How to Clean Cymbals

[@ANuisanceRockBand]

Glad you added the last about a clear wipe on car wax. No paste or abrasion and leaves a protective film to keep them clean longer and prevent finger prints turning into spots.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@tomedwards5132]

Hi Damien. What a refreshing change to watch an informative video without all the repetitive rubbish. Straight to the point and presented clearly. Damien you are my go to channel for any further advice. Tom (UK).

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@rasmusgarbonzo1411]

this is the best cymbal cleaning vid on yt

[@Damo_Drummer]

Appreciate the kind comment... Thanks!

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

turtle wax hybrid ceramic or 303 protectant is what I use after cleaning my cymbals. I got a used K ride awhile back with a couple actual scratches in it. I hit it with some rubbing compound and the polisher; logos be damned! People get so worked up over a piece of metal, and at the end of the day, that's what it is.

[@Damo_Drummer]

Be cautious of cutting compounds of any product/method that is brutal enough to be able to remove scratches in a single pass. It will also likely be wearing down the lathing lines - which is a big part of where the sound is coming from!

[@EricLThomp75]

The liquid version is even better. Doesn’t live the tiny abrasions in your cymbals. Good stuff!

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@ericmsandoval]

4:52 this has been happening to me 😭😭😭 so annoying. Thanks for this. Incredibly helpful.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@paulcrawley6644]

Cheers! I'll look into this technique Damien

[@rl95719]

Great tutorial. Thank you

[@Damo_Drummer]

You’re welcome!

[@stevelaporta5791]

great video. straight and to the point. re the detractors, perhaps they work for the cymbal or cymbal cleaner companies? anyway, the proof is in the real-time action, not the talk. well done.

[@Damo_Drummer]

@@stevelaporta5791 thanks! I’ve actually had quite a bit to do with cymbals over the years, visited the factories, etc. To be fair, there have been very few detractors of this method, but the issue I’ve always had in this industry is the sheer amount of marketing fluff passed off as ‘fact’, and the level at which players buy into it. Don’t get me wrong, some cymbals absolutely are made differently and should be cleaned with more caution, or in a completely different way or sometimes not at all - but by and large. its us as players who need to learn more about the gear we use, and not just blindly swallow what’s written in the marketing brochures! Thanks for watching!

[@greggregg4852]

any different advise for Paiste 2002 cymbals? supposed to have protective coating on them. I live in Florida (humid). mine have the tarnish and "green dots."

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@greggregg4852]

@@Damo_Drummer thank you!

[@dejulesb974]

Can I use this process of cleaning for Zildjian A customs? I have the cream that Zildjian recommends but sometimes I can't find it and most of the time its almost a waste of money.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@Rick2stix]

Any advice on how to get rid of the “green dots” I’m in Cincinnati Ohio, and I’m trying everything with zero luck. Thank you.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@netjlr307]

Is BarKeepers friend recommended for K Custom Dark Cymbals or do you use something else? Thanks for taking the time to educate us!

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@pan_peligroso]

Can the protectant change the sound of the cymbal? Like when we clean a cymbal and then it sounds better.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@boomerguy9935]

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.

[@SamYung0]

Hi! Can it remove the small blobs of green rust on your cymbals, too?

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@louisll1020]

Hi!What is the name that you use to protect your cymbal in the brown bottle that you spray,thanks for your time!

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@louisll1020]

@@Damo_Drummer Thanks a lot!

[@infinitysplitda456]

Oi oi oi Dam! Thanks for the video, the Barkeep works great. Unfortunately some greenish spots got on my cymbals from rain and sweat and they are not coming off easily. Still, your cleaning method improved the situation 👍🏻💪🏼

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@bradnelson2637]

Thanks for posting this

[@joshua_sentosa]

Can i use this method to Meinl Byzance extra dry crash?

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@joshua_sentosa]

Also with the meinl cymbal cleaner set?

[@potatosquad120]

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

[@ezequielcosme3416]

Would you recommend this on Zildjian K sweets?

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@ezequielcosme3416]

Thank you!

[@shirleymorrow7674]

Nice demo.

[@Damo_Drummer]

Thanks Shirley!

[@SPACEMAN_fkYT]

It's better to add a little water to the Bar Keepers Friend in a small bowl or plate and make it into a soft paste to make it less gritty.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@patrickwilliamson29]

Lol you can see that cat waiting to be let out wondering why the hell two people are holding a piece of metal and talking about it. Great video though man

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@noegarza4746]

Please leave a product name and where it could be purchased. Thanks

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@maeu59]

what about Zildgian brilliants?

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@thetrip9970]

Bartenders friend is great to use

[@hifijohn]

Any thing with acid in it will work ketchup or apple cider vinegar are the most common.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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!

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

why would you put ketchup on your cymbals? That's just utter nonsense.

[@BleuSoupRecords]

no one else is gonna mention Vin Diesel's brother was a drummer

[@Damo_Drummer]

Hah!

[@rasmusgarbonzo1411]

vin diesels drummer brother: zildjin diesel

[@Damo_Drummer]

@@rasmusgarbonzo1411 Sabian! ;)

[@richardlawson6787]

Ajax?

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@Cigars66420]

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

[@bradnelson2637]

Kitty Cat wants out of this video

[@fyrfox2000]

So your cleaning A Clean cymbal!

[@Damo_Drummer]

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

[@tomedwards5132]

Damien. There is always one! ie Maple

[@donaldbiggs9391]

helps alot if you use a dirty cymbal

[@Damo_Drummer]

Of course, but the process is the same.

[@stanf7862]

Grove juice is a fucking joke .

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.

[@davidmcaninch4714]

You should get proper cymbal cleaner. *NEVER* use household cleaners.

[@Damo_Drummer]

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.