Dyeing drumsticks

[Composer of Requiems]

Yesterday I went to get a new pair of chinese drumsticks (gu bang)since my previous pair was wearing out. They can last really long, since they only get to hit drums and not cymbals; the last time I had to replace was several years ago.

Anyway, I realized that the chinese drumsticks are "raw" (unlacquered), unlike most western type drumsticks. I had some deep red ("deep mahogany" xD) wood dye lying around, so I thought I might as well give it a try. A few minutes work turned out this beautiful deep colour on the sticks. Lacquering sticks should not be difficult; I used a broken drumstick to stir a can of lacquer before, and when I took it out, the lacquer dripped off, leaving a thin, smooth coating.

I don't know what material the chinese drumsticks are made of, but this dye should work on most woods. It's easily available from hardware shops like homefix DIY, and easy to use (just put on cloth and rub on, or use brush, or just pour on the wood or whatever you want), although it kinda stinks. This is better than using paint, since paint can flake. I dyed my drumset as well some time back; it turned out nicely (you can see it here)

So today, I tried using it on western drumsticks. I know these have a lacquer surface, so I tried it on a pair of broken sticks first. The stick I used had split in half diagonally, so there was a lot of ample space to test for both the surface and the interior.

The lacquered surface, as expected, did not accept the dye at all. However, the broken (raw) surface took it in beautifully.

I took sandpaper and started to sand off the lacquer. However, after quite a lot of sanding, it still refused to accept the dye. I think that if I sanded down to the raw wood surface and dyed, it could affect the feel of the stick too much, so I decided not to continue with it.

I tested this with Tama Japanese Oak and Hickory sticks. Both did not work. If any of you decide to try, and find sticks that are easier to work with, I would like to give it a try. It's a way to get a really exotic-looking stick, making it look like some rare wood, while it still being a standard wood, and the kind of feeling that you like.

I'm trying to find sticks without lacquer now. I think Pearl drumsticks don't have lacquer, but I've only seen those in Japan. If anyone knows any unlacquered sticks, please do say!

 

[malmbas]

Those sticks look great! Nice colour. I used to make my own smaller soft sounding cymbal sticks out of my broken bigger rock type sticks. used to dye them green or blue just for fun.

I'm pretty sure that any produced stick that has already got a protective coating is going to need heaps of sanding before it will accept the stain/dye. I assume, since the lacquer on sticks is pretty thin, they would use a sanding sealer to be absorbed and fill up the grain too.
So, unless you don't mind sanding the stick quite a bit thinner, those unfinished ones would be the way to go.

Or maybe the Regal Tip 'Butt Naked' models..... they're unlacquered, but think they still have a sealer on them though..... or a wood treatment... should be easier to sand off though

did you do any sanding before you dyed? In the pic looks like there's still a few lathe lines that the dye ended up in. not that it really matters though, they still look great

if you wanted a slightly smoother look you could sand with 180-220 first, stain twice, apply a sanding sealer, sand 150-220, then maybe higher grit like 360- 400 (i guess you don't want it so smooth that they'd slip out of your hands), then apply whatever lacquer you like.

You've inspired me, i might have to try a fade or something on an old pair of sticks

 

[Composer of Requiems]

Haha nope, these are raw, and also, the lines are the wood grain.

I don't have any photos of these sticks before dyeing. I don't think they're sold in australia, too...

Anyway, I haven't seen Regaltip before. I could try looking for it, although I'll be quite busy most of the time.

 

[tim098]

Your sticks are damn NICE. and so is ur drum kit, the colour is awesome.

If im not wrong, one range of zildjian sticks arent lacquered. I cant remember which one but i remember reading it in a mag a few years back, the lower parts at least are sanded in a special way to increase the grip and I dont think theres lacquer cuz then the sanding would be to waste right?

 

[elevenine]

Try the Vater NUDE series, available at Ranking or Music Theme. They're my sticks of choice when I'm using traditional wood sticks. Not laquered at all.

 

[Composer of Requiems]

Whoa, thanks for the info! Next time I pass by bras pasah I'll check out ranking for these Vater sticks. And Zildjian next time I pass by Plaza Sing. I'm just very scared after I get it liao then realize got lacquer. Probably will be going for Vater, I've never had good experiences with Zildjians.

I'll post if I manage to get any good results from them.

 

[Composer of Requiems]

Update~! My lectures ended early today, so I dropped by Ranking Sports and Music on the way back...

Result:

 

[sf1102]

I just use normal drawing color to paint random patterns on my drumsticks to decorate them haha. They wear off after a while though...

 

[Composer of Requiems]

I just use normal drawing color to paint random patterns on my drumsticks to decorate them haha. They wear off after a while though...

Try drawing with dye instead. It might be nice.

 

[vickomaniac]

beautiful grains. nice job!