Epoxy on cymbal, did I ruin it? Help!

[AGP]

I have a 19" unknown cymbal (maybe an old Zildian but not sure, no logos or stamps that I can see). When I acquired it there were 2 cracks parallel with the lathing, each about 4-5" long, the first about 3 inches in from the edge and the other about 4 inches in. I really like this cymbal and wanted to prevent the cracks from spreading so . . . I drilled small holes at the ends of the cracks. After this the cymbal still had the same basic sound except for a little rattle were the cracks meet . . . So here's were I screwed up, I applied epoxy into the cracks. After the epoxy the rattle is gone, but the cymbal sounds completely different (worse), It barely rings, It sounds like a choked cymbal or a cymbal with lots of tape on it. . . So now I have used goo gone and scraped off some (most?) of the epoxy but It still sounds very dead.

My questions are:
Is it really just the epoxy that changed the sound that drastically or did I maybe bend or warp the cymbal when I was pulling the crack apart to get the epoxy into it?
What can I do now, use a file in the crack and try to file away the part with epoxy on it? Or maybe drill holes all along the crack to get rid of the epoxied area??
thanks in advance for your ideas!

[skunkendilly]

Hi Guy or Girl
Get yourself a new cymbal.
What you have now is worthless.
Skunk.

[Les Ismore]

Originally Posted by AGP

I have a 19" unknown cymbal (maybe an old Zildian but not sure, no logos or stamps that I can see). When I acquired it there were 2 cracks parallel with the lathing, each about 4-5" long, the first about 3 inches in from the edge and the other about 4 inches in. I really like this cymbal and wanted to prevent the cracks from spreading so . . . I drilled small holes at the ends of the cracks. After this the cymbal still had the same basic sound except for a little rattle were the cracks meet . . . So here's were I screwed up, I applied epoxy into the cracks. After the epoxy the rattle is gone, but the cymbal sounds completely different (worse), It barely rings, It sounds like a choked cymbal or a cymbal with lots of tape on it. . . So now I have used goo gone and scraped off some (most?) of the epoxy but It still sounds very dead.

My questions are:
Is it really just the epoxy that changed the sound that drastically or did I maybe bend or warp the cymbal when I was pulling the crack apart to get the epoxy into it?
What can I do now, use a file in the crack and try to file away the part with epoxy on it? Or maybe drill holes all along the crack to get rid of the epoxied area??
thanks in advance for your ideas!

Just keep playing it, the epoxy will crack off, unless you put a ton on.

When a cymbal rattles, its the obvious-metal to metal. You need to file the 'outside' crack edge, not the edge closest to the bell (known in the cymbal repair biz as "doin' crack").

Drilling small holes never accomplishes anything, unless you just play the cymbal with brushes, forever.

Big holes are what you should be investing in, pic below☟


Here's the Epoxy Fix fantasy-

Force Epoxy into the crack. Strike the cymbal hard several times to vibrate glue deeper into the crack. Apply more Epoxy and strike several times again.

Wipe away excess. Bake the cymbal in a 200 degree oven for about an hour. This hardens the Epoxy to a glassy consistency. Let the cymbal cool naturally. Let stand for at least 24 hrs before playing. If done correctly, it works... until the epoxy cracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kCHQ6AvBPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2WmhAhnQDs

[AGP]

Thanks for the info Les Ismore! I didn't put a ton on so hopefully more epoxy will crack off with time and playing.

What type of file do I need to file the outside crack edge? and were can I get it? I tried to google metal files but I just kept getting metal filing cabinets, ha.

[Les Ismore]

Originally Posted by AGP

Thanks for the info Les Ismore! I didn't put a ton on so hopefully more epoxy will crack off with time and playing.

What type of file do I need to file the outside crack edge? and were can I get it? I tried to google metal files but I just kept getting metal filing cabinets, ha.

First call a local machine shop, tell em' what you're doing, ask about a file. They may have what you need, or at least steer you in the right direction.

[larryace]

You'd better check before you heat that cymbal. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to do that.

[ermghoti]

200F will do nothing to bronze. It's perfectly safe.

[paradisephoto]

Originally Posted by AGP

Thanks for the info Les Ismore! I didn't put a ton on so hopefully more epoxy will crack off with time and playing.

What type of file do I need to file the outside crack edge? and were can I get it? I tried to google metal files but I just kept getting metal filing cabinets, ha.

If you or a friend has a Dremel, these work great for grinding out the cracks.