Hey redline. I've got an idea for you. Sounds a bit crazy, but you might want to try some
Turtle Wax Black Color Magic.
http://www.turtlewax.com/detail-Color Magic Black-42-50.aspx
It's a tinted car wax, relatively inexpensive, and it's worth a try as a cheap fix for you.
Just rub it on, let it haze, and buff it off with a soft cloth.
It's not a permanent stain or anything, but I've used it on cars with good results for hiding light scratches and so on.
It'll fade after several washings, but I don't think that would be an issue with drums.
Cheap enough that it's worth a try, before you go dumping the drums.