186 C tubas - attic treasure - PICTURES ADDED !!!

Repair and modification discussion

To the 5th valve, I should add a

turbocharger
4
10%
supercharger
3
7%
super-turbocharger
6
15%
gerbil
28
68%
 
Total votes: 41

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bort
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by bort »

Observation -- the people who swoon over these 50+ years old tubas... Also seem to be over 50 years old.
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bisontuba
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by bisontuba »

bloke wrote:
bort wrote:Observation -- the people who swoon over these 50+ years old tubas... Also seem to be over 50 years old.
I

Terry,
An alternative (though there's a whole bunch of stuff in the way, which probably disqualifies) might be a right-thumb-activated 4th valve slide trigger. This could "fix" low F, and - probably - low E-flat or - possibly - D

Another alternative is to remove the 'U' crook on the 4th v slide tubes and make it a 'longer U' ( more tubing)...
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by bisontuba »

Really nice!
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by bort »

Sweet ride, Joe. I hope you end up keeping it for yourself!
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by bort »

I've sold some great tubas too, that match that description. I get it!

Anyway, looks great. And it didn't even need to be disassembled and rebuilt from 1500+ parts. :tuba:
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by iiipopes »

Bloke, you forgot to add "keg tap" to your list of 5th valve options. That is what I would vote for! (of course, I am a BBb concert band guy, so the 5th valve never really enters the picture)
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure

Post by iiipopes »

bloke wrote:Hi Terry,
It's REALLY great to see some of the (hopefully, last 5%-10%...??) of your house coming back together (putting things in perspective). 8)

OK...
It's all back together (by 8:30 A.M.) and ready to "mess with" the 5th valve circuit.

Here's some really weird stuff:
Now that it is UN-smashed, check out the tuning on the second-space C and third-space E. :shock:
(Low C, G, upper G, and top C, are all "on the money", as they were before.)
oh...and the main slide's A=440 position is now about a half inch further in.

Image
Image

There is still minor linkage noise, as those nylon S-arm insert bearings are enroute...and (well...) they are of somewhat secondary importance, though rank - in importance - above the strap ring and lyre holder. :lol:

Image
...I think I'm going to scoot the keel over about 3mm"...later. :roll:
Damn! Impressive!
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Tubajug »

Looking great bloke! Is that all solder between the first and 5th valve circuits in the first photo?

Also, how do you clean up excess solder around a joint? Steel wool? Buffing? I'm interested in making my work look "neater" than just a home repair job.

Thanks!
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Matt G »

Been super busy the last few weeks. Missed out on the start of this thread.

Fantastic work! Let me know when you're looking for some gas money for all of that lawn mowing you're doing. :wink:
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Tubajug »

bloke wrote:I "bridged" the #1 circuit elbow and #5 circuit compound elbow with solder, because there isn't really a good place (on the back) to solder a brace to that stubby little 5th circuit outside slide tube. The bridged solder renders the #5 circuit compound elbow (and that little outside slide tube) as "solid as a rock".

I may ??) just slightly pretty up the solder bridge (??) and leave it, or I might (??) cover up that bridge with some flat brass - across both tubes, to "pretty it up".
=====================================

Strategies for removing excess solder include:
- heat/wipe (Heat the instrument out AWAY FROM the solder joint's edge, and watch the heat creep up to the edge of the joint, and then wipe it away, hopefully: WITHOUT spreading that solder all over the instrument's surface. CLEANING ALL TRACES OF FLUX off the instrument's surface (and hitting it with something oily, but not particularly flammable) discourages spreading the solder.
- scrape (I use 3-cornered scrapers, and even edges of various screwdrivers and edges of files)
- sand (there are also little sanding sticks for sale, that are spring-loaded and fitted with little sandpaper belts
- buff (last step)
Great! Thank you!
Jordan
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Martin Medium Eb Helicon

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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Tubajug »

Great job there bloke! A very handsome tuba indeed!

And thanks for the sanding stick link, I will certainly snag one of those. Thanks!
Jordan
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Martin Medium Eb Helicon

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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by iiipopes »

bloke wrote:Projects, once undertaken, must be completed in a timely manner, BECAUSE there is no positive cash flow involved.
:idea: :arrow: The "project journey" is boring as hell. "PLAYING the slicked-out/tricked-out tuba" is the REAL journey.
Words of wisdom, whether musical instruments, home improvement projects, vehicle mods, etc. Losing sight of the real goal: playing the horn, living in a more comfortable house, driving the vehicle, (setting aside unforeseeable issues, such as loss of cash flow; domestic issues that may arise; health issues, etc.) is the real reason everybody has unfinished projects (How often have we heard: "No, it's not for sale, I'm going to repair/restore/refurbish/repurpose that someday.")

Congrats on the tuba rebuild.
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Matt G »

That 'Fone looks fantastic!
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by bort »

Looks great, Joe!

And by "looks great," I mean that it basically looks stock. Which as you mention, is pretty boring. So actually, you took a regular-*** tuba, removed a few dents, blah blah blah, and it still looks like a regular-*** tuba. :)

But really, the point of this vintage 186 has never been much beyond what you've stated -- fixing a few things and then playing it. Which is partially why I'd vote for just keeping the finish as-is, and not send it off to be satin silvered. But, it's not my tuba, so clearly, my vote shall be filed accordingly. :)
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by bort »

That was quick. One more bling and it has to stay with you. :)
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Ken Herrick »

Guess I'll have to find some coins with koalas and kangaroos to put on mine.
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by Ken Herrick »

I know this info has been given out multiple times before so maybe I could be seen as lazy, oh well...………….

What drill size do you use for the vent and do you do multiple holes for any valves?
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - POLL ADDED !!!

Post by bisontuba »

Have they found anyone yet or are they training someone to do pistons?
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - PICTURES ADDED !!!

Post by bort »

Image

Dayum, dayum, dayum
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Re: 186 C tubas - attic treasure - PICTURES ADDED !!!

Post by bisontuba »

Very pretty!
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