Home Made Cymbals

[Talos]

As I am very low on money and im not earning money, I was thinking about making my own cymbals. My dad said that this would be near impossible otherwise everyone would be doing it. But with cymbals, a crappy made one could give an interesting and unique sound right? I was just thinking about doing this so would do you guys reckon about this and any lnks that would help would be appreciated.

I wouldnt print them or anything just yet :lol: But its just another of my crazy and ambitious ideas.

Cheers guys

[_Austin_]

Crikey!

Good luck!

Your right... definately crazy and ambitious! :p

[Jublian]

get a sheet of steel or bronze or whatever you like and take to it with a hammer

[Talos]

get a sheet of steel or bronze or whatever you like and take to it with a hammer

A special type of hammer or just a bog standard one?

[moogoogaipan]

I think that you are out of your league.
To get the kind of setup you would need, you would probably end up paying more than if you just bought a bunch of high-end cymbals.

cymbal making is metal-working and that isn't cheap.

[Drum Phil]

A special type of hammer or just a bog standard one?

It has to be a ball hammer

[Talos]

Its not going to work is it :lol:

[Jublian]

yeah a metal ball hammer


/pretends he knows what he's talking about

[Jublian]

try it, i'd like to see what happens

[moogoogaipan]

lol... you have to put the alloy in ingots by melting it, then let it age for a couple of days.
then soften the alloy and roll it into sheets.
then within fifteen minutes you have to press it and drill a perfect hole in the center(for stand mounting).
then it has to be hand hammered, then machine hammered,
and finally it needs a machine lathing.

There you go.
The cost of all that equipment would exceed $100,000

[Jublian]

Bah, if its just an experiment you don't really need to do all that, just geta a sheet of some metal and hit it like 10000 times til it looks like a cymbal, drill a hole for the cymbal stand and there you go

[LostRythym]

^^^

LOL. Thats cool. Just get a sheet of raw metal. and just hang it up and there you have a thundersheet.

[Jezen]

I wonder what would happen if you hit a sawblade with a hammer 16,000 times?

It would probably bend, or break.

[Cocaberry]

You know you are poor when you can't even afford solars lol Just get a job or something and try to save up for good cymbals or if you aren't old enough to work just try to mow lawns and help around the house or something. You should atleast get solars man.

[Jezen]

Nah. Paiste 101's.

[Drum Phil]

Nah save a bit and get PRO SONIX :)

[Jezen]

Nah save a bit and get Zyn 5 Star

True dat.

[Drum Phil]

haha n00b. U me553d up t3h qu0t3 t4gz

I have a zyn ride actually :)

[Wizz]

Making your own cymbal would cost a fortune , don't get your hopes on it.

You need to melt the metal in an oven and i don't think an ordinary micro-wave would do ,... then you need all sorts of equipement ( hammers , metal plates ,... ) to make it work

So if your low on money , just buy a low-end cymbal pack

[corderodedios]

You need to melt the metal in an oven and i don't think an ordinary micro-wave would do

If you put any kind of metal in the microwave, it sparks and **** and frys your microwave.

[Drum Phil]

Really? That sounds like fun

[Jezen]

No, the fun thing is putting a few flammable aerosol cans in there, then duct-taping the door closed from the outside.
Cook on full for a while.

Ka-Boom!

[spirit]

I tried making a cymbals sound better once. It didn't work for a number of reasons, mostly because it was and still is a paper thin sheet of pressed brass, and so it's sonic properties were sadly lacking.

[Jublian]

bahahah, BB your location is hilarious


/official batman thread hijack

[spirit]

bahahah, BB your location is hilarious


/official batman thread hijack

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/spiritmx/HijackedThread.jpg

[Jublian]

i need to find a batman version of that....

[GhostNote]

Nah. Paiste 101's.

Sure man, zildjian planet z's or Bronze rock! Scimitar! woot!

[GhostNote]

^^^

LOL. Thats cool. Just get a sheet of raw metal. and just hang it up and there you have a thundersheet.

My god. Wow, you'd like, have a big piece of ****ty metal that genuinely sounds like ****, not thunder. And with the hammering, good luck, i wanna see the end product! What about the bell, or is it gonna be a flat top?

[JIRONS]

Get yourself one of those metal trash can lids, drill a hole in the center, and wallah, homemade cymbal. Prolly sound better 'n ZBTs anyway.

[Jezen]

No. Don't. I once tried stealing a trash can lid. I put it in my suitcase, but apparently someones iPod went missing, and they did a big bag search, and they looked in my bag and saw the trash can lid and everyone was all WtF Mate!? :confused:

[FockerTheLopper]

My friends brother is a mechanic(or something like that, engingeer something) and he has a new weilder(sp?). He built a hockey net so I figured he could make me a cymbal. Next time I see him I'm going to give him little things to build it around like the hole in the middle and see what happens

[Talos]

I was gonna get ZBTs ot ZXTs but evveryone says they suck so I already know not to get them. Are Meinls good? Theres an ebay shop with cheap Meinl cymbals and cheap kits lik Mapex's for £300. Heres a link but hs British. Might ship to US but P&P probably costs more then the actual product. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ONLY-1_CYMBALS-CYMBAL-PACKS_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

[SkaRabbit]

lol... you have to put the alloy in ingots by melting it, then let it age for a couple of days.
then soften the alloy and roll it into sheets.
then within fifteen minutes you have to press it and drill a perfect hole in the center(for stand mounting).
then it has to be hand hammered, then machine hammered,
and finally it needs a machine lathing.

There you go.
The cost of all that equipment would exceed $100,000



let me get this straight.....2000+ years ago they were using machines to make cymbals???? well feck me

[Jezen]

http://images.animanga.nu/fanart/463/pwned.jpg

[The Ska Man]

let me get this straight.....2000+ years ago they were using machines to make cymbals???? well feck me


Psalms 150 mentions cymbals, and David wrote that. So I'd say its more like 3000+

[thatdrummerguy]

Trust me kid, making your own cymbals is a pain in the a$$, plus youll have to do it a few times till' you get it right. Not to mention the lathe, the right hammer, etc. Just save the money.





Edit: Hey Punkdrummer I love your avatar.

[The Ska Man]

Trust me kid, making your own cymbals is a pain in the a$$, plus youll have to do it a few times till' you get it right. Not to mention the lathe, the right hammer, etc. Just save the money.





Edit: Hey Punkdrummer I love your avatar.


I do too.:cool:

[JIRONS]

No. Don't. I once tried stealing a trash can lid. I put it in my suitcase, but apparently someones iPod went missing, and they did a big bag search, and they looked in my bag and saw the trash can lid and everyone was all WtF Mate!? :confused:
heh heh

[aznriceball]

iv been a fan of the DIY until the last few days. first, a hand hammered brass snare and now this. i hope u waste lots of money and learn ur lesson.

[goalieman92]

Get yourself one of those metal trash can lids, drill a hole in the center, and wallah, homemade cymbal. Prolly sound better 'n ZBTs anyway.
yes they do.:rolleyes:

[Brokensticks]

You're better off with AAX Stage cymbals!

[White]

just use trash can lids! u have the quality of ZBT,ZXT and the NEW! ZHT!, All It ONE!

[axewarrior20]

I'd love to try a trashcan lid, I inverted the cheap unbranded 16'' crash ride I got and stacked it on this ztb china, I can now get a sound with a slight decay or one with no wash, all depends on where I hit it ;)

[chewaz]

anyones know at what temperature does bronze melts??

[The Ska Man]

anyones know at what temperature does bronze melts??


Wikipedia.com.....Its your freind. Its everybody's freind.

[Loser]

This reminds me of the time I tried to make a china out of a low end crash I found.

[aznriceball]

^were u the one with the ZBT? i remember u were pleased with the result, no? :lol:

[Loser]

^were u the one with the ZBT? i remember u were pleased with the result, no? :lol:


No, I did this before ZBTs existed, at least to the extent of my knowledge.

I also did not post here at the time.

[aznriceball]

hmm, must have been someone else. that was a fun thing to do during this one part of the year

[GhostNote]

iv been a fan of the DIY until the last few days. first, a hand hammered brass snare and now this. i hope u waste lots of money and learn ur lesson.

Yeah, actually, about the snare im making; im getting all teh materials for free. Sooo, u can critisise all you want, coz i dont really give a flying feck wat you think.

[aznriceball]

^then all the power to you

[Bone]

Every product we have has come from people experimenting and seeking something that wasn't available or trying to make something cheaper.

I think experimentation is awesome! Go out and have fun! Just be safe and understand what you are doing before hand.

Matt turned me onto using saw blades for effects cymbals when I saw him tracking with one. Stan showed me some odd things he smacks for sound on occasion and Adrian turned me on to using a brake drum for a massive bell tone.

It's all about being creative and trying new things. Make your sound yours and have fun doing it.

[60 Hertz Jig]

Every product we have has come from people experimenting and seeking something that wasn't available or trying to make something cheaper.

Matt turned me onto using saw blades for effects cymbals when I saw him tracking with one. Stan showed me some odd things he smacks for sound on occasion and Adrian turned me on to using a brake drum for a massive bell tone.

There really isn't harm in trying something new, and don't discourage them for wanting to try it, Bone is right, if people didn't experiment, we probably wouldn't have half the products we have today.

Saw blades are awesome for effects, and also as a cheap bell. I wonder what Home Depot would think if I walked into the tool section with a pair of drumsticks in hand..hehe

Peace.

Edit: A brake drum? Will have to try that one out..

[Bone]

My Sont!!!

Bring a stand with you! I did. Don't be ashamed, you might be surprised the psotive infulence you can have. People will ask questions, be open, friendly and everything will be all right.
I walked into my local Home Depot with the top of a boom stand (had to make sure the blades fit right?), and a single stick. At first, the helper guy thoguth I was nuts, but he saw quickly I was the real deal and not joking around.

I got a couple blades, and some didn't fit btw, helpful to bring that top part of the stand! Some sound GREAT, some sound horrible! Experiment and see what works for you.

Much MUCH cheaper then any effects cymbal as well.


I actually went to a hunk yard to find my brake drum, I think it came off of a old bug. I basically looked for the least rusted one... Needs a sperate and heavy duty snare stand however.

[60 Hertz Jig]

Hahah..I'm going to do that now. Bringing the stand in is a great idea, I'd have never thought about that. I've been looking for a new [read: rust free] blade anyways, and with a better sound to it. I think I'll pass on the brake pad, but I'm sure I can find something else in place of it.

Peace.

Edit: The first time my bassist heard about the saw blades on my kit, he thought I was ****ing insane. And then decided that will be the death of me, misjudging a drum hit, slicing my arm open on the saw and bleeding to death. =p

[GhostNote]

^then all the power to you

Yeah, because i dont really see any harm in making something with free materials and the equipment to do so really.

[moogoogaipan]

I think I'll pass on the brake pad, but I'm sure I can find something else
It's not a brake pad, it's a brake drum.
The drum brakes off the back axles of some vehicles..
it's not an experimental instrument though... it's an actual orchestral instrument.
I wonder what a disc brake would sound like

[moogoogaipan]

My friends brother is a mechanic(or something like that, engingeer something) and he has a new weilder(sp?).

lol, a welder can't make you a cymbal.
I can weld, and it has nothing to do with welding.

[60 Hertz Jig]

It's not a brake pad, it's a brake drum.
The drum brakes off the back axles of some vehicles..
it's not an experimental instrument though... it's an actual orchestral instrument.
I wonder what a disc brake would sound like

Yes I know that, it was a typo. When I first replied, I did indeed use the word 'drum'

Peace.

[Talos]

Well surely a sheet of steel with a hole in the center would make a unique and interesting sound. Ive decided against it as I don't have any of the equipment and would cost more than top of the range branded ones. Maybe when my band make it big I can make my own drum company that could make drums, cymbals, accessories, etc. Every drummers dream no?

[DuckinFutch]

Not really. I'd rather just play them.

[Panopticon]

I'm really thinking of picking up a saw blade from where i work and puttin it on my kit (after i get my mapex of course...i need all the money i can get)

[Drum Monkey]

Well surely a sheet of steel with a hole in the center would make a unique and interesting sound. Ive decided against it as I don't have any of the equipment and would cost more than top of the range branded ones. Maybe when my band make it big I can make my own drum company that could make drums, cymbals, accessories, etc. Every drummers dream no?

no.

but a Drum Store now you're talking! stupid Damo... :lol: :p

-DM

[FockerTheLopper]

Every product we have has come from people experimenting and seeking something that wasn't available or trying to make something cheaper.

I think experimentation is awesome! Go out and have fun! Just be safe and understand what you are doing before hand.

Matt turned me onto using saw blades for effects cymbals when I saw him tracking with one. Stan showed me some odd things he smacks for sound on occasion and Adrian turned me on to using a brake drum for a massive bell tone.

It's all about being creative and trying new things. Make your sound yours and have fun doing it.
Thats why I want to do it, its not even about making it sound amazing its about being able to say that I made a cymbal

[Talos]

Bump.

[steve_o_69]

i think thats a really cool idea and it will be possible you just have to take a lot of time and do it carfully and try doing different things like flat hammer, round hammer, chissel, thick cuts, thin cuts, big dents, small dents you get the idear just be fragile carfull and exsperiment

[steve_o_69]

advice: dont let anyone put you down about the poor equipment or low money you have cos the most famous dodge viper was made in a shed and out of old broken canoo's so if they can make a world famouse car out of **** you can make a good cymbal out of ****

[drummingducktape]

im thinking of taking the cymbals that came with my kit (when i get new ones) and hammering the hell out of it and see what kind of sounds i can get

[GhostNote]

im thinking of taking the cymbals that came with my kit (when i get new ones) and hammering the hell out of it and see what kind of sounds i can get


Do it, they'll sound better if you hammer them properly. Heat them up and hemmer them. or bury them for 2 weeks, or put tomato sauce on them.

[drummingducktape]

lol how would i heat them up? and what kind of hammer?

[Taffer]

Hey don't discourage him. It's only an experiment, and if he somehow exceeds he could end up up there with Zildjian and Sabian!

[Jezen]

^^^
No...

[SkaRabbit]

plus why jst zildjian and sabian...Paiste are a big company. istanbul and meinl are cool too. Still won't happen though

[Quinto]

Make the out of aluminum if u do it, aluminum an platinum

[drummingducktape]

do you think ifi take my cymbal and hammer it so that its almost flat (execpt for the bell) would that sound good

[rborghino]

Well, a cool idea is to stack all you busted cymbals on a cymbal stand and see what happens, you can end up with some REALLY cool sh!t!! I actually did this with my old hi hats and cymbals that came stock with my first drum set (now bent and slightly rusted) and the stack had some kind of china-ish sound with a short decay, a bit clangy but really cool, man:thumb:
Also, i beat the crap out of the top hi hat and now looks like a weird china!!

[Panopticon]

im thinking of taking the cymbals that came with my kit (when i get new ones) and hammering the hell out of it and see what kind of sounds i can get

last time i tried that this happened...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/c1e8e58a.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/a1444717.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/0cb2a37b.jpg

[drummingducktape]

last time i tried that this happened...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/c1e8e58a.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/a1444717.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/0cb2a37b.jpg

lol what king of hammer did you use? and was it on a hard surface?

[Little Android Man]

No. Don't. I once tried stealing a trash can lid. I put it in my suitcase, but apparently someones iPod went missing, and they did a big bag search, and they looked in my bag and saw the trash can lid and everyone was all WtF Mate!? :confused:

smooth man... rofl

[Smeghead]

burying them for 2 weeks = waste of time. they need to be played so that the particles in the metal are moved around. Putting tomato sauce on them will have minimal, if any, effect as the acidity of the sauce will not be enough to alter the surface of the cymbal

[Drum Phil]

**** off bumping this thread.

[GhostNote]

burying them for 2 weeks = waste of time. they need to be played so that the particles in the metal are moved around. Putting tomato sauce on them will have minimal, if any, effect as the acidity of the sauce will not be enough to alter the surface of the cymbal


Hahaha, i just knew you'd say that!

[GhostNote]

do you think ifi take my cymbal and hammer it so that its almost flat (execpt for the bell) would that sound good

I dont know how you heat it, i personally havent tried it, but you'd have to find out about hammering patterns ect.

[drumass04]

Having my own drum building company is certainly one of my dreams. I know that it probably won't come true, but I'm going to give it a go. What's the point in not trying?

As for hammering cymbals - You can make some really nice trashy china type things by hammering cheap no name cymbals, I hammered the ones that came with my CB a while back (I did it for about 3 days, hitting whenever I had nothing to do) Sounds better than it did, cool effects cymbal!

Tim

[Talos]

Can someone delete this thread its of no us and people just post useless info about what they did and how you fail in life.

Thanks