Ever Wondered How Cymbals Are Made?

Cymbals are a percussion instrument consisting of plate shaped discs.  They are made of metal and can either have leather handles to be clashed together in pairs, or a single cymbal can be fixed as part of a drum kit to be played with sticks or a wire brush.

Musicians have been clashing cymbals for centuries.  They are a great addition to our favourite band, and a welcomed addition to a symphonic orchestra.  Metal Spinning companies lovingly craft cymbals but how to they do it?

Here is how:

• The most famous models of cymbal are made from castings which can be a blend of copper, tin and traces of silver, others are made of brass.

• The castings are placed into an oven to soften them and then they are put through a rolling mill.

• They are passed through 2 metal cylinders that roll them out, similar to a pastry crust for a pie. The castings become flatter, thinner and larger.

• The heating process can be repeated up to 12 times depending on the style of the cymbal.

• This process creates an interlocking weave in the structure of the alloy to make it strong enough to take a beating. The weave also helps to transmit sound waves more rapidly across the cymbal.

• The casting is then placed onto a spindle where spinning cutters sheer the edges to a set diameter.

• The cymbal is then pounded by a hydraulic machine. This gives the cymbal its dimpled look and adds to its unique sound.

• Tonal grooves are added by metal spinners using both hand held and machine lathes. The top of the cymbal is completely crafted by hand.  No machine can duplicate the expert craftsmanship of a metal spinner.  See Metal Spinners at work here

• The next machine smoothes the edges of the cymbal and gives the polished finish.

• The final machine laser etches the trademark and serial number of the cymbal, along with an ink stamp of the company’s logo.

The Result: Perfect cymbals at the end of a 21 day process.

Cymbals play and important role in music making, but remember that when buying cymbals they come with a sound that is a sound for life.  The sound of a cymbal cannot be modified or tuned like other instruments, so what you hear is what you get!