green corrosion - k custom hybrid hats

[antichef]

Alright - I've searched and searched, and found tons of great, completely contradictory information, and so I'm f***n posting. Please accept my heartfelt apology.

I needed functional hats, and at the pawn shop yesterday were a pair of Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 13 1/4" hats, and they sold them for $140. One of the reasons they came down on the price was a big patch of green corrosion on the underside of the top one - looks like mold on [shiny brass colored] bread.

I've dry-wiped away a lot of it, but I'd like get rid of it completely. Any suggestions? (Brasso, Sparkle, Spunkle, JizzyJuice, etc.?). I can provide more specifics if necessary.

 

[Brian Oshman]

Noxon and a buffer.

 

[dintymoore]

Brian I would have to disagree on the buffer - you should never, ever use a power tool on cymbals.

There's a product called Whink that will often chemically dissolve the green. Whink is sold mainly for taking rust out of clothes. The green is called tarnish, the same as copper buliding's roofs turn green or like pennies do.

The only things I'd use on a cymbal would be Whink, water, toothpaste and a specific cymbal cleaner from a reputable company. Go to a music store or on eBay for cymbal cleaner. I got one off of eBay that's fine called "Blitz". When you use it, do it in a sink and rinse off the black crap between applications. It will take several applications.

Cymbal cleaning is something to be done with extreme care. I have a few 50's K's that I could get $1500 for and if I cleaned them the price would drop, maybe in half.

Lots and lots of people who really know about cymbals will never, ever clean cymbals. I clean mine about every 15 -20 years. And I never clean my best ones except for maybe a spot like you have.

Be extra, extra careful, don't rub hard, never use common cleaners like Brasso etc (please don't do that!!!) and you might want to go to some of the cymbal and vintage drum forums and check out what others have to say.

 

[Brian Oshman]

I said a buffer, not a grinder. All this will do is clean and shine them up.

 

[antichef]

Wow - who knew there was such a thing as Zildjian cymbal polish. That plus a hapless dish towel and a *lot* of rubbing, and they look great!

 

[dodgeaspen]

I don't know if I'd use a buffer on a good set of cymbals. I use Dunlop 65. It will take some green off cymbals. The drummer for Through An Ocean Of Pluges sweets like mad when playing so his cymbals start to turn green after a while and it helps on his.