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Some of you may remember a post that I made a while back about a friend of mine, a retired Marine with polio, who had a strange lip vibration problem. Anyway, we narrowed it down and it has since gotten better. Well he bought a few tubas a while back and is wanting to sell some off. I am doing some work on one of these instruments for him to try to help him out a little. The tuba in question is a F Schediwy Eb tuba made in Ludwigsburg. It has 4 rotors and as you can guess the laquer is pretty much nonexistant. The main question that I have is that the bell has quite a bit of green corrosion on the outside of the bell. In the next few days I will be removing the valves and slides and cleaning everything up. I'm just not sure of the best way to remove the corrosion and will dish soap and hotwater clean the rest of the tuba well enough? Also what would you use to give it good polish, Brasso? The valve mechanism are pretty loud as you would expect and I'm going to experiment with a few things to try to make them quiter. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

Nobody?

Thanks...What about the green corrosion on the bell? Just use the Brasso or is there something I can use first. Horn plays pretty well but is pretty flat. Although it could just be me wanting to hear the CC fundamental I'm used to and my lips trying to "automatically" adjust.

pattonsj wrote:Thanks...What about the green corrosion on the bell? Just use the Brasso or is there something I can use first. . . .`

Get some Scotch Brite (r) pot scrubbers and lightly apply Brasso (r) to the green deposits on the bell. Finish up with Brasso and a clean, soft cotton rag from an old T-shirt.

The Scotch Brite pad looks harmless enough. If that doesn't work, you could try what bloke did on a couple small spots on my horn. Good ole 2000 grit (I think) wet/dry sandpaper with valve oil. Rub the spot until shiny.

Thanks for the great info guys. The Scotch Brite pads wil clean anything and I can polish almost anything with sandpaper.

Nev'r Dull Miracle Wadding, comes in a can---blue last I remember seeing it---works just as well as Brasso and is a lot less messy. Doesn't smell as bad either. A can should last years, but it will dry out long before you use it all.

eupher61 wrote:Nev'r Dull Miracle Wadding, comes in a can---blue last I remember seeing it---works just as well as Brasso and is a lot less messy. Doesn't smell as bad either. A can should last years, but it will dry out long before you use it all.

Never thought of that. I've used it on chrome wheels before. Will it give it that polished raw brass look?

If your not worried about keeping the remaining lacquer in place, Cape Cod Jewelers clothes are pretty amazing - but relatively expensive- NOXON will take you down to raw brass as well, but will definately rid the horn of all oxidation and tarnish...good luck..

jamsav wrote:If your not worried about keeping the remaining lacquer in place, Cape Cod Jewelers clothes are pretty amazing - but relatively expensive- NOXON will take you down to raw brass as well, but will definately rid the horn of all oxidation and tarnish...good luck..

Where can you get them?

+1 for Scotch Brite.

It actually stopped raining in Alabama this weekend and on Sunday I decided to do a little surface cleaning of my raw brass tuba. I used a sponge that had a "scrubby" side (No name - $89 for 2 sponges) to wipe down the surfaces of the horn and make it a little less gritty. The scrubby side did a good job of removing some green patches that I had. I discovered when I came inside the house to play the horn that I had missed some spots (doh!), but the horn's surface felt nice and smooth.

TubaTodd wrote: . . . I decided to do a little surface cleaning of my raw brass tuba. I used a sponge that had a "scrubby" side (No name - $89 for 2 sponges) to wipe down the surfaces of the horn and make it a little less gritty . . .

OUCH!! Remind me never to shop there!!

jonesbrass wrote:

TubaTodd wrote: . . . I decided to do a little surface cleaning of my raw brass tuba. I used a sponge that had a "scrubby" side (No name - $89 for 2 sponges) to wipe down the surfaces of the horn and make it a little less gritty . . .

OUCH!! Remind me never to shop there!!

They were special tuba sponges. That is the type of post you get when I have to get up @ 4AM for work.

TubaTodd wrote:

jonesbrass wrote:

TubaTodd wrote: . . . I decided to do a little surface cleaning of my raw brass tuba. I used a sponge that had a "scrubby" side (No name - $89 for 2 sponges) to wipe down the surfaces of the horn and make it a little less gritty . . .

OUCH!! Remind me never to shop there!!

They were special tuba sponges. That is the type of post you get when I have to get up @ 4AM for work.

Those were CC sponges.

The BBb sponges are much cheaper.

Dr Sloan wrote:Those were CC sponges.

The BBb sponges are much cheaper.

Hey buddy...."BBb vs CC" is a couple threads up..or down...depending on the current position.

TubaTodd wrote:

Dr Sloan wrote:Those were CC sponges.

The BBb sponges are much cheaper.

Hey buddy...."BBb vs CC" is a couple threads up..or down...depending on the current position.

Current Position? What page of the Kama Sutra is BBb vs. CC on?

Thread just got uncomfortable...

no hot water.