instructables
DIY Cymbal Patina
by Music In The Blue
In this instructable I will show to panita a cymbal in
di erent ways to make them look waethered and give
them a warmer sound.
To start with, I got a set of hi hats from a friend who
was going to throw them away. These are Zildjian ZBT
hats, they are made of B8 bronze, B8 cymbals will
panita much easier and better than B20 cymbals. Also,
an important step in the patina process is the
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chemical composition of the patina agents. I used
regular white vinegar and salt for the sake of
availability. The acid is the main patina agent in most
cases, so di erent acids can be used to get di erent
colors. The salt I recommend is ne grain salt, I have
used coarse salt and it does not work as well, another
note is that the salt I used was iodized salt and the
iodine in the salt helps give the patina a browner look.
Step 1: Choose a Victim

Like I said before, I used a pair of Zildjian ZBTs that were headed for the trash. These cymbals are made of B8 bronze
which is the best for this patina.

Step 2: Choosing the Patina Agents

Again, like I said before, I used salt and vinegar for
convenience. The acid is what helps with the color and
the oxidization of the bronze. The salt used is to add
something for the acid to stick to, the salt also can
help oxidize the metal. Fine grain salt works the best
from my experience. The chemical composition of the
salt can also release di erent colors, for example, I
used iodized table salt, the iodine in the salt is
released when the vinegar breaks it down and the
iodine creates a brown color.

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Step 3: Apply Acid and Salt

A spray bottle is need for the acid so that it can be sprayed on (or if you're fancy like me get a pressurized spray
bottle). Once you spray the cymbals, sprinkle the salt on the cymbals. Be careful not to add too much salt, only use
a little, if too much is used, then the results won't be as nice.

Step 4: Wait, Rinse and Repeat

Wait for the salt to turn black (if using iodized salt) and wipe o the salt, repeat Step 3 and 4 until results are to
your standards.

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Step 5: Finish the Cymbal

I used a simple mix of beeswax and olive oil to nish my cymbals, if the cymbal isn't nished, it will turn a nasty
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foggy green.

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Step 6: Enjoy!

Most Important step, enjoying the product.

Interesting. I have many times polished a cymbal to remove tarnish. But I never thought about
doing the reverse.

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