Cymbal spots
- Thread starter Merlin5
- Start date
Merlin5
Gold Member
Don't know, could be. They don't seem to be something that's removable. I googled dark spots on cymbals and got
"oxidation. This occurs when moisture (water or other liquid) is left on a cymbal. This moisture, the copper and the air combine to discolor the metal, resulting in dark brown or green marks. Keeping your cymbals dry and regular cleaning (no need to polish) will help prevent this."
Doesn't sound great. Seems like I'd need something abrasive and that might make it look worse.
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cbphoto
Diamond Member
When I was a teenager I used Brasso (not recommended) on my cymbals (they'd turn green in the ocean/beach air where I lived). It's definitely abrasive, and removes both tarnished and untarnished brass, leaving swirls/scratches on the cymbals.
In your case, I'd leave it alone. Try not to obsess over it (easier said than done).
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Tamboreter
Silver Member
There is some discussion about this on another DW thread:
https://www.drummerworld.com/forums/index.php?threads/marks-on-cymbals.168859/
https://www.drummerworld.com/forums/index.php?threads/marks-on-cymbals.168859/
Merlin5
Gold Member
Thanks for that link.
You're not wrong, I should leave it alone and for now I will. I think what I will do though is buy some Bar Keepers Friend and try it on a very old cymbal I have which I never use that I notice also has some of those dark spots. There was this reply in that thread linked by Tamboreter:
"How to remove them? I use Bar Keepers Friend. Clean the entire cymbal first, then go back over the spots as many times as needed. NOTE: clean only with the lathing lines, not acoss. Rinse well, then dry. Any abrasive marks left by the BKF will quickly go away".
I'll need to be sure to clean a spot in the direction of the groove lines of the cymbal as opposed to rubbing up and down across the grooves. I'll try just a couple of spots to see if it's effective and what it looks like after. I'm not sure if it makes any difference buying the cream or powdered version of Bar Keepers Friend. I do have some Brasso as well which I might try if Bar Keepers Friend doesn't work.
Winston_Wolf
Platinum Member
Those kinds of spots are usually the result of sweat droplets remaining on the cymbal for long enough to eat through the clear coat and tarnish the bronze.
If you do decide to clean/polish off the spots make sure you re-clear coat the cymbal or they'll come back. I've used both Bar Keeper's Friend (paste) and Zildjian cymbal polish. I'd avoid Brasso...it doesn't work great, and can cause more problems than it's worth.
No matter what you use, make sure the cymbal is really, really clean with several rounds of soap and water afterward. And then re-clear coat the cymbal to prevent it from turning green again.
If you do decide to clean/polish off the spots make sure you re-clear coat the cymbal or they'll come back. I've used both Bar Keeper's Friend (paste) and Zildjian cymbal polish. I'd avoid Brasso...it doesn't work great, and can cause more problems than it's worth.
No matter what you use, make sure the cymbal is really, really clean with several rounds of soap and water afterward. And then re-clear coat the cymbal to prevent it from turning green again.
Tamboreter
Silver Member
If you are in a military group with brass belt buckles, Brasso is ok for cleaning, but please don't use it on cymbals.
Merlin5
Gold Member
Thanks WW. It never occurred to me that sweat droplets would land on the hihat cymbal. I never felt my hand was sweating and leaving drops but maybe it did. You mentioned you've used Bar Keepers Friend, do you mean for similar bronze tarnish spots? And was it successful? What product should I buy to clear coat and should it be applied in a circular motion around the cymbal or does it not matter?
Mr Farkle
Well-known Member
If you rub BKF on one area more than the rest of the cymbal you will leave a “polished” area that won’t away until the cymbal gets it’s patina back. Technically it never goes away, it just gets camouflaged . If you clear coat it, it will be there.
Yes, the best thing to do is just play them as they are. The Constantinople’s and others have hammer marks that kinda look like that and they’re considered good looking.
I once read a post about cleaning cymbals in which someone wrote “It’s a piece of industrial metal that you bang on with a wooden stick.” That one sentence took the edge off of my cymbal OCD.
yammyfan
Senior Member
I have had pretty good luck using BKF cream to clean cymbals and a nanoceramic product to seal them afterwards, but tarnish still returns after 3-4 months.
What else are folks using to seal their cymbals? I have tried carnauba wax but it isn't as long lasting as nanoceramic stuff. Anyone getting a shine to last longer than 3 months?
What else are folks using to seal their cymbals? I have tried carnauba wax but it isn't as long lasting as nanoceramic stuff. Anyone getting a shine to last longer than 3 months?
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My first thought.
Jeremy Bender
Platinum Member
Oxidation on bronze. It can happen over time with sweat or no sweat. I've a ludwig bronze snare drum that's never once been sweated on (bought brand new and kept in an air conditioned room) it's starting to get those freckles on it's own.
Paiste applies a clear coat protectant on their new cymbals at the factory to prevent oxidation but when polished with a cleaner it will come off and the bronze is then exposed to the elements.
Paiste applies a clear coat protectant on their new cymbals at the factory to prevent oxidation but when polished with a cleaner it will come off and the bronze is then exposed to the elements.
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jda
Diamond Member
"some spots ain't coming off ever"
- sad but true to me.. Spots I did not create but on some bought used cymbals? Are like "was the house built before or after you sent this cymbal to me?"
"I've got black spots splattered across the bottom of a greatly loved 18"A&Cie cymbal that a driveway asphalt specialist couldn't decipher"
- sad but true to me.. Spots I did not create but on some bought used cymbals? Are like "was the house built before or after you sent this cymbal to me?"
"I've got black spots splattered across the bottom of a greatly loved 18"A&Cie cymbal that a driveway asphalt specialist couldn't decipher"
bongoman
Junior Member
Many modern brass and bronze instruments have that clear coat from the factory, even if they look like just shiny new metal. And if a tiny pinprick gets nicked in the clear coat, even invisibly, then oxygen and hydrogen can get in, and make visible spots under the clear coat. That’s why a light polish won’t get rid of them—and why putting more elbow or abrasive into it makes your metal look uneven, discolored, and more likely to get tarnished further.
Drumolator
Platinum Member
Try Oxi-Clean in the purple can. It is the easiest and cheapest cymbal cleaner out there. Follow the directions on the can. Peace and goodwill.
I agree with @bongoman. Military brass accouterments all had a very thin lacquer coating - all our brass stayed nice and shiny and only needed an occasional wipe with a soft cloth. Sadly, (fiendishly?) the drill sergeants knew this and required us to polish off all the lacquer, which resulted in tarnished brass in a few weeks. After basic training, I eventually replaced all my brass accouterments with gold plated versions.
The only way to "fix" the dark spots would be to remove all the clear coat with chemicals or abrasive and then suffer the consequences of polishing the cymbal once or twice a month to keep it looking uniform. Or, let them tarnish (mostly) uniformly. Or have them stripped and gold plated!
I'd probably just embrace the spots as normal wear and tear and keep up your normal cleaning regimen.
Best of luck!