Allan Speers Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Best Way to keep cracks from spreading? A few of my best sounding bronze have cracks in them. What to do, I ask you. what to do? I'm thinking: 1: super-glue -sonically unobtrusive, but will it hold? 2: drill the ends of the cracks -this works, but is sonically invaive 3: heat with a torch (carefully) get some plumbers solder in there. (even brass) -This will probably work, and has the advantage of transferring vibrations, but the heat might alter the good part. 4: Live with it and watch a great cymbal slowly dissintegrate. Whaddaya think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Whatever you do, option 4 is inevitable. I have a SabianAA which used to be a 16"; it's cracked all around and is now closer to a 12". Still sounds great (though obviously different). Drilling doesn't work. I've done it, and seen it done many times. It only temporarily stops the spread. SuperGlue won't work. It holds just fine in direct-pull instances, not in shear/vibration circumstances. Likewise, the area of the crack is fatigued and therefore soldering will just yield ugliness as it destroys the sound. Wish I had better news. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeq Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 start saying your goodbyes now drilling a fairly large hole at both ends of the crack will slow it down but not stop it. make sure to include some "good" cymbal in the hole you drill. any kind of heat/welding soldering will ruin the temper of the metal and destroy your cymbal now rather than later. they used to have a trade in deal for Zildjians where you got paid by the inch for your old cymbal in _any condition- they melt them back down and there is a high silver content in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 A cracked cymbal has gotta sound fairly bad. I'd start looking for another cymbal. I never cracked a cymbal. How long is the crack? Maybe you can cut it down and make a smaller cymbal, and save as much of the memory as you can. Just a dumb thought........ Sorry. No other suggestions. I've heard of the drilling of the cymbal to reduce further cracking. Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Speers Posted April 8, 2004 Author Share Posted April 8, 2004 These cracks are in bad places, no cutting-down would be feasable. -and they do still sound great. I'm thinking of trying the following: Braze a tiny amount of brass into the crack, then immediately dump the cymbal into cold water. That should harden the metal again. It may or may not sound right, but it would probably last. No? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrummerCafe Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 I've never seen the drilling process really work long term; it always "spiders" out again. The only two solutions I've seen that actually works long term: Cymbal Biting - where a section of the cymbal is removed, which resembles a bite being taken out of it. Cymbal Size Reduction - where the cymbal is cut down. Example, an 18-inch Crash with a one inch crack on the edge, reduced to a 16-inch Crash. There are a variety of individuals who can help you do this. If you need a contact, let me know. Drummer Cafe - community drum & percussion forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachjkh Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 If the cymbal is doomed anyway, you might as well try the solder, eh? Solder melts at a pretty low temp, maybe it'll work. Hey you white boy there Go play that funky music "ok...what's it pay?" first smoke, then silence your very expensive rig dies so gracefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeq Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 I like that 'biting' idea. You can tell people your pit bull did it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam b_dup1 Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 get out that sauter and the duct tape, you could rig it up!....i seriously have no idea i have never cracked a cymbal .....bonham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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