Brazing brass cymbals
 

I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set. They have cracks that run parallel to the diameter. Can they be
brazed with o/a? Is there any secrets to share? Heat treated, warping
or whatever? Thanks Scott

Scott wrote:

I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set. They have cracks that run parallel to the diameter. Can they be
brazed with o/a? Is there any secrets to share? Heat treated, warping
or whatever? Thanks Scott


I would be absolutely astounded, not to say astonished, if they sounded right
after you're done, no matter how good you are. - GWE

Scott wrote:
I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set. They have cracks that run parallel to the diameter. Can they be
brazed with o/a? Is there any secrets to share? Heat treated, warping
or whatever? Thanks Scott



You can do, of course, whatever you want, but it won't be much of a
cymbal when you are finished. The usual options are to drill a hole at
the end of the crack to spread out the stress, or cut down the cymbal to
eliminate the crack. You will have a different cymbal at that point; it
may sound good or bad. For short cracks starting at the center hole, I
have made a brass washer and epoxyed it to the center hole.

Cymbals worthy of the name are bronze. The cheap ones are 8% tin,
because they can be stamped from a sheet. The more expensive models are
around 20% tin. This alloy is too brittle to roll in a sheet. The cymbal
maker starts with a biscuit of cast alloy, heats it red hot, pounds and
rolls it flat, stamps it to shape, scrapes grooves in it on the lathe,
annealing as required. Then the cymbal is hammered to work harden it.
The Ziljian and Sabian sites have pictures of the process.

Kevin Gallimore


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On 13 Jul 2005 16:07:37 -0700, "Scott"
wrote:

I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set. They have cracks that run parallel to the diameter. Can they be
brazed with o/a? Is there any secrets to share? Heat treated, warping
or whatever? Thanks Scott

Here's what I learned in music school. Drill a small hole at the
inside end of the crack to keep it from "running". Then cut a small V
shaped notch with the big end at the rim of the cymbal and the point
ending in the hole you drilled. This keeps the "sides" of the crack
from rubbing together and distorting the sound.
Randy

i don't know anything about it, but, couldn't you, as they said, drill holes
at the ends of the cracks, but also, drill holes along the crack ever inch
or two and put in some copper rivets and peen them over? i mean, isn't how
they "fixed" the liberty bell? i really don't know though.


"Scott" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set. They have cracks that run parallel to the diameter. Can they be
brazed with o/a? Is there any secrets to share? Heat treated, warping
or whatever? Thanks Scott

Knowing very little about cymbals, I will offer the following suggestions,
based on what I would try. 1.) I would not do anything if the cymbals
sound okay now, or if the owner has an alternative that promises to work.
2.) If the only other choice is to throw them away, I would silver solder
the cracks, and then peen the area to restore hardness. Soft metal doesn't
ring.

Scott wrote:

I have been asked to repair a couple of brass cymbals from a drum
set.

I don't think this repair is of any value. By brazing them, they will
loose all the inner tension and stiffness they got when they were made.


Nick
--
Motormodelle / Engine Models:
http://www.motor-manufaktur.de
Ellwe 2FB * VTM 87 * DLM-S3a * cubic
more to come ...

You might try laser wlding. I found a local jewelry store that did a
great job welding some silver for me. Weld it with brass and carefully
hammer the finished weld to bring the cymball back up to tune, tap
testing as you go.
Bugs

The cymbal is basically trash as the others have sort of indicated.
Cymbals are highly hardened brass and any heat work on them will soften them
to where they sound different. Even soldering them with any silver solder
will affect the hardening of the brass and lead/tin soldeer won't be strong
enough to make a good joint.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?