Raw brass tubas
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- bugler
- Posts: 80
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Raw brass tubas
Just bought a raw brass tuba. Will it always make my hands smell?
- bisontuba
- 6 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
Hi-
Practice naked with your raw brass tuba, and then it won't just be your hand that smells bad.....
Mark
Practice naked with your raw brass tuba, and then it won't just be your hand that smells bad.....
Mark
- Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker
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Re: Raw brass tubas
Most of my tubas are raw brass. Wipe the horn down with furniture polish or apply car wax to slow down the patina.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
- Donn
- 6 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
How long have you had it? My guess is 1) it's always going to leave a little residue on your hands, but 2) it will taper off a lot with regular playing. But chemistry varies from one person to the next, some people are going to react with the brass more than others. As I understand it, the smell is a carbonyl or something that's created from your sweat in a reaction catalyzed by the brass.
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- 3 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
I use a $1 bandana to hold the tuba when I play. Less damage to the tuba and my left hand does not green. I have been playing a raw brass tuba since 1975.
Mark
Mark
Mark E. Chachich, Ph.D.
Principal Tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Life Member, Musicians' Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, A.F.M., Local 40-543
Life Member, ITEA
Principal Tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Life Member, Musicians' Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, A.F.M., Local 40-543
Life Member, ITEA
- bort
- 6 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
The Sousaphone I used in college was mostly raw brass. It never discolored my clothes or made my hands smell, but when I would sweat, my right arm would break out in a rash. Easily solved by a bandanna, and only mildly annoying.
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Re: Raw brass tubas
I would honestly stay away from Brasso.......that stuff is very strong and, over time, not good for brass. There are other brass/silver polishes that do a good job and are safer/milder to use.Stryk wrote:Great thing about raw brass is there is nothing on the finish to wear through or delaminate. Want it refinished? Either a can of Brasso or, if you are like me and like the brushed look, rub it with a Scotchbrite pad. Like Dan said, use some Pledge or car wax on it and your hands wont stink - at least not from the tuba!
I have the same issue with raw brass.......makes my hands smell of brass. I've used wax polish on raw brass and it didn't help much. Plus, I'm not crazy about the "ugly" look of raw brass. Much prefer silverplate or lacquer.
- bort
- 6 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
Which ones are better?tooba wrote:I would honestly stay away from Brasso.......that stuff is very strong and, over time, not good for brass. There are other brass/silver polishes that do a good job and are safer/milder to use.
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- 5 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
-Wright's Silver Cream (you can mix it with Dawn or Ajax or whatever detergent, if you like, or just use it as-is).bort wrote:Which ones are better?tooba wrote:I would honestly stay away from Brasso.......that stuff is very strong and, over time, not good for brass. There are other brass/silver polishes that do a good job and are safer/milder to use.
-Medallion Silver Polish (on silverplated instruments only)
-Tarn-X (it stinks though -smells like rotten eggs)
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I've yet to use Hagerty's, but some seem to like it a lot.
Brasso is stronger than the above, but the ammonia in it freaks me out. Read up on what ammonia does to brass over time
- k001k47
- 5 valves
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Re: Raw brass tubas
Was it formerly laqcuer or silver?KiltieTuba wrote:Is the raw brass tuba in BBb or CC?
- Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker
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Re: Raw brass tubas
I do not like Brasso because it leaves behind a residue that really makes things it comes into contact with black.bort wrote:Which ones are better?tooba wrote:I would honestly stay away from Brasso.......that stuff is very strong and, over time, not good for brass. There are other brass/silver polishes that do a good job and are safer/milder to use.
There is one metal polish out there that I prefer above all others... it's a German product called 'Simichrome'. The Harley-Davidson guys love it and I've usually been able to find it at motorcycle shops. A small tube is around $10 but goes a long ways. I think it's probably available on-line, too.
Another good one is called 'Wenol'. It also comes in a small tube.
Both are said to be non-abrasive.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.