Cymbal smithing for dummies
 
    My very first ride was a bright, pingy and generally annoying Paiste 502 20 incher. That same cymbal now competes with my Bosphorus and even my Dream ride.
 
    First step was to select a cymbal that I wouldn’t mind destroying. Next, of those I found the thickest one that would be the most difficult to destroy. Thick = lots of lathing practice and a lower possibility of cracking the cymbal during hammering. My Paiste 502 fit the bill.
 
    How to connect a cymbal to a cordless drill.....
 Aha Clutch!
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    Straightforward so far. It spins true. If anybody reading this is buckwild enough to attempt this make sure the hihat clutch is tightened to the max using vice-grips. Now the cutting edge of home cymbal lathing technology.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    A cheap 1/2” drill bit from harbor freight. Latex gloves helped alot. Cymbal crud is a nasty green substance.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Now to take a perfectly good cymbal and beat the music out of it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
On da kit. Results!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    There it is. This process is tempting me to go out and buy a bunch of used thick cymbals for crazy cheap and turn then down into light jazzerzzzz. For anything shoot me an email, link on the contact page.
Monday, September 29, 2008