Drilling cymbals

[Rickles]

Hiya,

I have a 17" Sabian AAX Stage Crash cymbal which has a small crack running about 1.5cm inward from the edge. I've heard that it's possible to drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it progressing further inwards.

My first question is, is this true?! Secondly, I had an idea - how do you think it would sound if I drilled 8 holes around the edge, as well as the one where the crack is, and thread some nuts and bolts through them? This cymbal is basically a spare so it would be cool to turn it into something interesting if I can. Also I thought I could tighten the bolt around where the crack is (perhaps this would stop the crack from progressing further) and leave the rest loose so they sizzle when I hit it?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

- Rick.

[FockerTheLopper]

Yes its possible but I don't know how. As for your second question, its a new idea try it out and tell us how it goes :thumb:

[-Obscurity-]

Drilling holes will stop the crack for about a week. If you try the sizzler idea, you might spare the crash since you wouldn't be giving it the wear and tear that a normal crash sustains. Sizzler crashes don't require much force to set off, and you can't really use it all the time or else it gets old.

[Bryan Blakey]

Hiya,

I have a 17" Sabian AAX Stage Crash cymbal which has a small running about 1.5cm inward from the edge. I've heard that it's possible to drill a small hole at the end of the to stop it progressing further inwards.

My first question is, is this true?! Secondly, I had an idea - how do you think it would sound if I drilled 8 holes around the edge, as well as the one where the is, and thread some nuts and bolts through them? This cymbal is basically a spare so it would be cool to turn it into something interesting if I can. Also I thought I could tighten the bolt around where the is (perhaps this would stop the from progressing further) and leave the rest loose so they sizzle when I hit it?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

- Rick.

Be smart about it when you're drilling the holes. It's not as easy as you think. I got my finger realllyyy bad when I tried a few years back, luckily all I have from it is a scar but it could have been worse.

[an_original_name]

once its cracked its gona stay cracked. you might as well play it untill it splits in 2 and start saving up for a new crash.

[poppinfresh]

not always, ive saved two 2002 crashes. Get a microscope or omething and find the complete end of the crack, drill past that and then cut the whole thing out.

[Brokensticks]

yah, you need a microscope to find the end dont do it without a microscope.

[GooseFilms.net]

you can, but either way the cymbals on its way out

[Double Bass Jim]

When it's cracked it's dead.

Just keep playing it as is.

[Aaron]

i dont agree with playing out cracked cymbals on their own, or drilling them. I say chuck it in a stack.

[-Funky monk-]

I wouldnt do it with an AAX there very expensive

[Aaron]

I wouldnt do it with an AAX there very expensive
a cymbals worth on matters in it usable life

[Double Bass Jim]

You can still play them when their cracked.

[poppinfresh]

yeah but the crack can get bigger. Why not prolong the life, and get rid of the crack,cut it out, and round out the empty chunk.

[Double Bass Jim]

It's pointless though, once it's cracked it's on it's way out.

[poppinfresh]

yeah but you dont get buzzing if you take out the crack and you get to prolong the life.

[Motleyguy]

I think he should try the sizzler idea. That could sound so rad, or it could sound so bad, who knows...I guess no one will unless he tries it.

[jaykemurd]

Drilling can work. It depends on whether the crack runs with the grain or against it. In most cases, using something similar to tin snips, just cut the area out. However, even a small portion of the cymbal, when removed, can degrade the sound signifigantly. Secondly, I dunno about the nuts and bolts idea. Try it. Rivets work best!

[breakster]

my buddies crash had a crack in it so he drilled a little hole in it and now the crack is longer so i dont think that drilling helps much. you may as well try make something cool out of the cymbal while it's still in one piece lol.

[flux punK]

Yea, I know somone that got cymbals with cracks in, he drilled em' and just made more cracks lol. Pwn't

[charlie lokz]

You Could Try It Man And Then If It Works See How Much It Stays Like That Or Go To Ebay And Buy Another Cymbals That The Hook Ups Right Ther Man I Got 6 Sabian Paragon Cymbals For 60.00 Bucks Man Thats A Deal Right There

[SolidGoldstein]

Drilling only works for a little while, so I use my dremel to cut out the crack entirely. This works, and gets the cymbal back to how it sounded before it cracked. I still consiider the cymbal a gimpy one of my collection, it just stops it from destroying the entire cymbal, and gives the original sound back. The fine print is slightly out of tune harmonics and slightly less shimmer I think, but I have only fixed cymbals that I bought broken, like this 20" 2002 Heavy Crash that I paid $1 for... so I don't know what they sounded like before they cracked.

[fritzz]

I did it with my 10" alpha splash.
and it didn't stop the crack. It cracked a bit further, but now the crack just stopped, and it's like that for about 3 weeks, it doesn't get worse. So no problem for me:)
the sound is not really the same, but it's ok

[crolfe1]

Hey- melt that sucker down and try hand hammering your own cymbal!

[officer doofy]

the hole will stop the crack, drilling 8 holes might not make a HUGE difference in sound, but I have a feeling the nuts and bolts will, most like a negative difference, and I have a feeling that the feel of the cymbal will suffer also. but if its a spare and you don't really care about the sound of it, go for it.

[Corkofski]

i might rivet my old pearl pro ride, never use it anyway, so i may as well
anyone know of a guide to riveting?