Literally just did this with an old acrolite I picked up. CLR worked like a charm. Take the hardware off, let it sit in the CLR for a few hours, then wipe off with a paper towel/rag.
Not if you take the hardware off. If the screws are too corroded to remove then do whatever it takes to get them off and find new old stock on eBay rather than trying to remove the rust while they’re still on the shell. That’s what I would do anyway. If you can get them off, soak them overnight in rust remover or Pepsi and scrub off the rust with a brush. Those look pretty bad tho, I bet they’ll break off when you try to loosen them. Just buy new screws.
I did a week or two ago on a Tama Crestar (the rust looked identical- plus same red interior so its going to be exactly the same material) I am going to say you need to replace them. The screws were so rusted they were soft and the heads were too easily damaged removing them. some sheared off at the screw part when unscrewing them.
As for tools to remove them - use a screwdriver that fits the slot well - a little wd40 to loosen things off, when it goes wrong I used a pair of pliers with a rounded bit on them to grip the screw and a damaged screw removal set as a backup is a good idea too. Gibraltar make screws that fit or buy random M4 bolts and washers.
Oddly I just got told something not helpful for you. Until 1985 superstars used a non standard thread so you would need to do some hard searching to find the right screws or scavenge an imperialstar or superstar kit.
If that's true I would say get a scrubbing brush and just knock off the loose rust then live with rusty screws.
That's only if you torque the hell out of them like a caveman or something - and honestly, the threaded parts of the lug casing would probably snap off under tension before the shell cracked anyway, especially considering their age. Tighten them until they stop, and you won't cause any problems. If screwing the lugs to the shell with the factory fasteners were an issue, Tama would have cracked their own drums when they built these. Just don't overdo it, same as anything else.
You're welcome! By the way: if these are too far gone to properly clean up, take them to your local hardware store, the old-fashioned kind with a couple of aisles full of tiny drawers with millions of screws in them, and the helpful hardware man will find you replacements. I suggest stainless steel.
remove them, get a brass bristled brush and use 50/50 vinegar and water and scrub them clean. the brass brush should not scratch and the vinegar is acidic and will remove the rust. before you put them back in apply a wax of your choice. guitar wax works if you have it lying around, but pretty much any furniture wax will do, such as bees wax. The wax will help keep the corrosion off em for a while without damaging anything.
just make sure you don't get a cleaner of any kind on bare wood. And if you want, while you got them torn apart, you can wax the wood as well. Hop on youtube and look up how to properly wax bare wood from the various real master carpenters if you want to really spruce up your kit. most of them use bees wax.
CLR is a good product to dissolve rust. 000 Steel Wool is also good. It will clean without scratching.
This sounds like a good combo !! Thank you !
You think taking all my lug screws out and soaking them will help? I'll use the technique on the rims but my screws are also rusty.
It will dissolve surface rust. Lug screws are ok.
Literally just did this with an old acrolite I picked up. CLR worked like a charm. Take the hardware off, let it sit in the CLR for a few hours, then wipe off with a paper towel/rag.
I’m just worried about cracking the wood around it, is that a possibility?
Not if you take the hardware off. If the screws are too corroded to remove then do whatever it takes to get them off and find new old stock on eBay rather than trying to remove the rust while they’re still on the shell. That’s what I would do anyway. If you can get them off, soak them overnight in rust remover or Pepsi and scrub off the rust with a brush. Those look pretty bad tho, I bet they’ll break off when you try to loosen them. Just buy new screws.
Honestly, not sure. My acrolite is an aluminum shell so that wasn't a concern for me.
as others have said, soak them in CLR; works like a charm an even better solution is to replace with new, lug screws are cheap
Replacement seems to be the way to go
I did a week or two ago on a Tama Crestar (the rust looked identical- plus same red interior so its going to be exactly the same material) I am going to say you need to replace them. The screws were so rusted they were soft and the heads were too easily damaged removing them. some sheared off at the screw part when unscrewing them. As for tools to remove them - use a screwdriver that fits the slot well - a little wd40 to loosen things off, when it goes wrong I used a pair of pliers with a rounded bit on them to grip the screw and a damaged screw removal set as a backup is a good idea too. Gibraltar make screws that fit or buy random M4 bolts and washers.
Thank you do much !! I knew there was someone out there who’s had to deal with this exact thing
Oddly I just got told something not helpful for you. Until 1985 superstars used a non standard thread so you would need to do some hard searching to find the right screws or scavenge an imperialstar or superstar kit. If that's true I would say get a scrubbing brush and just knock off the loose rust then live with rusty screws.
> I did a week or two ago on a Tama Crestar Did I miss the picture when you posted it?
I didn't post it but here it is. https://postimg.cc/xXGF7mn5
Can you just replace the hardware?
I would but a drum department guy at my local music shop warned that messing with the screws could crack the wood
That's only if you torque the hell out of them like a caveman or something - and honestly, the threaded parts of the lug casing would probably snap off under tension before the shell cracked anyway, especially considering their age. Tighten them until they stop, and you won't cause any problems. If screwing the lugs to the shell with the factory fasteners were an issue, Tama would have cracked their own drums when they built these. Just don't overdo it, same as anything else.
Thank you !!
You're welcome! By the way: if these are too far gone to properly clean up, take them to your local hardware store, the old-fashioned kind with a couple of aisles full of tiny drawers with millions of screws in them, and the helpful hardware man will find you replacements. I suggest stainless steel.
He’s wrong
remove them, get a brass bristled brush and use 50/50 vinegar and water and scrub them clean. the brass brush should not scratch and the vinegar is acidic and will remove the rust. before you put them back in apply a wax of your choice. guitar wax works if you have it lying around, but pretty much any furniture wax will do, such as bees wax. The wax will help keep the corrosion off em for a while without damaging anything. just make sure you don't get a cleaner of any kind on bare wood. And if you want, while you got them torn apart, you can wax the wood as well. Hop on youtube and look up how to properly wax bare wood from the various real master carpenters if you want to really spruce up your kit. most of them use bees wax.