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View Full Version : why are my cymbals turning green?

johnnyfivetimes
10-13-2007, 07:21 AM
i moved to a new house and my cymbals started to get green spots on them. Anyone know why this happens and what i can do to stop it? thanks
dom
10-13-2007, 07:25 AM
its oxidation-rust for bronze kinda. Your new house is probably more humid or something along those lines. If you dont like it (some people do) try getting some cymbal cleaner and going at them with that everyonce in a while, and when you are done playing take them off the stands and put them in a bag if you have got one.
konaboy
10-13-2007, 02:14 PM
What cymbals do you have? I know the lower end bronze ones have a tendency to do that with moisture and acid from your fingers.
Drum-Head
10-13-2007, 02:27 PM
What cymbals do you have? I know the lower end bronze ones have a tendency to do that with moisture and acid from your fingers.

All cymbals will eventually oxidize when exposed to moisture and/or acid from finger contact.
konaboy
10-13-2007, 02:31 PM
All cymbals will eventually oxidize when exposed to moisture and/or acid from finger contact.

True but the green "patina" I've only really noticed on cymbals like ZBT or ZHT's. I have 'A's that have shown oxidation but never turned green that are 20 some odd years old.
spartacus1989
10-13-2007, 02:40 PM
Its the metal reacting with the oxygen and moisture in the air. I would refinish them with the proper metal finisher (I don't know whast kinds there are but I do know they exist!) and make sure you polish your cymbals regularly!
fourstringdrums
10-13-2007, 02:50 PM
If you can, I'd get a dehumidifier and put it in the room that your drums are in.
Drum-Head
10-13-2007, 03:19 PM
True but the green "patina" I've only really noticed on cymbals like ZBT or ZHT's. I have 'A's that have shown oxidation but never turned green that are 20 some odd years old.

It is possible that those As of yours have been kept in good atmospheric conditions. I have some old Sabian AAs that have green patina on them.
dharma bum
10-13-2007, 04:16 PM
It is possible that those As of yours have been kept in good atmospheric conditions. I have some old Sabian AAs that have green patina on them.

Yeah, I've had old As that have gotten the green. It happens to them too.
dom
10-13-2007, 09:49 PM
I have an old avedis 18'' crash ride that is green. I got it used so I don't know what it was like before, but after about half a bottle of cymbal cleaner and a roll of paper towels that darn thing is still green.She does sound super good though.
johnnyfivetimes
10-13-2007, 10:43 PM
the cymbals that turned most green are A custom crashes, paiste 2002 hi hats and my zildjian new beat hats. im getting ready to move, so hopefully that will help after i clean em
Cymbalrider
10-15-2007, 04:31 AM
The Zildjian cymbal cleaner/polish works. Cleans and polishes them to keep them protected.