vinyl bands that clipped on to tuba bell rims

[Dan Schultz]

I have an old butter knife that I heat with my acetylene torch until it is glowing. I lock the handle in a small vise on my bench with the blade horizontally flat. After heating it I press both ends on it until gooey and then press them together and spray with water to cool until the joint is firm. Then I set the ring on a flat surface and allow it to harden up for about ten minutes. I trim any flashing with my trusty Exacto knife. Et voila!

I suspect that's pretty much the way they do it at the factory. We used to refer to this in the plastics as 'hot plate welding'. 'Whiffle Balls' are made the same way!

[ghmerrill]

Splitting the tubing has been addressed. How about permanently joining the ends?
...
What's your solution, TNFJ?

I guess I don't see the problem for which a solution is being sought. I just made the jig, slit a length, and put it on the (17") bell of my 1934 Buescher. It fits on very firmly and the ends meet. But I don't see any point to joining them.

What am I missing?

I guess if I did see a need for this, I might cut a very short overlap piece and find some sort of superglue that would work. Otherwise the hot weld approach. But I just don't see the point. I expect that if I end up putting it on and taking it off repeatedly, it would also end up stretching, and so I wouldn't want it fused since I'd want to be able to trim it down in that case.

(Whatever one thinks of how this may or may not affect the sound of the instrument, I think it adds a little additional protection to the rim and is a real advantage when putting horn bell down on various types of floor -- which I almost never do, but there are times ...)

[MartyNeilan]

I have about a three inch overlap. I make sure to stretch the tubing as I pull it around, to keep enough tension on it. On a horn like mine, that slight difference in cosmetics vs. having perfectly joined ends is irrelevant.

[euphomate]

A bit off topic, but my method of avoiding damage to the bell is to use a K&M stand designed to set the tuba in (upright) when not being played. No scratches, no dents, no need to watch what damage others are trying to inflict on the horn with clumsy feet or careless chair and music stand placement. Place the EEb comp in front of me, between self and my music stand, no searching for space and a place to set it down on the bell, the water runs to the water key end rather than around the bends. Sure they cost more than a length of tubing, but cheaper than the last lot of dent repair on the bell.