Cold cymbals

[drummer girl09]

My drum set is upstairs, above my garage, outside (it sounds strange, but it's hard to explain) and gets really cold up there in the winter. I was wondering if a really cold cymbal could break more easier then normal temp. cymbal. I just don't want to start playing it, and then have it crack on me on the first hit. Do you know of anything happening like that?

[User Name]

You've signed their death warrant. Due to the way cymbals are made, they're very susceptible to damage from cold weather. The cold air weakens the bonds in the metal, making it far more likely to crack.

[dkerwood]

If your drums are wood, it's more than just cymbals that you need to worry about. Cold + percussion = bad news.

Get those tubs inside!

[caddywumpus]

Yeah, you need to transition the drums slowly into the temperature of your house. If you bring them into a sudden temperature and humidity change, THAT's where the sudden damage can happen. If you have insulated hard cases for them, put them in those and bring them into the house. Leave them in there for a few days. That will slow the temperature change probably the best.

The basic rule of drums and temperature is "what YOU are comfortable living in, so will your drums be". I've seen a few drum sets that had cracked toms from being out in the cold (and one cracked kit from being in the heat...). Some people swear it doesn't happen, but I've seen it first hand.

[cjbee]

You've signed their death warrant. Due to the way cymbals are made, they're very susceptible to damage from cold weather. The cold air weakens the bonds in the metal, making it far more likely to crack.
Blah, blah, blah...

Guys...any temperature that can be tolerated by human flesh can be tolerated by bronze...trust me. If the air is so cold that your cymbals are going to crack when played, then you have nothing to worry about...you'd be dead.

Plus, they're metal.

They don't contain moisture.

Don't worry about it.

[drummer girl09]

Y'all got me worried about my set now! I really have no other place to put my kit though. My dad had to move his office to downstairs where I did have them. And my room isn't exactly sound proof...I started turning the heater on about 10 min before I actually go up there and play. Mainly for the reason so I don't have to be freezing when starting. Would that help my kit too?

[cjbee]

Y'all got me worried about my set now! I really have no other place to put my kit though. My dad had to move his office to downstairs where I did have them. And my room isn't exactly sound proof...I started turning the heater on about 10 min before I actually go up there and play. Mainly for the reason so I don't have to be freezing when starting. Would that help my kit too?
Why are you worried? It's apparent that the first 3 people that replied didn't pass seventh grade science.

Drums are wood...wood is hydroscopic. This is where you'll have a problem.
Wood will absorb or release moisture, actually expanding and contracting until it is in equilibrium with it's environment. When the changes are gradual, you will have no problems, because the cells can adjust; but rapid changes (like turning on a heater) can cause a problem with splitting and warping. Most drums are sealed to minimize the affects.

[sticksnstonesrus]

The biggest differences in cold/warm environments is in the heads. Plastics and oils respond greatly to variance in temperature.

Shells going from cold to warm to cold to warm "could" suffer some inherent problems, but if properly taken care of and allowed to acclimate to the ambient room temps nothing should truly suffer. Cold gear trailers going from show to show don't provide enough environmental abuse to have damaged my drums and cymbals...ever.

Cymbals...unless you're playing them frozen or at some unbearably high temp, I wouldn't worry. Your cymbal hitting technique is going to cause a crack before the temps in your FROG.

[trysthedrummer]

As sticksnstonesrus said, the heads will suffer the most. Cymbals, - don't worry about them. With today's technology, the shells shouldn't budge. (unless you've artic conditions up there!)

How cold is it though up there anyway roughly?

[lewisn27]

I have my drums in my room, but my radiatior is never on, it is not freezing, but cool, (the way I like it) will that do anything to effect my cymbals or drums?

[trysthedrummer]

:)

No. Of course it won't! By the way, your avatar, looks absolutely identical to me when I was younger.

[lewisn27]

:)

No. Of course it won't! By the way, your avatar, looks absolutely identical to me when I was younger.
Haha it looks like my when I was younger as well (It was taken a while ago).

[drumguyfromWI]

cool (like my basement where my drums are) = ok.

freezing cold (like outside in the winter here in Wisconsin XD) = bad.

[drummer girl09]

cool (like my basement where my drums are) = ok.

freezing cold (like outside in the winter here in Wisconsin XD) = bad.

Ha, it's not nearly that bad in Georgia. That gives me assurance then. Thanks.

[cjbee]

As sticksnstonesrus said, the heads will suffer the most.
Heads are plastic and unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity. Where do you think the name WeatherKing came from?

[wolfmoon]

Heads are plastic and unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity. Where do you think the name WeatherKing came from?

No. You are wrong. Heads are in fact affected by weather temperatures and humitidy. Look at what you wrote. Yeah, heads are made out of plastic which "stretches, contracts and expands"

[cjbee]

No. You are wrong. Heads are in fact affected by weather temperatures and humitidy. Look at what you wrote. Yeah, heads are made out of plastic which "stretches, contracts and expands"
Ugh...save yourself the embarassment and just quit now.

The "plastic" that has been used to produce drumheads for the past 60 years is a little something called "Mylar"...perhaps you've heard of it? Apparently not. Regardless, it eliminated the effects of temperature and humidity fluctuations that were inherent to the old calfskin heads.

Now run along. Hopefully, for your sake, you've learned something today.

[diosdude]

Just don't treat them with liquid nitrogen or they will most certainly break.

[wolfmoon]

Ugh...save yourself the embarassment and just quit now.

The "plastic" that has been used to produce drumheads for the past 60 years is a little something called "Mylar"...perhaps you've heard of it? Apparently not. Regardless, it eliminated the effects of temperature and humidity fluctuations that were inherent to the old calfskin heads.

Now run along. Hopefully, for your sake, you've learned something today.

Here is some advice for you.. Learn some respect. You seem to like talking down to people. It isn't tolerated here. Read the rules and... I hope you learned something today. I have over 30 years of playing experience. I know what I know, end of story.

[cjbee]

blah blah blah I got proved wrong so I'll cop-out and play the respect card blah blah blah.
Look old man, I couldn't care less about your playing experience...frankly, it's irrelevant to the entire discussion. You claimed something was a fact, when in reality, it wasn't, and I told you so. It's okay to be wrong...consider it a learning experience.

Now, seriously...run along in your tacky denim shorts and your ball cap with it's excessively curved brims and change the sleeve on your Aheads...they're wearing out...just like you and your fleeting youth.

[sticksnstonesrus]

Look old man, I couldn't care less about your playing experience...frankly, it's irrelevant to the entire discussion. You claimed something was a fact, when in reality, it wasn't, and I told you so. It's okay to be wrong...consider it a learning experience.

Now, seriously...run along in your tacky denim shorts and your ball cap with it's excessively curved brims and change the sleeve on your Aheads...they're wearing out...just like you and your fleeting youth.

Ugh...save yourself the embarassment and just quit now.

The "plastic" that has been used to produce drumheads for the past 60 years is a little something called "Mylar"...perhaps you've heard of it? Apparently not. Regardless, it eliminated the effects of temperature and humidity fluctuations that were inherent to the old calfskin heads.

Now run along. Hopefully, for your sake, you've learned something today.

If you've got this much negative to say, please contain it to a PM (private message). No need to publicize. Just detracts from people wanting to post.

Respectfully,

Andy

[Bernhard]

Look old man, I couldn't care less about your playing experience...frankly, it's irrelevant to the entire discussion. You claimed something was a fact, when in reality, it wasn't, and I told you so. It's okay to be wrong...consider it a learning experience.

Now, seriously...run along in your tacky denim shorts and your ball cap with it's excessively curved brims and change the sleeve on your Aheads...they're wearing out...just like you and your fleeting youth.

This is the kind of conversation style we don't like here. Please leave this place and don't come back. You're out.

Thanks

Bernhard

[trysthedrummer]

The heads are made from thermoplastic polymers, which will expand and contract. Mylar I think is just another name for it, it is very tough but from switching from cold (in storage) to inside quite alot will change its sound you get from the drum.

Mine were packed away for a bit in the garage, had to retune! I assumed they called it weatherking because it could take a beating, it was much stronger from temperature fluctuations than the earlier calfs they made.

[TenPastTen]

This is the kind of conversation style we don't like here. Please leave this place and don't come back. You're out.

Thanks

Bernhard

Is this the 2009 premier appearance of the internationally reknown DW BanHammer?? I'm impressed. That was an incredibly prudent use of the device. Much like always. Thanks Bernhard for keeping our place clean.

[805Drummer]

Is this the 2009 premier appearance of the internationally reknown DW BanHammer?? I'm impressed. That was an incredibly prudent use of the device. Much like always. Thanks Bernhard for keeping our place clean.

WOW. I just read all of his posts, and he was the very definition of the word "cynic."

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2431057

!

[bojangleman]

i can say on the head subject..

in marching band, on Friday nights we have football games..(during football season of course..lol)

and, this year, i went through 9 quad heads during the football season cause it was cold outside..

they do bust when they are cold.

they tighten up and like your playing ice...hahaha

Alex