DW to the Finish
Exploring Lacquer.
Get a glimpse of the step-by-step lacquer process the DW Custom Shop uses to finish shells with colorful craftsmanship.
by nate duchêne
DW to the finish.
The DW Custom Shop brings your drums to life with tireless craftsmanship using an intensive shell production process designed to make drums as a complete musical instrument—all the way to the paint shop. This multi-part series spotlights the evolution of DW shells through the finish process with wisdom from DW’s master painter, Louie Garcia.
Formation is Foundation.
Straight out of the shell presses at the DW Custom Shop in Oxnard, most gritty, raw drum shells have rough edges full of glue, exposed plies, and ply tape. However, beyond the jagged corners, the drum has taken shape, with the aid of 1,500 lb. of pressure and a hot-then-Cool Tempering™ process.
The raw shell then heads to the Sanding Shop, where its fibrous, matte surface is treated with multiple rounds of sanding to remove the excess glue and tape and prep it for further treatment in its evolution.
After a coat of poly primer sealant, you really start to see the wood grain of each shell come to life with signature waves, stripes, and striations.
After three coats of primer, the shell cures for 24 hours or more, then heads back to sanding for another round of grit to remove it. This process “knocks down” the primer while leaving any gaps filled and emphasizing the wood’s natural beauty and more. “We leave enough sealant on to make sure it’s planed but take enough off to make sure the drum’s resonance isn’t choked,” Louie offers.
Custom Colors.
From here, the shell goes off to be painted. Whether it’s a burst, fade, flake, or clear, it all starts with one base coat of color. The process can vary based on the lacquer selected, but the lively Candy Apple Red Lacquer in this story is a colorful, sealed topcoat under three coats of clear lacquer. This gives the paint shop teams margin to ensure the finish comes out perfectly smooth.
The inside of a snare drum shell (featured here) also gets sprayed or “cleared” with three coats of lacquer, wet sanded with fine-grit, and then hit with a final coat. This gives the shell interior a moisture barrier and brightens the tonality. (It also looks cool)
The painted and lacquered shell then heads off to the buffing room, where it arrives with some nibs, dust, and a little “orange peel.” These particles are quickly smoothed out in 20 minutes by 9- and 15-mic buffers, followed by a full cloth polish.
After wet sanding and buffing, the gleaming lacquered shells head off to the Drilling/Edging Department, where they’re edged, drilled, and they're badged before going to assembly to be hand-fitted with lugs, hoops, and hardware. Before they’re boxed and shipped to you, all Collector’s and Performance drums get tuned, hand-polished, and a final quality check in the DW “White House” to ensure they show up studio and stage-ready right out of the box.
Says Louie, “When the drums are beautiful, I know they’re done.”
Special thanks to:
DW Custom Shop: Nick Dalton, Louie Garcia, Francisco Pelayo, Nick Minasian, and the production team
DW Photo/Video Team: Angel Chavez, Britt Robisheaux
SHOP: DW Collector's Series®
Shell Close-Up Gallery (Click to enlarge)
