Thread: Do you polish your cymbals?

Mine look a hundred years old but when I think about it I never see dancers with shiny zills unless they are brand new.

No, but I've felt guilty about it ever since Harry Saroyan scolded me for my tarnish.

The next time you're planning to change the elastics in your finger cymbals anyway, try this:

Remove the old elastics and discard.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir in flour until it becomes a paste. Apply paste to the metals and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water and polish until dry.

Then put the new elastics in.

The reason for waiting until you're ready to change the elastics is that the salt in this solution can rot the elastic.

Hmmm, I think I'll post this on my facebook wall....


Edited to add: the above instructions assume the cymbals are made of brass, copper, or pewter. The technique is not suitable for silver.

I did once, but in a couple of days they were dull again so I decided there was little point. I used regular metal polish though -- maybe I will try the vinegar & flour treatment.

I for one love the subtle patina and the look of age/experience of an unpolished pair of zills. When they are freshly polished, the shine makes them so noticeable and like a "just got this in the mail last weekend" purchase. I would shy away from polishing unless the polishing makes them sound better? But that's just me... maybe I'm weird?

My drummer boyfriend would never polish his cymbals as he says the sound becomes too shrill.

I polished mine because they started to rust from frequent handling. I don't care if they are shiny but I draw the line at rust.

I polish them if they start getting too dark. I don't care about them being shiny, but I don't want them looking dirty.
This actually means the only pair of zills I've ever had to polish was the first pair I got, and I've only had to polish them once so far.

I don't think they need to be shiny. I do try to keep them put away at least in a fabric pouch when not in use, and for sets I don't use so often, storage sealed in a plastic baggie. Minimal exposure to air, to slow down the oxidation process.
Rosette

I don't. However, I think it depends a lot on the kind of cymbals one has and what style of costume one wears. With a sparkly, shiny costume with lots of bright silver beads, polished silver cymbals are a pretty touch. With an antique brass coin set, slightly tarnished vintage zills are a good match.

Agree with Steffi, it depends on the type of zills. Zildjians would almost be impossible to polish due to their finish. Saroyan's on the other hand, can be. Be careful about the silver ones, though. I have had some of the plating separate in the past.

{{{HUGS}}}

Here is another thread on polishing zills. . .

http://www.bhuz.com/student-center/4...ass-zills.html

{{{HUGS}}}

I love the deep, rich patina my brass zills get. I had a couple of my early pairs (turquoise 'student weight') rust, but none of my others.

Now, I do clean my loaner zills for class and change out the elastics regularly, but that's not for personal use, and it just makes sense to me to clean them regularly if various different people are using them.

It really never occurred to me. I like the color brass turns as it ages too much.

always!!! shiny zills are awesome!