Taking a torch to a cymbal is asking for trouble.

Will make it brittle and break like glass.

I have fiddled with this some. Brazing is a form of welding where two dissimilar metals form a molecular bond at a melted interface. The welded metal is usually steel or cast iron and just barely reaches a pliable temperature and the bonding metal is bronze rod which is completely brought to melting temperature. Obviously ,the rod needs to melt at a lower temperature than the stock.

Cymbals are a candidate for fusion welding where a bronze rod of a predictable melting point could be flowed into the cymbal crack, which would just reach a melting point. I've done lots of this successfully with cast iron fusion and managed to avoid subsequent spidering and cracking during cooling but my initial attempts at doing A. Zildjian cymbals met with success on the fusion side but there was subsequent cracking around the weld.

There are two things here. I was working with a few samples of newly developed rod, that came in a variety of alloys. I only tried a few of them , so perhaps I got it too hot and my cooling technique was faulty---I should have preheated the entire cymbal better and wrapped it in heavy insulation to cool.

There are now some very sophisticated welding techniques unavailable to me----laser welding, tig and others that might do a good job. I was using a very fine tipped torch,oxy / acetylene.------but I have thought about this quite a bit and it seems to me that the way to go is to duplicate the method of manufacture---by melting the affected area and do what was once called blacksmith welding, which would hammer the cymbal to weld it under controlled forge and torch heat----basically resetting the bronze crystals along and around the crack and then retempering. low tech but a lot of work!!

Thank you very much for your input, gentlemen! I have neither your knowledge or skill! Amazing! Since this is a vintage cymbal, I believe the wisest thing for me to do would be to leave it alone. It's really the sound that matters. I really do appreciate your expertise though. It always astounds me how people on The Forum will go out of their way to help a fellow member. MANY thanks!!!

Brian

there are very fine tipped torches that are used for ***elry.--- of course, heating affects the tempering but the whole point of the thread was to illicit a discussion about whether it could be done. i think , a technique can be found, to weld cymbals. ---- not long ago it was considered almost impossible to weld a manifold but it is routine now. it's just a matter of putting in the hours to determine a formula that works.

When you apply heat to an already cracked cymbal you will get separation tenfold from the crack. Also warping is common. I recommend if anything to drill out the end of the crack plus 1/16. of an inch. If that's not possible, then find someone with a punch press to punch a hole that will take out the crack entirely

Your quest to "patch" a cymbal is almost impossible, & would make no difference to the sound or appearance. There is nothing wrong w/ having a "bite" out of a cymbal(except pride & image). I've seen many photos w/ jazz greats playing repaired cymbals w/ odd chunks missing. I've found it hardly makes a difference.

Thanks again, gentleman. Your expertise is certainly appreciated. It is an interesting question though and I'm sure that there is a way and the skill set to actually "repair" a cymbal which has been punched out in order to repair a crack. I think that tdennis', reply is quite sound though. A couple of small punch holes might add character. Thanks again, everyone!

Brian

Absolutely leave it alone. If it sounds good, you would risk destroying that sound AND any resale value. What were you hoping to gain?

Nothing to gain, Mark, just curious. It will be left alone...assuredly.

Brian