cleaning/bathing my tuba

[Casey Tucker]

hi all, my tuba is in need of cleaning. when i say cleaning i don't mean oil the valves and grease the slides but i need to scrub inside and out a polish. does anyone have a "plan" as to how to give my horn a bath. i guess what i'm asking is how do i give my horn a bath? what supplies should i look into getting (silver polish, soap, cleaning utensils, etc.)? where can i find them? also, i can't find a container large enough for my horn. i play a PT-20PS (19" wide tapered bell). does anyone know where i can find something wide enough? it won't fit in the tub. already tested it.

thanks a lot.

-casey

[Water Music]

I would use a garden hose and spray out the horn with all of the slides and valves out, then clean the rest of the horn, like the valves and slides, in the sink.

[tubamirum]

Usually the dirtiest part of a brass instrument is the leadpipe, then the main tuning crook if it is in front if the valves. In a tuba, not much junk gets past the valves, ( I don't consider green patina dirt). So , take out your first valve and the bottom cap and run a snake through your leadpipe. Look through the casing and see what comes out. If you don't see a lot of gook, you are pretty clean.

[XtremeEuph]

I would use a garden hose

Id do that too but the water outside is a little chilly.