A 7x14 shell being wrapped with FinishPly

DW to the Finish

Covering FinishPly.

In the final paint shop feature, we walk through the methodical FinishPly process with Henna Arambula, a long-time DW Custom Shop artisan.

by nate duchêne // November 3, 2026

DW To The Finish: FinishPly

DW FinishPly™ gives drummers the most durable and high-speed finish option without sacrificing tonality or colorful expression. Follow the handcrafted process from shell prep to final trims in the photos and story below.

Perfecting the Process.

DW’s FinishPly™ began with a fun bit of deception, when Don Lombardi duped John Good into tuning and approving new drums finished with an indiscernible black wrap disguised as a lacquer. This opened the door to DW’s pursuit of finishes that became FinishPly. For 30-plus years, Henna Arambula has put the final touches on DW Drums in the FinishPly department of the Custom Shop, so she walked us through the process.

The Arambulas have been a fixture of DW Drums’ legacy and culture since 1975, and nearly 30 Arambulas have worked at the company, playing vital roles in virtually every part of drum manufacturing, logistics, and more. If you own any DW Drums, pedals, or hardware, there’s a great chance it passed through the hands of an Arambula to get to you.

Prepped shell over Gold Abalone FinishPly

In Good Hands.

So, it’s only fitting that a handcrafted shell bound for the FinishPly department comes straight into Henna’s hands. She inspects every shell for visual and tactile quality. “The surface has to be perfectly smooth for a complete bond,” Henna emphasizes. If there are any issues, the shell goes back to Sanding for another pass to plane it.

Gluing shell for FinishPly

Once the shell passes quality, Henna marks it up for the FinishPly seam. “The surface also has to be clean,” she says, brushing off the exterior before hand-applying and smoothing out glue. The proprietary glue sets a lightweight, durable bond that minimizes tension on the shell, so it doesn’t choke tonality. After another visual inspection, the shell cures for 30 minutes.

Trimming gold abalone finishply
The FinishPly workstation is an explosion of bright colors—albeit a very organized one. Each sheet is tucked into cubbies below a tabletop and ready for handcrafted shells. For this 7x14" snare, Henna pulls out swirly Gold Abalone, sets the dimensions on the tabletop trimming machine, and deftly hand-feeds the sheet into the device. Like the shell exterior, Henna spreads and brushes the glue onto the wrap, and sets it aside to cure.

prepping finishply

Taking it up a Notch.

After the glue cures, Henna rolls the 7x14" shell under with the Gold Abalone FinishPly to bond the two under about 20 lb. of pressure. About a one-inch overlap sits at the seam, which gets hand-notched (see blue tape) at the lip to ensure full tonality and resonance. “We notch the FinishPly on overlap seams for maximum shell contact.”

Overlap seams also address a common issue with butt seams, where a seam can separate as the shell seasons over time. As a final step, Henna treats remaining lip with a heat gun and proprietary material for a lasting bond.

Pressing notched FinishPly
Labor of Love.

After hand trimming vertical overlap, Henna delivers the shell back to the Sanding and Edging Department. After 30 years on the job, it’s amazing to watch her handle the craftsmanship so naturally. With the meticulous care and dedication she gives to every drum she handles, it’s little wonder why the Arambulas have been so vital to DW’s success.

When asked why she does what she does, Henna muses for a moment, then offers: “I just love making drums because of the joy they bring to people.”

Trimming FinishPly edges

Snare in Gold Abalone FinishPly
Special thanks to:

DW Custom Shop: Nick Dalton, Henna Arambula, Francisco Pelayo, and the production team

DW Photo/Video Team: Angel Chavez, Britt Robisheaux