cymbal cutting.

[TewksTehDrumzorz]

so i have seen drummers cut their cymbals around a crack and they say it preserves it for a while. have any of you guys ever hear of that? thought i should get a few opinions before i go for it. Thanks!

[zzzdanz]

try drilling a hole at the end of the crack to stop it from going any further

[CycleDude]

Hey Tewks, Sorry I can't help ya bud. I have some old messed up cymbals that I wanna cut down itno effects like splashes and bells ad such. Just gotta get the cajones to do it.

[areFish]

I paid to have a cymbal plasma cut with the edges smoothed. Worked wonders unit it cracked again on the curve. Hurts thinking about it. It was a nice cymbal.

[MDK]

Dang it, Just noticed my 17" K Hybrid has a similar crack in it, actually a tad bigger...aaaarrrrgggghhhhh. I think I know when I cracked it and it is my own fault. damn in 8 years of drumming I have never cracked a cymbal, I buy my expensive dream cymbals and within 3 years 2 of them cracked?

[Olimpass]

Dang it, Just noticed my 17" K Hybrid has a similar crack in it, actually a tad bigger...aaaarrrrgggghhhhh. I think I know when I cracked it and it is my own fault. damn in 8 years of drumming I have never cracked a cymbal, I buy my expensive dream cymbals and within 3 years 2 of them cracked?

It looks like the one you ground away came out nice. Just do it again on the other cymbal.
I have a lot of experience doing that. Not cracking my own cymbals but fixing cracked ones.
I like using the cutoff wheel on the die grinder like you had pictured. I wouldn't bother with a carbide burr.

[MDK]

Well that only last a little over a year..ughhh noticed during last gig both my K hybrids are cracked again and right at the repair point so I guess I will try to sell em. Like to get $100 for both of them, and if not I may try the Dream $1 per inch program. Guess I need to keep my cymbal hitting in check a little more. On the positive side I get to try out my Stagg DH's tomorrow night and if they sound as good at a gig as they do on my practice kit then I may just buy more of those which are much much cheaper.
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[fiacovaz]

This was standard practice many years ago. Trace a shallow curve outward from top of the crack and cut out with tin snips. Use a rasp to take the burrs off the cut edge.

[jack's_art]

you basically cut out the crack. drilling a hole at the end of it will just preserve it for a few months maybe a year but it'll keep cracking. cutting it out is a solution not a preservant.

[jack's_art]

oh and cycle dude: cutting a cymbal down into a smaller size - like a splash - will make it sound gongy and without additional hammering will most likely sound pretty rubbish.

[Larrysperf]

oh and cycle dude: cutting a cymbal down into a smaller size - like a splash - will make it sound gongy and without additional hammering will most likely sound pretty rubbish.

sorry I disagree I have heard some that have been cut down and sounded pretty darn good. But yes some will not so I 1/2 agree lol Nuff said. Guy I know how repairs cymbals cut one to look like batman logo and it sounded pretty good lol

[parttimedrummer]

my drum bud has cut down cymbals that were cracked before, some have worked out good, some were just goof offs. I had a couple of old, cheap paper thin crashes that had cracked he cut down, and we turned into effect cymbals. Only problem is i can't add them to my kit until i get a couple more cymbal ad on things

[CycleDude]

oh and cycle dude: cutting a cymbal down into a smaller size - like a splash - will make it sound gongy and without additional hammering will most likely sound pretty rubbish.

sorry I disagree I have heard some that have been cut down and sounded pretty darn good. But yes some will not so I 1/2 agree lol Nuff said. Guy I know how repairs cymbals cut one to look like batman logo and it sounded pretty good lol

Well, They're pretty rubbish already, so i really have nothing to lose.

Hey Larry, I know a drummer who's a batman nut. Any info on that bat cymbal?

[Larrysperf]

Well, They're pretty rubbish already, so i really have nothing to lose.

Hey Larry, I know a drummer who's a batman nut. Any info on that bat cymbal?

Ill Pm you his site

[Reverend D.]

I know how repairs cymbals cut one to look like batman logo and it sounded pretty good lol

what bit would I need for my dremel?

[TewksTehDrumzorz]

cool thanks guys!

[kay-gee]

I have a cut down Paiste 602 to 10". I use as a bottom for my 10" mini-hats. Sounds great!

all the best...

[CycleDude]

Thanks Lar, I just emailed him.

[MDK]

Today I was cleaning my cymbals after last nights gig and noticed my 15" K custom hybrid crash is cracked (it's about 2 yrs old now) arrrggghhhh.. I am gonna try to cut it out using a dremel I think.20170326_191743.jpg

[FlyByNight]

Today I was cleaning my cymbals after last nights gig and noticed my 15" K custom hybrid crash is cracked (it's about 2 yrs old now) arrrggghhhh.. I am gonna try to cut it out using a dremel I think.20170326_191743.jpg

For my Wuhan china, I used an air powered die grinder with a thin cut off wheel. Very fast and easy to use. Then I attached a coarse buffing of to smooth the edges.

[MDK]

I could go two ways with this. A) outline a small half circle and cut it out with the thin disc wheel or B) use the die grinding wheel starting at the edge and grind it down which in the end will probably leave the same if not smaller semi circle. Thoughts?20170327_103959.jpg
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[N2Bluz]

Wow, sorry to hear that. At least its small enough you can notch it without losing too much.

[FlyByNight]

I would probably get the crack out of the way first with the wheel, kind of like a V shape, and then use the grinding bit to shape it into a semicircle.

[late8]

Man...that just sucks!!

[crispycritters]

I've successfully removed a small edge crack like that with a sanding flap wheel - the sandpaper quickly removes the metal with minimal heat build up and as the sandpaper 'wraps around' the edge of the cymbal as you go so there are no sharp edges remaining. The cymbal I sanded down is a B20 Stagg Furia 16" crash (which have a reputation for cracking easily) - its still going strong after 2 years with no sign of the crack reappearing in the repaired area.

For such a small edge crack I wouldn't use anything that snips away metal, either a sanding flap wheel or dremel tool is probably the safest way to go. As you aren't removing much metal the sound shouldn't be affected too much.