Help with Gold Conn Sousaphone....

[ThomasDodd]

There are still a lot of small black spots in the hard to reach areas so I am thinking of trying Maas Metal Polish (maasinc.com) to get those hard to clean areas.

Why Maas instead of the Wrights cream with or w/o the baking soda?
I've used Maas, but didn't find it any easier than Wrights to clean with.

Perhaps a jewelry cleaner? There's a liquid cleaner that you could but on a Q-tip or cotton ball, then soak on the spots. They make a version for gold and a seperat version for silver. They are non abrasive too.

I wouldn't want to do the whole horn with it, but for small areas It might work. It would get intyo pitted/dinged spot easier, and just rinse off. Not sutible for laquer, but plated finishes should be safe.

[Bandmaster]

Why Maas instead of the Wrights cream with or w/o the baking soda? I've used Maas, but didn't find it any easier than Wrights to clean with.

Perhaps a jewelry cleaner? There's a liquid cleaner that you could but on a Q-tip or cotton ball, then soak on the spots. They make a version for gold and a seperat version for silver. They are non abrasive too.

I wouldn't want to do the whole horn with it, but for small areas It might work. It would get intyo pitted/dinged spot easier, and just rinse off. Not sutible for laquer, but plated finishes should be safe.

Well, I had used the Wrights and baking soda but it did not competely do the job in areas around the valve block and in between the slides because I could not brush those areas very well. I have heard some good things about Maas so I thought I would give it a try.

"Perhaps a jewelry cleaner?" Which one? The Maas Jewerly Cleaner instructions talk about how it cleans the gem stones and not so much about cleaning the metal. All I know is I am going to try other products to get into the tight areas better.

[ThomasDodd]

Perhaps a jewelry cleaner? There's a liquid cleaner that you could but on a Q-tip or cotton ball, then soak on the spots. They make a version for gold and a seperat version for silver. They are non abrasive too.

I wouldn't want to do the whole horn with it, but for small areas It might work. It would get into pitted/dinged spot easier, and just rinse off. Not sutible for laquer, but plated finishes should be safe.

"Perhaps a jewelry cleaner?" Which one? The Maas Jewerly Cleaner instructions talk about how it cleans the gem stones and not so much about cleaning the metal. All I know is I am going to try other products to get into the tight areas better.

I forget the name now, but Wal-Mart sells it for $2.50 a jar. The jar is about teh size of a coffee cup. In the jeweler department. Version for gold is a red jar, and the version for silver is in a geyish-silver jar. You drop the jewelery inside, and let it soak. Put the lid on, and you can agitate the piece. Comes with a tray inside so you can remove the piece when done.

I was thinking a cotton ball or Q-tip, duipped in this, then put that on the spots, let it set a minute or two. Work in sections, and rinse them off good.

For the tight spots, Wrights or Maas (mayber this too) on a Q-tip. Can reach much tighter areas than a toothbrush, but still get the "polishing" motion you want.

[Dan Schultz]

My horns are covered as personal property.... right along with my furniture and other household affects. I forget the exact limits but it is somewhere in the range of 50% of what I have the house insured for. It doesn't matter if the horn is in the house or not. It's still personal property... on or off premises. My agent is fine with this since I am an amatuer.

Customer horns are a different matter. They are covered under my business policy.

Nontheless... if you are in doubt you need to contact your agent. coverage changes state to state.