23 pieces of birch ready to be glued up.

The glued birch shell alongside a walnut one that is currently in progress.

Rounding the shell reduces the thickness by almost 1/2 inch. Shavings everywhere.

Rounded and rough sanded.

Marking out the snare beds, very subtle dips in the bottom of snare shells that allow the snare wires to sit right against the skin. I learned the hard way from the first drum that they sound terrible without them!

The bearing edge where the skin touches. These are shaped with the help of some old rasps and files.

The mild dip in the snare bed can be seen.

Bearing edges complete, ready to sand up to 220.

First coat of poly makes the grain come alive!

More poly.

Hardware going on, the chrome really goes well with the birch.