Cutting Down Cymbals

[mkelley]

I have a couple of cymbals that I would like to have machined down from 14 to 10. I know some of you guys have experience with this, so who did ya use? A Machine shop, someone else?

[applejax]

I first cut it "roughly" down to size and then I used a lathe....we made a jig so it fit perfect on the side...and then just trimmed it down.

[nexus]

I used a regular metal lathe, I had a Sabian HH crash that I loved, bought used and it cracked on the outter edge, I lathed it down and have used it ever since, it obviously changed the sound significantly, I cut off about 1.5 inches, but the new sound is very good as well, half way between a splash and fast crash, good effects addition.

nexus

[mkelley]

Is there anyone who would do this for a nominal charge (cheap?)?

The cymbals are cheapo Zildjians Scimitars hi-hats that I've had for about 16 years. Would love to make a 10" pair of mini-hats out of 'em. They're too thick for any use, but would love to try them out.

[marcuscarcus]

Well my drum teacher had an old 12 inch splash that he beat the crap out of. it was missing a big chunk of metal and there were two huge cracks in it. Anyway i asked him if i could have it and i took a regular metal saw non electric and i cut it down to basic size which turned out to be about 5 1/2 inches. than i sanded it down to make it more perfect. THis takes quite along time but it was rewarding when i finished even though the application of such a small cymbal is very limitted i love it because i made it and it took alot of hard work.
But hard work is not always good. How much does one of these thathes cost and is it easy to do.
Does anyone have any tips about cutting down cymbals. I.E. has anyone tried sqaure cymbals or any other weird shapes.

[Enraged Panda]

Kelley...cymbals that cheap and old might not withstand being cut...

[marcuscarcus]

oh yeah
one thing that i learned was that cymbals dont only change sound because your cutting metal off but also because cutting them stresses the metal and changes the composition. my cymbal that i cut down does not lie flat. It is slightly bent. i don't know if it was like that before though.
but the heat created by the friction definetly changes the metal composition. Learned that in physics honors.

[mkelley]

I'm talking with Mike Skiba about doing something with them. I think they'll hold up but knowing that they're beginners cymbals worry me.

[tbone]

I had an 18" cut down that was given to me cause it was WAY cracked - had it cut down to 5" by a machine shop & edges smoothed in the 70's. It's almost ALL bell!! and I can't resist using it all this time - sounds like a clock chime!!! :D Don't ask me how much that cost me cause my brain cells were fried all through the 70's, but I'm sure I couldn't afford more than $15 during that period of my life - my money went for other 'stuff'.

[marcuscarcus]

My drum teacher just gave me a 22 in china low boy zildjian
He gave it to me to cut for him and i kinda want it because i need a china but i will do him a favor
I found that the curves on a china make it alot harder to cut down.
I read that article about mike skiba in MD.
mr kelly you should ask mike if he will write some stuff about cutting down cymbals
that would be cool