Repairing/ "Ozoning" a cracked crash cymbal

StereoAtLast · 9th October 2009

I've got a 20" sabian aax crash, it's about 3 or 4 years old with a pretty substantial crack from the outside in about an inch and a half...

basically this thing is worthless and the crack is only going to get worse, I'm on the broke side, but I'd love to add some white noise to my kit.. I dig the sound of the sabian ozone crashes, I just am not sure how to approach the holes, ie how many holes of which size, where?

what type of drill bits should I use?

Also any advice on repairing the crack?

thanks

DynaForte · 9th October 2009

I'm confused.

You have a broken cymbal.

And you want to use a drill.

What?

uncle duncan · 9th October 2009

This site has several forums, one of them dedicated to DIY cymbal repair.

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StereoAtLast · 9th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by DynaForte

I'm confused.

You have a broken cymbal.

And you want to use a drill.

What?

umm drill a hole where the crack ends in an attempt to prevent the crack from manifesting itself accross the circumference of the cymbal.

The only reason I asked was because I've never drilled into a cymbal before and I don't want gouge marks coming out the bottom, forming more cracks.

thanks

svart · 9th October 2009

The problem is finding the true end of the crack. It's generally NOT the end of the crack that you see. the structural damage will go further that what you see.

Try using a larger drill bit, may 1/4". The larger the radius of the hole, the less mechanical stresses it will see in any singular area of that hole.

use a sharp bit and use little pressure. the drill will cut the cymbal smoothly. once through, use a larger drill bit and chamfer the hole by lightly touching it with the larger bit. This will get the stress risers cut away.

uncle duncan · 10th October 2009

You definitely want to drill on top of a scrap block of wood, so the cymbal is supported when the drill breaks through the other side.

joeq · 10th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by svart

The problem is finding the true end of the crack. It's generally NOT the end of the crack that you see. the structural damage will go further that what you see.
.

yes

I like to think of it like cutting a break to stop a forest fire. You might have to "surrender" more cymbal to the crack than you might want, because if you guess wrong it will all be for nothing and the crack will continue out the other side of the hole

I have literally added a year or more to the usable life of a cymbal by drilling holes at the extremes of the cracks.

biggator6 · 10th October 2009

Also go slowly - stop regularly - don't let the cymbal get too hot (it will)... use lubricant as well.

There's a guy over on drumforum who does tons of it.. makes these little bat-shaped cymbals and stuff out of cracked/broken ones. Neat.

9th October 2009	#1
StereoAtLast Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 154 Thread Starter	Repairing/ "Ozoning" a cracked crash cymbal I've got a 20" sabian aax crash, it's about 3 or 4 years old with a pretty substantial crack from the outside in about an inch and a half... basically this thing is worthless and the crack is only going to get worse, I'm on the broke side, but I'd love to add some white noise to my kit.. I dig the sound of the sabian ozone crashes, I just am not sure how to approach the holes, ie how many holes of which size, where? what type of drill bits should I use? Also any advice on repairing the crack? thanks __________________ "I don't hear anything." "Did you push the faders up?"

9th October 2009	#3
uncle duncan Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,710	This site has several forums, one of them dedicated to DIY cymbal repair. Cymbalholic Forums - Powered by vBulletin __________________ "You're either with a native DAW, or you're with the terrorists." G.W. Busch Lite

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9th October 2009	#2
DynaForte Gear addict Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 384	I'm confused. You have a broken cymbal. And you want to use a drill. What?

9th October 2009	#5
svart Gear addict Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 472	The problem is finding the true end of the crack. It's generally NOT the end of the crack that you see. the structural damage will go further that what you see. Try using a larger drill bit, may 1/4". The larger the radius of the hole, the less mechanical stresses it will see in any singular area of that hole. use a sharp bit and use little pressure. the drill will cut the cymbal smoothly. once through, use a larger drill bit and chamfer the hole by lightly touching it with the larger bit. This will get the stress risers cut away.

10th October 2009	#6
uncle duncan Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,710	You definitely want to drill on top of a scrap block of wood, so the cymbal is supported when the drill breaks through the other side.

10th October 2009	#8
biggator6 Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,979	Also go slowly - stop regularly - don't let the cymbal get too hot (it will)... use lubricant as well. There's a guy over on drumforum who does tons of it.. makes these little bat-shaped cymbals and stuff out of cracked/broken ones. Neat.