Every now and then we get asked: Why does my gong striker suddenly no longer produce the desired sounds? The good news is that it is almost never due to the quality of your striker—rather, it is due to the care, storage, or contamination of your gong's surface.
In this article, we will show you how hardening occurs, how you can avoid it, and what you can do if your friction mallet shows signs of deposits.
Why your friction mallet sounds "different"
If your gong striker no longer produces sustained sound waves or "scratches" your gong, the cause is often a hardened rubber ball.
The rubber ball does not harden overnight – it happens through:
- Residues of cleaning or polishing agents on the gong that collect on the rubber ball
- Dust and dirt on the gong surface, friction mallet with the friction mallet
- UV radiation or incorrect storage, which affects the material
Very rare: grinding residues from the manufacturing process on the rubbing ball
All these influences can cause layers to form on the surface of your friction head, which alter the contact with the gong. This flattens the sound spectrum or even causes it to break away completely.
How to prevent hardening and deposits on your gong striker
1. Clean your gong regularly and properly
This is how it works:
- Nickel silver gongs: Polish nickel silver gongs with a warm, dry microfiber cloth.
- Bronze gongs (TamTam, Feng Gong): You can clean these gongs with a damp cotton cloth and rub them dry.
Our tip for nickel silver gongs: For heavy soiling on nickel silver gongs, we recommend Poliboy metal polish. Use the sponge provided to apply the polish and gently but thoroughly remove tarnish, dirt, and deposits from the surface. Important: Dry your gong thoroughly with a microfiber cloth afterwards.
2. Only use suitable cleaning agents
Always avoid aggressive household cleaners or furniture polishes—they will build up on your gong and friction mallet your friction mallet . Only use special cleaning agents for musical instruments.
Our tip for bronze gongs: You can clean and maintain TamTam and Feng gongs with heavy soiling optimally using the Hess Sound cleaning stone and sponge. Tarnish, dirt, and deposits can be easily removed, leaving your gong shining in all its glory.
If you have both nickel silver and bronze instruments, we recommend our Gong Care Bundle Set.
3. Brush the friction mallet
After every second or third use, you should carefully brush your friction mallet a root or nail brush. This will quickly and effectively remove dust particles before they become permanently stuck.
4. Always store your gong beaters in a protected place.
friction mallet store your friction mallet in a dry place and protect it from UV light. You can use the zipper bag supplied with our scrapers or store them in a box.
First aid for minor hardening on your gong striker
When you notice the first signs of change in the friction ball, a simple trick often helps:
How to relieve your gong player of stiffness:
- bring water to a boil
- Hold friction mallet a sink.
- Carefully pour hot water over the rubber ball.
- Allow friction mallet (on a windowsill or radiator).
Tip: The "shock" caused by hot water can soften the surface again—but only if the hardening is not too advanced.
What should you do if the ball is already very hard?
If the rubber ball is noticeably hard or even discolored (e.g., yellowish on friction mallet black friction mallet), the only solution is often to sand it down lightly with sandpaper (40–60 grit).
We do not recommend cleaning agent baths, as they attack the material of your gong striker.
Our conclusion: Maintain your friction mallet .
Hardened areas on your friction mallet not a material defect—they are usually the result of dirt, residue, or improper storage. If you clean your gong regularly, brush off the friction mallet playing, and store it in a dry place, you will enjoy its sound and friction for years to come.
And if you're not sure what your friction mallet , feel free to contact us anytime. We'll be happy to advise you.
