Soldering Cymbals

[mgray]

Hey guys,

I know that if you play them correctly, cymbals will probably never crack, but this cymbal has a crack that just keeps getting bigger. I don't know if there was a manufacturer's defect with the cymbal that I got (Mike Portnoy Signature 10" Maxx Splash) or what. I've heard from places that if you drill a really tiny hole at each end of the crack, and then solder the crack back together, you can salvage the cymbal. I just don't want to screw up the sound of the cymbal by doing this...if it's going to sound like crap afterwards, then I'll be pretty pissed at myself for doing this, because it's a great cymbal. Any of you guys have ideas for fixing this? Or should I just break down and buy a brand new one? Thanks again. Cheers.

[jimi]

Soldering totally wrecks the sound, it will only be a practice cymbal after that :(
Im afraid it waterworks and a trip to the drumstore ...

[PolyOstinato]

Soldering won't work and if you hit them enough, many cymbals will crack. Keep your receipt, because if you crack them within the warranty period, you may get a replacement, assuming you haven't dropped it on it's edge or used it without cymbal felts or plastic cymbal stand sleeves.

[rolemodel81d]

also splashes no matter what brand are 100 times more likely to crack than any other cymbal,no matter how hard or soft you play them,unless its a Z custom,but they dont have a nice splash sound

[pcannon]

Heres a trick I use, say u have a 18 crash w/crack on the edge of one inch. Measure in 1 1/2 inches in, all the way around, draw a circle on the cymbal using these measuremeants. Cut off the outside edge w/jig saw with the right blade and now you have a 16 1/2 inch cymbal! I had a closet full of old broken ones I did this too.I wound up with some really cool hi-hats in a variety of sizes! along with new "sounding" crashes! Works great!! BE CAREFULL- YOUR HANDS ARE YOUR LIFE!!!!

[mgray]

well, that wouldnt work with mine, because like i said before, it's a splash, and the crack is pretty far in, almost at the bell of the cymbal.

any other ideas? thanks guys

[cjcdrums]

A trick I use is say u have a 18 crash w/crack on the edge of one inch. Measure in 1 1/2 inches in, all the way around, draw a circle on the cymbal using these measure meants. Cut off the outside edge w/jig saw with the right blade and now you have a 16 1/2 inch cymbal! I had a closet full of old broken ones I did this too. wound up with some really cool hi-hats in a variety of sizes, along with new "sounding" crashes! Works great!!

Wow... never thought of that.

[C.J.]

Hey guys,

I know that if you play them correctly, cymbals will probably never crack, but this cymbal has a crack that just keeps getting bigger. I don't know if there was a manufacturer's defect with the cymbal that I got (Mike Portnoy Signature 10" Maxx Splash) or what. I've heard from places that if you drill a really tiny hole at each end of the crack, and then solder the crack back together, you can salvage the cymbal. I just don't want to screw up the sound of the cymbal by doing this...if it's going to sound like crap afterwards, then I'll be pretty pissed at myself for doing this, because it's a great cymbal. Any of you guys have ideas for fixing this? Or should I just break down and buy a brand new one? Thanks again. Cheers.


Your Cymbal is wrecked, dead, gone, ruined, warped, busted, destroyed, terminated... You'll have to buy a new one I'm affraid.

[mgray]

thanks for the help guys....i think im just going to play it until it gets to the point where i can't play it anymore without breaking it, then i'm gonna try and solder it, because by that point, it won't matter anyway, and there's a slight chance that it won't change the sound completely. if not, then ill just buy a brand new one.

[Spit]

Why not converting it to a little ice bell?

I saw something on the internet where a good drummer shows some tricks like building octobans and a littre 8 by 5 snare drum (wich I made and sound awesome!).

If you take the cymbal and sawn it to take of the crack. Then mount it like an ice bell!

[PolyOstinato]

Don't even waste your time soldering it. It won't hold the cymbal together. Lead solder versus a drum stick. Drum stick wins! Just use it as a practice cymbal or special effect.

[C.J.]

Why not converting it to a little ice bell?

I saw something on the internet where a good drummer shows some tricks like building octobans and a littre 8 by 5 snare drum (wich I made and sound awesome!).

If you take the cymbal and sawn it to take of the crack. Then mount it like an ice bell!

Wasn't that a French guy called Earthshaker on thins forum?

[Spit]

Yes it is...nice tricks he gives on his site and work well also.

I also love what he makes with is band (Eneade).

[C.J.]

I'm not to familiar with Eneade's work sorry. I like his new drum kit though!

[DavidPartay]

Soldering is for making ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. It is designed for joining copper wires and the electrical tracks on circuit boards. It is NOT a physically strong connection and it does not repair a cymbal - all it will do is SURROUND the crack, and the crack will continue to spread through the solder. Soldering a cymbal will only subject the cymbal to temperatures above 300 degrees celcius and heat damage to the sound. The only way to PHYSICALLY repair a crack is to MELT the cymbal itself and build it again, but 99% of us normal people can't do that and would be better off buying a new one.

[PolyOstinato]

Thank you.