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As a long time drummer, I have some answers for you. You can clean your cymbals with Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] or a similar product, but it will take a lot of work, and you should go with the grain of the cymbal. But before you do, consider this - cleaning your cymbals will change the sound(pitch) of them, is this what you want? I had a jazz instructor who only bought used cymbals from pawn shops because he thought they had the best sound. I found that he was right and I haven't cleaned my cymbals since (20 years). As far as the coloring goes I remember Paiste offering colored cymbals, but never heard of anyone doing it to old cymbals.

Hopes this helps.

Alan K [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Crete, IL, USA

Cleaning won't change the sound of the cymbal in the why that you might think. Cleaning cymbals only brightens them, back to the sound as which you bought them. The gunk is oxidized metal and dirt. It causes the the cymbal to vibrate or resonate differently. I like my cymbals clean. I bought them because I liked the sound that came from them off the shelf.

John C [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Riverside, CA, USA

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I think cymbals should be shiny and clean that's why I clean mine... I've been doing it for 37 years.. Hi Miguel I know you. how are you?

Tim N [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Burbank, CA, US of A

I just wanted to say that I used just about everything out there until I found Countertop Magic. This stuff works great. I tested it out on the mud guards on my jeep and it last ten times longer than armor all. Try it once and you will get hooked.

Seth W [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Michigan

Ed. note: Not sure how being good for mud flaps translates into being good for cymbals, but there it is.

I'm an American sittin down here in Malaysia for 25 years, got a rock and roll bar and grill, I own 4 drum sets but really play guitar. Got all sorts wackin my drums and I'm the one who maintains them and cleans them. Sittin in the tropics and outdoor gigs really git the cymbals funky. Sweaty hands take'n them down take their toll. I've worked my butt off tryin to clean them with all the name brand polishes and cleaners.I always let them go too long between cleans too! A local Malaysian drummer gave me this little recipe...tamarind paste! ??? huh? Tamerind tree nuts is like a date palm and this is the paste from it's date-like nuts.It's used in cooking a lot of Asian dishes.

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Hello my name is Alex

I would like to know how to clean my cymbals properly!

I have got new cymbals from Zildjian and I got Zildjian cymbal cleaners too. I've done it once but it seems to removing a green kind of dust?

I would like to know how to clean it properly if that's alright.

Thanks

Alex I [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
drummer - Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia

September 3, 2007

Building cymbal cleaning machine out of sears grinding machine! Hello there! I been looking forever trying to get the right stuff to take off the bad sludge that attacks my grooves. I took apart a grinder from sears, but the cymbal will not lock down tight enough to hold from spinning. It was a good idea,but still needs more work as somebody in the world could make this tool for all the non-shiny cymbals out there. Perhaps putting hole in the top will do it , but don't know about losing the pitch or the sound? somebody please come up with product other than elbow grease! Maybe the cymbal co.'s Would not like the machine but we will still require polishing paste so all will benefit. Maybe there's a company out there that cleans them for a price!i Once took them to car wash to get detailed, but was not as good as the work I done on them. So, still waiting for some better idea's! Thanks

TOMMY FLANAGAN
DRUMMER LOOKING FOR SOLUTION! - WEEHAWKEN, NJ, USA

I have search high and low for a cleaning solution for my husbands cymbals. I checked around and found bar keepers friend ( sorta the consistancy of comet) but made for brass etc. I cleaned a heavily oxidized cymbal to a bright shine in about 20 minutes. When I say heavy oxidization I mean it! I am a glass artist and I regularily polish zinc, brass and copper but I have never cleaned anything this bad. For the really bad stuff on the first polish, I made a slighly liquid paste and put it on, waited about 5 minutes then rinsed it off, then I diluted it more and scrubbed with the grain of the cymbal, I kept watering it down with a spray bottle until it was shiny! both sides too. Then I followed it up with my stained glass finishing compound which took off the really fine corrosion and will protect the finish for months!.....he liked it alot and now he wants me to do the rest! Great.

Michelle St. Denis
- Tulsa, OK, USA

I have a pair of Zildian ZHT hi-hat cymbals that are only a few months old. I used to use Brasso which worked well, but I couldn't find it and think I just made a big mistake. I used Tarn-x and it is completely removing the gold finish and turning it to more of a silver-looking finish. I have to use it to finish it now as the color is too different to stop. Has anyone used this before, and am I right that I really screwed up? Thanks.

Spencer Gary
- San Antonio, Texas, USA