Tuba wrapping

[J.c. Sherman]

Bloke, as always, is ba||s on.

I've also seen nauga applied with rubber cement to little ill effect. Apply a little cement on both sides, allow to dry, then press it on (this is how woodwind corks are applied). You'll have only one shot to get it on right, but you can use less material this way.

But everything else I've seen, ESPECIALLY bicycle tape, does more damage than sweat. I almost get an evil grin at how much it costs me to repair that damage. Don't do it!

Or, you can do what I do. I use a breath of denatured alcohol to de-grease (or rubbing alcohol), and apply clear fingernail polish to the area penetrated by my sweat, with a little overlap. This is what I do for my own instruments, and no one ever want's me to do it for them or try it themselves. To each their own. But it works. I touch up once a year or so. No biggie.

J.c.S.

Even cork bicycle tape? Profile makes one without adhesive with a cork back. I would have thought that cork would be ok.

I am thinking about it on my Conn 20J.

How does the cork adhere to the metal?

[rodgeman]

It doesn't. You just tape the end over the bar tape.

[iiipopes]

Naugahyde? Wow! I haven't heard that in a looooong time! Poor Naugas -- do you have any idea how many Naugas have to be slaughtered just to get enough hyde for one sofa? (That's an adaptation from the original Naugahyde marketing, as a substitute for leather -- growing up, I had a friend whose folks owned a furniture store and he got all the cute marketing toys.)

Seriously, I don't recommend it. It doesn't breathe. When moisture gets trapped between the Naugahyde and the horn, it will be worse than if the horn had not been wrapped.

[sloan]

Seriously, I don't recommend it. It doesn't breathe. When moisture gets trapped between the Naugahyde and the horn, it will be worse than if the horn had not been wrapped.

I don't think it's impossible, but where's that water gonna come from?

As usual, I recommend clear plastic.
Just go to any shipping department and get your tuba raped in stretch rap.
You can just scotch tape the end.

Why not go for a two-for-one benefit. Wrap your tuba in bubble wrap. No lacquer wear...no dents!

[Tubaguyry]

Go to your local Wal Mart, and head back to the plumbing section. They should have some stuff there that looks kinda like electrical tape, called "SealWrap Repair Tape." Other stores have similar stuff (AutoZone, Sutherland's, O'Reilly's, etc.). It is a stretchy rubber "tape" that fuses to itself when you pull it tight and wrap it. It does NOT have any type of adhesive on it. It is watertight, and resistant to damn near everything. A 1" x 15' roll costs about $6. I use it to wrap the top bow, upward-facing valve slide crooks, and part of the leadpipe where my arm and hand touch, and the crook of the main tuning slide. I didn't use it to wrap the part of the bell where my arm touches, because I already made a pleather/felt guard for it several months ago, and it looks good and works well.

This stuff is similar to the higher-grade version I used when I was an aircraft electrician in the Army. I love it -- it has sooo many uses. Do you gig with an old beat-up, great-sounding horn, but are afraid it may spring a leak from one of those extremely worn patches in the metal at any time? Keep a roll of this stuff in your case, and you'll have an instant emergency repair anytime. I love it, and would never dream of not having a roll on hand in my house, car or case!

[aqualung]

The black wrap I usually see is good ol' 3/4" black vinyl electrical tape.

[MikeW]

.... looks kinda like electrical tape, called "SealWrap Repair Tape."

Sounds like the stuff we used to requisition as "tape, self amalgamating" - we used it as a waterproof wrapper for cable joints, with a covering of vinyl tape to stop it getting abraded. I didn't know it was available at retail - guess a trip to Walmart is in order. Thanks for the tip.

[tusabtuba]

The "black thing" is probably made by Leather Specialties in North Carolina. They have a website. Great guards. They will make custom guards from a pattern. I've had one for 20-plus years, and it is still excellent. Not cheap, but beat all the home-made stuff people try to come up with.

Tusabtuba