Hello
Has anyone experience in cleaning the laser engraving on a 1970s Ludwig Black Beauty? The machine engraving on these drums is very rough to the touch and snags on any type of cloth resulting in tiny fibers being lodged in the engraving pattern.
Thank you.
I'd try finishing up with a soft bristled brush.
Just as a reminder, the engraving on that era snare was done by machine not laser and be mindful of the clear coat as well when cleaning/polishing (i.e., use no abrasive cleaners, avoid the ammonia based cleaners). A damp cloth follwed by an immediate drying is probably the safest method.
Look for a lint-free polishing cloth that has an ultra-tight weave and avoid the plush or high-pyle type cloth to prevent snags you mentioned above.
Thank you Hoppy.
However I've tried the tightest weave cloth available and unfortunately it still snags on the engraving.
I understand this problem very well, especially with the 70s Ludwig Black Beauty models with deep engraving – the black copper material and the surface is not covered with a glossy protective coating like the newer models. The best way I use is a super small paint brush (the kind used in fine art) to lightly brush in the direction of the engraving, then blow with dry compressed air. Using a microfiber cloth or suede is very easy to leave fibers, so I avoid it completely.
