I sure hope he doesn't. Vintage cymbals are antiques besides being musical instruments. Applying a finish to make it look old would be a deceptive practice in my book.

I would believe he only ages cymbals that he makes or modifies.

Wow I just finished installin the car stereo to come back to this. Oxidation is indeed oxidation and if its the same type the same methods that naturally happen over time there is absolutely no reason that things of this such cannot be accomplished. I cannot be the only person that thinks like this..but then again what would i know I'm just a stupid teenager that owns a business, knows all kinda knowledge in many subjects, rips engines apart, stereos, computers, building sheds, tons of varies experiments across the board, but hey listen i clearly don't know such things as a simplistic chemical reaction. I am for one finished fighting. If you cannot understand that chemicals are forced to work a certain way I cannot help you sir. I am done wasting my time because you clearly have your opinion that you need to wait 50 years for that look and NOTHING will change that even proof. Drawn out chemical reactions prolly wouldn't be enough proof.

All I did was make this thread to find out how to clean my cymbals and find out hey are the A.Zildjians or K.Zildjians and figure out to fix the keyhole. I have gotten 1 of them things solved in almost 100 posts.

We are fighting over something that doesn't matter. When push comes to shove the same thing can be achieved faster. Such as Intel right now is going to start using a 3d dye on their processors that will make things faster than ever before. Its a new idea and It is a good one too.

Next, we're going to discuss religion AND politics!!!!

A small amount of research reveals that if artificial aging were that bad, cymbals would have a clear coat a mile thick to prevent natural oxidation!!!

Again, I'd never artificially age a vintage cymbal or a brand new Paiste, but a cheapo B8 Sabian or Zilly ZB/XT that I re-hammered would be perfect to artificially age. I was on the right track. After all, sweat contains the same things as the aging solution: acid (vinegar) and salt.

Keep learning things, young man!!! Good onya!!!

Well the first step I would like to take is drawing out a model of the chemical reaction to see exactly how the atoms are changing with one another and the end result the patina how it is created. From then you can do any number of things to get to the same reaction, some feesable and some not. Only time will tell.

In the meantime I am going to polish up my cymbals and see weather I prefer the patina or not. I think its more of a personal thing that really depends on the cymbal, how big it is, the building techniques, and then the weight is the single biggest factor. I will then know from my own experience which one is better.

On my ddrum shade cymbal, I just did the following:

1) applied several sprayings of Pickled Onion vinegar. Any Brit worth his salt has pickled onions in his house.

2) Let it cure in my tanning bed.

3) Whilst curing in tanning bed, I blew it dry with a hair dryer.

4) The coating got to be kinda sticky. Each subsequent sprayings got strange green runs on there, so I then

5) Peed on it. Yes, I drained the main vein on it. It actually cleaned off the residue. The ammonia in my urine probably oxidised it.

6) I then dumped water from the dehumidifier to rinse. I got a very dull yellow brass look with a few dark spots.

7) I blew the cymbal dry with a dryer, then repeated the spraying of pickled onion vinegar solution and am curing it in the tanning bed.

I surmise this will be my labour of love. Don't take the p*ss- I've already taken it on my poor ddrum shade cymbal!!!

Good deals let us know how it turns out. I am interested to know what I can about the artificial aging of this stuff. There we go artificial aging not artificial patina or crappy patina lol

Hey we're not fighting, just having a discusson. You've made an assumption and apparently have decided that one can successfully put a patina on a vintage cymbal through the use of corrosive chemicals that would be functionally identical to one created by the presence of oxygen over a significantly long period of time, with no downside. I disagree.

I have use various chemicals to age different metals for years as part of my shipmodeling hobby. I've also destoyed various metal parts inadvertantly by applying solutions that were too strong or for too long, or both. My opinions are based on my experience with various chemicals and first hand knowledge of the potential damage they can cause. I've used browning agents, blueing agents and blackening agents for years and they are caustic. I just can't imagine anyone risking a valuable and good sounding vintage cymbal by appling chemicals to simulate aging. You seem to believe it may be a viable alternative. So be it. We'll continue to have a different take on the efficacy of applying chemicals in that way.

Okay well i thought you were fighting so I figured better off leave it alone. I am new here and don't want to come across as a guy you rather not talk to and deal with. Because I am arguing this point I don't think it makes myself look exactly good because 99% of all the people here prolly stand behind you.

Well I am just interested in it. I happen to not think old fashioned a lot of the time lol as you can see. I am not saying use salt water and vinegar. If there is a solution to actually create a patina like that it will be much more complicated. I feel when the model is chemical reaction is drawn out it will be changing the metal in many ways. Many ways that this "solution" must be able to replicate. Now I have no doubt that it is possible. Non at all. It is finding the same ways to do it that will be hard. It will have to be a specific amount of this "solution" for a specific amount of time, cleaned certain ways. It isn't going to be simple. I think we both are aware of that much. The solution will be something that doesn't exist as of yet. Maybe it can be something that works in days so its not as corrosive..who knows.

I don't mean to come across as much of a one that wanders and thinks different. Because of me thinking like that though it has led me to a lot of great things in my life and equally not as great things too. I feel pretty strongly about speeding up the oxidation process though. I once made a solution out of some household liquids and when you passed electric through it it ate whatever you put in there. Nails, drill bits, aluminum foil, copper wires in just a few minutes. I think with that lets make it happen attitude.

Don't worry I wouldn't try this on a vintage cymbal till it has been proven on newer cymbals either. I would try it though just to see.

Mr.Lud, You didn`t need a hundred posts to answer if they were A`s or K`s,....yours clearly say Avedis Zildjian on them !!

Second,..more in case,...after you clean them and decide that`s what you like,...How will you stop the bronze from oxidizeing again ?? You can`t without adding something that will ruin the sound !! Those polished cymbals you seen in the photo wont stay that way very long and your dark brown ugly fingerprints will show up the next day.

The patina on the cymbals actually wont let your fingerprints turn dark brown, it protects the cymbal from further oxidation.