Help designing a protective guard

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Ltrain
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Help designing a protective guard

Post by Ltrain »

Hi all,
I am the proud owner of an Eastman 632. I've been playing it so much, I've worn a triscuit-sized "rash" through in silver playing where my right forearm sits. I have a yard of high-quality pleather I want to work with, but I just can't seem to be able to nail the geometry to get it to lay flat, covering 5-6" starting where the bell meets the bow. In other words, I'm lacking the engineering chops to get the conical shape just right. I'm making a unique product to serve the hyper-niche market of vegan tuba players that play 632s (AKA myself & Michael Parker).

But seriously, if anyone can provide one of the following:
  • *The "maths" involved in measuring the horn and cutting the fabric to hug the conical shape of the horn
    *An existing point of reference with measurements
    *A stencil of sorts that I can use as a starting point
I would be forever thankful! :tuba:
Eastman 853 Eb ("Edith")
1963 King 1250 Sousaphone ("Jackie O")
Aguilar Amplification
--------------
Founder, L Train Brass Band
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Ltrain
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Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 8:58 am

Re: Help designing a protective guard

Post by Ltrain »

the elephant wrote:Vegan.
Leather.
Huh?
I don't really get the confusion here, but maybe it was my use of the old-fashioned slang term pleather? Pleather = plastic (vinyl) aka faux/non-animal derived "leather".

Material is of no consequence. Back to my design (geometry) Q please?
Last edited by Ltrain on Mon May 22, 2017 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
Eastman 853 Eb ("Edith")
1963 King 1250 Sousaphone ("Jackie O")
Aguilar Amplification
--------------
Founder, L Train Brass Band
Tom
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Re: Help designing a protective guard

Post by Tom »

Unless there is someone out there that has already made exactly what you want and actually saved a pattern or detailed measurements (and maybe there is someone that did?), it's going to be more about trial and error.

Use paper or thin cardboard to get the shape and size how you want it before you cut your actual material. There is no other way to get it how you want it other than to experiment with it.
The Darling Of The Thirty-Cents-Sharp Low D♭'s.
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Ltrain
3 valves
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Posts: 311
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 8:58 am

Re: Help designing a protective guard

Post by Ltrain »

Thanks!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for. I just didn't get the search terms right when I went fishing for this info.

Much appreciated!
Eastman 853 Eb ("Edith")
1963 King 1250 Sousaphone ("Jackie O")
Aguilar Amplification
--------------
Founder, L Train Brass Band
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