Shaping a 20" cymbal blank with a ball pein hammer - Slow TV - PGB Artisan Cymbals

[@joshuafoga8438]

If I could I would be interested in getting into this cause as a drummer this would be so cool to have as a job. Imagine making your own cymbals and making cymbals for others and selling them/ making cymbals for a brand. That would be so cool.

[@xetradax2679]

each cymbal here is a piece of art

[@drumswest]

OK, this is the 3rd time I've watched this and it's making more sense. I see you start with the ring around the bridge then do large, spacious patterns through the body. Then a ring around the edge before a ring around the bow. Hammering in between bow and edge before hammering between bell and bow. Then you did another ring around the base of the bell. Why? This video is teaching me a lot. Thank you!

[@pgbcymbals]

Hey, I'm happy you can learn from watching the video! Actually in this video I'm mainly doing the initial stretching of the blank. So I try to hammer as evenly as possible all over the surface of the blank. The rings I hammer near the edge is to determine where the tension of the profile ends. So in between the edge and the bell, I hammer (top and bottom) to slowly raise the profile. Then I also do some small adjustments on the shape during that process to make sure it stays even and doesn't turn into a taco.

[@aaronwatter]

Incredible work, thanks for posting!

[@Catinthehackmatrix]

I have a 18 inch b8 crash/ride I experiment with from time to time with hammering and sanding down. The plan was to get it sounding something like the Zildjian crash of doom, since it's such a rare crash ride effect cymbal, it seemed like a plan. now a couple years later it sounds like doom of something, not totally dead from the over hammering as well as drilling some small holes with plans to rivet it at one time. I noticed after hammering it always sounds a bit dead, then after a while it starts to sound like some trash effect dry cymbal! Oh if i had a lathe, i would have shaved it down, but the thickness was good to practice with. Short story.

[@drumswest]

F'in awesome to watch! 24 ounce hammer? I'm about to start my journey with hammering and am excited. This video is great! Questions: What does inverting the cymbal do? What does bending it do? Is bending so you don't have to hammer as much? When you are targeting spots, what are you seeing? I'm assuming some kind of unevenness. Your tempo is super impressive. Roughly 120 BPM. Great cymbals!

[@pgbcymbals]

Yeah this one is a 24oz hammer, with a slightly round face. Inverting the cymbal helps me see uneven spots better. After hammering the same side for a while, it helps to invert it and do some adjustments. Bending it sometimes helps the bronze to stretch and place itself in shape. It also releases some weird tension that can build up. Yeah, when I do targeted hammering, it's stretch some areas that lack hammering to put them back in with the rest of the pofile.

[@themoonbootman]

This is awesome

[@TheEvanIles]

So you keep stretching the cymbal in the opposite direction of its shape and then pop it back into the shape it will be played in. I’m assuming this helps add tension to the metal (please correct me if I’m wrong). But this seems like a fairly thin cymbal (crash or very thin ride). Would you do that with a heavier ride, medium to heavy weight?

[@pgbcymbals]

Yes I like to work it in both profiles, it's helpful to see the shape of the cymbal from different angles. It also has some shaping perks. Tension, or hardness of the metal can be obtained by working in inverted or regular profile. This blank is on the thinner side, but it's medium (2300g) . I use the same process on thin or heavy cymbals. I mainly switch the hammers and strength of hammering.

[@lorisfederici6612]

Wow!

[@afterlifeyt9073]

Do you use a ball pein hammer that comes as it is or do you shape the end? Also whats the wieght of the hammer?

[@pgbcymbals]

I always make the head round and smooth with a grinder and sand paper. The weight should be around 24-32oz, 700-900g for an all around hammer. It can also be lighter if you prefer

[@afterlifeyt9073]

@@pgbcymbals thank you! Im starting with my cymbal smithing journey

[@j.j.s.6736]

Can someone tell me what's that piece of iron is called the cymbal is getting hammered on?

[@DrMackSplackem]

It's called an "anvil". Usually it's a chunk of heat-treated high carbon steel, railroad rail works and is cheap or even free.

[@staffcarpenborg]

What’s the steel/metal thing called that he’s resting/hammering the cymbal on? and where do I buy one ??

[@pgbcymbals]

It's called an anvil. You need to purchase some tool steel cylinder. Approximately 6" wide by 5" deep and make the surface slightly curved. Than heat treat it to make it hard. You should go see a black smith to help you with the process.

[@DavidKrautscheid]

the ball pen hammer is in the wrong direction! the ball must hit the cymbal..nott the other part

[@DavidKrautscheid]

for this reason the hammermarks are way to small!

[@hanisitsobarna4897]

🔨😁

[@Z-Ack]

I still dont see how some charge over 800$ for a hand hammered cymbal.. yea its a little work but nothing that cant be done completely in just a few hours..

[@pgbcymbals]

Lol

[@johndiraimo1444]

Materials cost + work (hammering or Lathing, adding patinas, etc.) + tons of expertise + trained ears. I'd say $800 is about right.

[@darrynruzicka2883]

There are a lot of jobs out there that suck but this is at the top of my list! Doing this everyday for a year would drive a man insane!

[@pgbcymbals]

@@darrynruzicka2883 So far I would say I keep it together pretty well