Interesting find: Zildjian cymbals

Found a set of cymbals in a bin at the local thrift store. Being a former drummer, I was fairly excited to see them. However, all were cracked, which was really disappointing as they would have been worth a lot. Bought all of them for $5 anyway, and i guess they total about 15 pounds. I have to look them up but I know they will average anywhere from 80% copper-20% tin with traces of silver, to 92% copper-8% tin.

Ya, the cracks make the worthless for resale. First thing I did was the magnet test (does not stick), but i knew from experience that they should be all brass. May have to educate the guys at the yard, but most of them are smart enough to see the scrap value. This thrift store is paying off...last time there I got an old phone system (KSU) that still has some good resale value.

Sweet score.....i found a sliding compound miter saw couple days ago, nothing wrong with it... I love garbage day

I see brass cymbals in our clean yellow brass bin on a weekly basis. All of the cracked as you described. You shouldn't have any problem getting a clean price and your yard knowing how to grade them, as they are a fairly common item.

Originally Posted by BohemianLush

I see brass cymbals in our clean yellow brass bin on a weekly basis. All of the cracked as you described. You shouldn't have any problem getting a clean price and your yard knowing how to grade them, as they are a fairly common item.

I took a pair of 14" Hi hats and a 16" cracked crash. It was the OE cymbals that came with my Tama kit years ago. Not good resale value but added to my brass bucket as scrap. I play my kit as a hobby and for exercise.

Originally Posted by Stangit

I took a pair of 14" Hi hats and a 16" cracked crash. It was the OE cymbals that came with my Tama kit years ago. Not good resale value but added to my brass bucket as scrap. I play my kit as a hobby and for exercise.

That would be good excercise. Stick on some headphones and warm up with some Charlie Watts, then move up to a torrid Ginger Baker-Neil Peart frenzy to really work up a sweat. Segue into some Moon and Bonham then bring it all back down with some Ringo. Hmmm....maybe i should market a classic rock workout video.

I used to make drums for a living for a while at a small, but popular,drum company in the late 80's. I get cymbals sometimes in my scrap as my scrapping business is in a mill and there is a guy selling used vintage drums there. He gives me all his junk hardware and cymbals for scrap. Interesting that people cut cymbals down and customize them. More interesting is what people will buy even if it's not perfect.