Best home tuba bath method?

[swillafew]

Not a bath per se, but my third rotor needed some help. I have no particular training in this. I put a brush for cleaning air brushes through the backing plate hole, a little Brasso on the bristles, and it did the trick. The valve never felt so quick, after a simple procedure.

[ghmerrill]

I use a small fountain pump and vinyl tubing to flush the instrument. Yank the mts, soapy water, water, something to remove lime then water. Tape a valve down one at a time for a bit to clean the slide area. Works well enough in between real (tearing the horn apart, brushes, actual work) cleanings.

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthread ... post137621

[bigtubby]

For a mobile person like you, I'd suggest a Quick Horn Rinse system. The new one is quite nice, it is portable and will allow you to clean a horn with a garden hose outside, in a small shower or a bath tub.

FWIW I bought one of those a couple of years ago - roughly half a C-note IIRC.

It lasted 1.25 uses before the detergent mixing valve gave out, rendering it completely useless (water squirting everywhere).

Spend the money instead on a bilge pump and some plastic tubing from West Marine and use the remainder for some vinegar/CLR and Dawn detergent.