Blog | Collingwood Cymbals

Interview with blacksmith Nicholas K. Downing

Originally published as an early-access exclusive on my Patreon, here I talk to blacksmith Nicholas K. Downing about his work making...

Cymbals are Dangerous!

One thing I really need to keep in mind when working on cymbals is just how dangerous aspects of it can be. This video demonstrates the...

Cymbals and Rest

Listen in to the differences between a rested cymbal and one fresh from the hammers and lathe. Here are two 21" rides, both made from...

How (and why) to flatten a cymbal's edge.

Taken from a new Patreon-exclusive video post, this preview shows a little insight into a few methods of flattening a cymbal. This tends...

Why share knowledge?

I first put the idea of teaching cymbal-making out into the world several years ago, initially just a tentative question to friends and...

The joy of teaching is in the learning.

Today I welcomed drummer and fellow Bristolian Jon Clark to my workshop for a 'Make Your Own Cymbal' experience. Over the course of 3...

Don't throw them away!

Having worked as an independent cymbalsmith for nearly 10 years, I find I often forget that for many drummers, the idea of making a...

Joining Forces

I'm extremely lucky to be able to work for myself and run my own business, but working alone means I often lose perspective and...

How I Got Here

How does someone end up making cymbals for a living? Any number of different ways, I suppose. My journey started in the days of the now...

Greetings!

Hello, and thanks for checking in on the new blog. I plan to use this space to document my thoughts and insights into cymbal making as I...