :D Cool kit enjoy them!

Re: Camco Project
 

Excellent match! You got yourself a very cool drum kit!

Re: Camco Project
 

Larryz, The black painted interior had me baffled too. I''ve got most of it off using a super sharp chisel (from new), very gently scraping it off. Clear lacquer underneath virtually untouched.

I guess it could be a throwback to when a lot of people were playing bottom head off and they thought black was more aesthetically pleasing. There were also a lot of drugs around at the time, I've heard.

Re: Camco Project
 

I, too, have a Camco kit with the bass drum interior painted black. I'm not sure if the previous owner was stoned.....or just stupid.

A white moire kit I owned in the mid 1980's had interiors painted beige, ala Slingerland. That still baffles me, since the kit was in excellent condition at the time.