3 Proven Methods For Cracked Cymbal Repair
Oh no… why is my cymbal now making a buzzing sound? Was that the sound of your favorite cymbal cracking? There might be some hope. According to a recent survey by Drummer’s World, 65% of cracked cymbals can be successfully repaired (at least for a while, but of course, you should plan on replacing them). In this guide, we’ll dive into the world of cracked cymbal repair, exploring a few different techniques.
Understanding Cymbal Damage: Types of Cracks and Their Causes
You are likely to have a cymbal develop a crack in three main places. They’re going to get worse very quickly if you don’t deal with it ASAP!
The Edge
This is the most common place for a crack to first appear. You might even only be able to hear it before you see it. The cymbal can have a slight buzzing sound, and you might need to run your fingers around the edge to locate it.
The Bow
This is a bit rarer. I’ve only had this happen once in over thirty years of playing actually. Once again, I heard it before I saw it – there was a buzzing sound when I hit the ride cymbal and the crack was very hard to see. It might start out at an angle, but it will usually start to run along the length of the lathing (around in a circle).
The Bell
This is when a crack appears coming in from the hole at the center of the cymbal. This might be the least likely occurace of a crack, unless the cymbal has keyholing (as shown in the picture above, where the cymbal has been on a stand with no nylon sleeve protection and metal-on-metal contact has occurred, and the thread on the cymbal stand has eaten away at the cymbal.
DIY Cracked Cymbal Repair: At-Home Restoration Techniques
Repairing The Edge Of A Cracked Cymbal
The best way to deal with a crack on the edge of a cymbal is to use a tool like an angle grinder or a Dremel tool to remove that section of the cymbal, coming in a bit more than the crack already shows.
Try to remove a curved piece as much as possible so the corners are rounded. Also move the tool pretty quickly because if you stay in one spot too long it will heat the metal and burn it, and a black section will appear.
Then use a file to remove any sharp sections and round off the edge again. You might like to change to a finer file or even a piece of sandpaper to finish off the edge as smoothly as possible because you’ll need to be careful doing cymbal chokes from now on!
Repairing The Bow Of A Cracked Cymbal
You’ll need to try to prevent a crack in the middle of a cymbal from spreading any further by using a drill to drill a hole at the start and end points of the crack. I’d drill slightly more than it currently shows because it’s likely to be already weakened in that section anyway.
Try drilling with a smaller drill bit first, then increase the size of the holes with a larger drill bit.
Once you have the start and end holes done, you can work your way along the line to remove more material so that it won’t have a buzzing sound when you play it anymore. You’ll then need to use a file and sandpaper to smooth off the edges as best you can.
Repairing The Bell Of A Cracked Cymbal
The bell repair process is similar to the bow repair process, except that you can really only drill one hole at the end of the crack to try to stop it going any further. (Increasing the size of the center hole might cause the cymbal to slip down the line of removed material which would introduce all sorts of problems).
Extending Cymbal Life: Preventive Measures and Proper Care
Ah, the age-old drummer’s dilemma – how to keep those cymbals sounding pristine, even after years of pummeling them into submission. First and foremost, it all comes down to playing technique. Try to loosen up, use more of a rebound stroke, and let the cymbal do the work.
And speaking of making a difference, let’s talk storage and transport. Using a high-quality lined case (with wheels) will protect your investment and keep those pies sounding great and well-protected!
And let’s not forget regular maintenance. I know it’s not the most glamorous part of being a drummer, but taking the time to clean, and inspect your cymbals can pay huge dividends down the line.
But the real key is being proactive. At the first sign of a hairline crack or a suspicious spot – jump into action! Attempt a DIY repair or take it to a pro if it’s beyond your skills, and the gear you have on hand.
Catching issues early can save the cymbal for a while, but you should expect that at some point it will need to be replaced as it’s just not what it used to be. You may notice that the sound is different, the feel is different, or it develops another crack more easily than before.
Fingers cross you get a lot more life out of it before having to replace it, but I’m just keeping it real. Plus, it’s a great excuse for some retail therapy, right? 🤪
So there you have it, folks – my hard-won lessons on extending the life of cymbals. Unfortunately, I’ve had to deal with all of these issues on my drumming journey, so it’s useful knowledge to have when cracks appear.
The Art of Repurposing: Creative Solutions for Severely Damaged Cymbals
If your DIY repair leaves it not sounding very good, and if you can’t afford to replace it yet, there is a third option. Create your own custom cymbal stack!
Turns out, that repurposing damaged cymbals can be kinda fun. You might have more than one, or be able to get hold of another broken one for cheap, combine your broken one with another cymbal you already have, or even get hold of a cheap B8 cymbal to make a cymbal stack of your own design.
Taking the time to experiment with different combinations can open up a whole new world of sonic possibilities.
Another option could be to cut down the cymbals and simply make them smaller. A crack in the middle might work its way around over time, then you’d only need to smooth off the edges. Otherwise, you could get a friend or a metal shop to help you with the process.
A great example of this that I can think of is Gavin Harrison from Porcupine Tree. He has a collection of five small Zildjian cymbal “chimes” as he calls them, which he has repurposed from damaged cymbals. They are positioned just above his hi-hat.
So how do they sound? I’ll let you be the judge:
Pretty cool right? So perhaps your unfortunate cymbal cracks could be worth salvaging and would be worth transforming into something inspiring that will get those creative juices flowing!
So, the next time you find yourself staring down a cracked or damaged cymbal, don’t just relegate it to the trash. Take a step back, let your creativity run wild, and see what kind of sonic or visual magic you can conjure up.
Who knows, you might just end up with your new favorite percussion effect or a one-of-a-kind piece of cymbal art. The possibilities are endless.
Drum kits come in many different forms and variations. Check out these articles for help on choosing a drum kit, the best drum sets for beginners, and the best electronic kits if you need to keep the noise down.
