How to Clean Cymbals 

Yes, I've found that it does make a difference - particularly when the cymbals are being used is sweaty and smoky environments!

Thanks for the kind words, Tom! Very much appreciated… I’m looking for ideas for more tutorial videos so feel free to suggest anything!

Appreciate the kind comment... Thanks!

Happens all the time! I recommend keeping a towel in your kit and wiping your cymbals down as you pack them up

Good stuff too, although chemically different to the powder, as the liquid version is citric acid vs oxalic acid in the powder.

You’re welcome!

Nice! How was the result?

Indeed - the green spots (verdigris) are very difficult to remove!

Thanks Shirley!

Heya @netjlr307 - BarKeepers friend will NEVER be recommended by any manufacturer that sells its own proprietary cleaner, but given K's are B20 alloy (as are the cymbals in this video) it should work well and be completely harmless - except to your logos, if you're not careful, and if you care about that sort of thing. Hope this help!

Hi Greg! For 2002's, substitute the Barkeepers friend for the recommended Paiste cymbal cleaner. Being abrasive, Barkeepers friend will remove the protective layer on your cymbals. You can still follow-up with the car wax (not polish!) though, which will help protect the cymbal from the elements. Hope this helps.

@@Damo_Drummer thank you!

Yes you can. A customs are actually finished in a similar way to Sabian's top end cymbals - which shouldn't be surprising, being they were the same company at one point :) One point of caution is with lower end cymbals - usually of the brass and B8 variety. Higher-end cymbals are typically buffed to a shine. In other words, the metal itself is what gives the cymbal its lustre. On lower end cymbals, the shine is sometimes provided in the form of a lacquered coating which is applied to the cymbal on top of the metal surface. Using abrasives like Barkeepers Friend will absolutely clean the cymbal, but it will also potentially remove this lacquer, resulting in the cymbal losing its shine over time and becoming exposed to the elements. If you aren't sure what you have, it is always a good idea to use the manufacturer's recommended cleaner - ESPECIALLY if the cymbal is still under warranty!

Hi, it’s called ‘full metal jacket’ by an Australian auto detailing company called Final Inspection, but you can use any car wax. Just make sure it’s a wax and not a polish!

@@Damo_Drummer Thanks a lot!

It would make absolutely no discernible difference to the sound of the cymbal, and those who claim they can hear a difference are either lying to you or kidding themselves.

I've heard this debate for years and I've never seen proof of it in my 55+ years of drumming. If you've ever seen the process of manufacturing cymbals, you will see that there is no way this metal is porous and susceptible to clean vs. grunge. If you like them dirty, fine. If you like them shiny, fine. Personally, I prefer a shiny patina which gives them visual character.

Hi Rick - Those are oxidation marks, probably left by sweat or moisture on the cymbal. Unfortunately there really isnt an effective way to remove them unless you're keen to re-lathe it out of the cymbal - which I wouldnt recommend!

My cat is crazy. Not much more to say :D (she's actually an indoor cat that never goes outside. She does have a tendency to paw at glass, though.

Hi SamYung0. Those are oxidization marks, usually caused by sweat and/or water droplets. They can be tough to remove, but its worth giving the cymbal a clean - and even protecting it with a layer of car wax - to minimize the chance of any further damage. Good luck!

A handy tip! The Barkeeps Friend dissolves in water very quickly, and in my experience pouring some directly onto the cymbal while it's wet has a similar effect.

Hi Josh. I would not recommend this for raw finished cymbals like the Byzance extra dry. Detergent and water is fine, but please dont use oxalic acid based products to clean the cymbal. I cannot stress this enough.

Also with the meinl cymbal cleaner set?

@@joshua_sentosa that is probably what the professionals recommend you could ask guitar center or sweetwater to help you with recommendations

Shouldn't be a problem, and should work well.

Thank you!

Hi Noe! The cleaner I'm using is called 'Barkeepers Friend' - www.barkeepersfriend.com.au/bar-keepers-friend-cleanser-polish-powder-340g. I'm in Australia, but I believe it may be available overseas... The sealant is called 'Full metal jacket' from another Australian car detailing company called 'Final Inspection'. Not sure whether they ship overseas.

This method should be safe on them, since the brilliant finish is a result of polsihing the metal, not lacquering/coating it.

Yep - In fact, many different chemicals can work on cymbals, but remember that some are harder to remove than others, and some are far more abrasive than others. Most of all, protect your health... Acid is nearly as harmful as ketchup!

Hah!

vin diesels drummer brother: zildjin diesel

@@rasmusgarbonzo1411 Sabian! ;)

Of course, but the process is the same.

Would also work, but its quite abrasive, so be careful how much you use.

im going to thy with ajax, ill let u know how it went

Yes, but obviously the method is the same for dirty ones!

Damien. There is always one! ie Maple

Its better than some I've used, but hopefully part of the message I'm getting through here is that it's not necessary to buy cymbal brand-specific cleaners. Household products will clean them just as well for 1/4 of the price. Yes, there are some cautions and considerations that need to be made - especially when cleaning cheaper cymbals, but provided you're careful, you can save a ton of money and effort for the same result.

I sold cymbal cleaners for 25 years. There’s nothing in them that isn’t in household products. Just about any mild acid will clean a metal surface. The only time you need to be careful is if the cymbal is coated in a brilliant finish - but that’s typically only done on cheaper models.