Wow, that thing looks like it would bring out some nice tones! Thats really cool, it's like a new hope for cheap or cracked cymbals :P
(Nice way to censor the sharpie image btw )
Awhile ago I had a pair of old GP hi hats my neighbor gave me for free. Knowing that I'd never use these, I put them away. Recently, I remembered I had them and with my recent surge of DIY creativity (see homemade kickpad thread) I decided to do something with them.
Basically all I did was use a 24 TPI metal cutting blade on a jig saw and slowly cut through the metal, taking off bit by bit until I had some kind of polygon shape centered around the bell. (I tried to make the best freehand circle I could so grinding it would be easier)
After I got it all cut down, I initially stuck it on a bolt with a bunch of felt washer to keep it tight and put the bolt and bell onto a regular old drill so that I could spin it while it was grinding. That didn't work too well because the bell kept coming loose, and I'd need something to keep the drill steady. So I just did it by hand.
Turns out that the cymbal sounded 100% better as a little bell. Mind you, it doesn't sound nearly as good as a professionally-crafted bell. But it was a fun and quick project. I'm going to make some other effect cymbal out of the other hat next.
If you have a cheap, damaged, and/or cracked cymbal laying around, this is a fun way to make good use of it. (Please don't do this to any vintage/nice cymbals! Just the cheap ones!)
Drums:
Ludwig Classic Maple
Tama Starclassic Performer
Cymbals:
20" K ride
20" K custom dry ride
16" A custom crash
14" New Beat hats
14" K custom dark crash
Ensembles
Oregon Crusaders (DCI) 09 - bass 4
OC Indoor (WGI) '10 - Snare 3rd place PIO
OC Indoor (WGI) '11 - Snare PIW FINALIST!
University of Oregon marching band '09 '10 '11 - Snare
Wow, that thing looks like it would bring out some nice tones! Thats really cool, it's like a new hope for cheap or cracked cymbals :P
(Nice way to censor the sharpie image btw )
-DrumRookie
-Gear-Birch Tama Starclassic 22", 14", 12", 10" - 14"x5" Black Panther Steel Snare - Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand - Zildjian 20" A Vintage ride - Sabian HH 16" Crash - Sabian AAX 18" Studio Crash - Agazarian 10" Splash - Sabian XS20 14" Medium Hats - ProMark Shira Kashi Oak 5A - Various sticks & percussion - CP Bongos
Great post Mike L! This recycling of old equipment really helps get your moneys worth out of what you buy.Way to go!
Last edited by LudwigLifer; 01-22-2012 at 11:24 AM.
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T.C.
Turning trash into treasure.. That's a sweet little cymbal mod you did there, it's going to sound awesome i'm sure. You could also place the area around the bell on top of the cymbal and layer it or something. Good job.
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yep im definitely going to do this next time
looks like a pro job
looks like a great job and I really want to do that to a junker too!
a word of caution, I would be careful about using those bench grinders to do a LOT of cymbals.
Cymbals are bronze which, tho fairly tough in cymbal form, is a very soft metal in general compared to steel. The bronze could build up inside the porous stone and begin to 'pile up', causing the stone to burst.
Not saying it WILL happen, just speaking from experience that a porous stone could explode when packed with bronze. Use caution.
Thanks for the comments, guys! It was a lot of fun, even though it didn't turn out perfectly round. But it cost me nothing, so I'm happy.
Thanks for that bit of info. I had no idea and I'll keep that in mind.Cymbals are bronze which, tho fairly tough in cymbal form, is a very soft metal in general compared to steel. The bronze could build up inside the porous stone and begin to 'pile up', causing the stone to burst.
Drums:
Ludwig Classic Maple
Tama Starclassic Performer
Cymbals:
20" K ride
20" K custom dry ride
16" A custom crash
14" New Beat hats
14" K custom dark crash
Ensembles
Oregon Crusaders (DCI) 09 - bass 4
OC Indoor (WGI) '10 - Snare 3rd place PIO
OC Indoor (WGI) '11 - Snare PIW FINALIST!
University of Oregon marching band '09 '10 '11 - Snare
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