Hammerax Installs New Cymbal Hammer System

Clearwwater, FL, December 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The system is a combination of hand and machine hammering capable of delivering new types of formations in metal. Hammerax is sticking with their general policy of keeping processes secret but has released some info about this new system. “These are not typical cymbal hammers” says John Stannard, Hammerax President. “This is custom tooling and the methods are totally different than anything we have seen.” While the system does contain some machines, there is no automation. “The system is guided totally by hand. The machines reduce fatigue and add power and flexibility, but there is much handwork involved. These are still truly handmade cymbals. The result is the ability to forge bronze in new ways that can add volume and richness of sound and a wonderful variety of hammer shapes can be used to create many sounds and patterns” says Stannard. “Tens of thousands of dents can be now placed into an instrument. The power of this system, in combination with very careful heat treatment and unique alloys results in tonal beauty with extreme potential for loudness.” The fatigue reduction factor allows for greater consistency of quality. “These are still works of art like any great cymbal, but we did not want a cymbal started in the afternoon to be different than one started in morning simply because of cymbal smith fatigue. This new method allows the cymbal smith to concentrate on the form and sound of the cymbal.” Thinner cymbals can also be made with higher strength using this system since hammering can refine metallic grain in more directions than rolling alone. “Rolling happens while a cymbal is flat, but rolling is only the beginning- this hammering method continues throughout the cymbal making process on a 3-D scale, adding strength, volume, and richness” says Stannard.

In addition, Hammerax cups are now formed completely with Hammering. “Hammering cups is a lost art and our method is a very new take on this old idea. By forging the cup through hammering, the resulting sound is quite different. The cup is physically very strong, but the sound is more integrated into the whole of the cymbal.” Strength is an important feature of this system. “This method of hammering moves the bronze grain structure in hundreds of directions, hence refining the metal and improving strength far beyond the capabilities of the initial rolling process.” “Power, strength, tone, and quality were the goals here. This method was 4 years in development,” says Stannard.

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