Home Sousaphone Repairs

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:41 pm

I start marching band camp tommorrow, and I plan on taking the beat up, fiber glass 20K conn sousa home and do some repairs and cleaning and was hoping to get some advice!
A few years ago, before I got into the high school the bell snapped off about where the flare starts. The best place to describe it is where it seems where the fiberglass ends, and where the plastic starts. The bell is currently duct taped together, but it falls off from time to time. I am going to take a trip to the hardware store tommorrow after the first day of marching band camp to get some sort of epoxy or adhesive to hold it together. Anyone have any idea of what may hold well?
There is also a chip in the bell that almost looks like someone took a bit out of it. Anyone have any ideas on how to fill the chip in?

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:38 pm

I've used epoxies that are formulated for fiberglass to reattached the flare before. Make sure the two surfaces you intend to join are clean and free of residue from the duct tape. Match the two surfaces up and follow the instructions on the epoxy package. Another choice might be to just take the bell to an auto body shop or boat repair shop that does fiberglas repairs.

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:31 am

The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like TuBatinker said, clean the tape residue off real good first. Rubbing alcohol can work good for that.

There is also a chip in the bell that almost looks like someone took a bit out of it. Anyone have any ideas on how to fill the chip in?

Most large auto parts stores sell small fiberglass repair kits. It should have enough fibergalss cloth and resin to fill in the chip. Also get some sandpaper. Sand the edges of the chip so the resin can bond to it good. Tape a layer of waxpaper across the back side of the chip to support the cloth and resin you will have to insert into the chipped area. File and sand it smooth when it hardens and cover with a little white spraypaint and your done.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:16 am

Bandmaster wrote:The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like Tunatinker said....

TUNAtinker??

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:05 pm

TubaTinker wrote:
Bandmaster wrote:The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like Tunatinker said....
TUNAtinker??

Now that's a fish!

BTW, just to nitpick, the fiberglass version of the 20K was a model 22K.

Dean E · Post by **Dean E** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:48 pm

Bandmaster wrote:The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like Tunatinker said, clean the tape residue off reall good first. Rubbing alcohol can work good for that.
. . . .
Most large auto parts stores sell small fiberglass repair kits. It should have enough fibergalss cloth and resin to fill in the chip. . . .

There's a trick to mixing the epoxy resin. The fewer drops of hardener that you use, the more work time you have. In the summer, that stuff sets up really fast, so go easy on the hardener.

Adjust the quantity of drops of hardener for the temperature where you're working. In other words, you will need more hardener during the winter.

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:24 pm

TubaTinker wrote:
Bandmaster wrote:The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like Tunatinker said....
TUNAtinker??

I am sorry... that darn "N" key is right next to the "B" key and I have fat fingers.

But at least it caused a few chuckles....

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:14 pm

Bandmaster wrote:
TubaTinker wrote:
Bandmaster wrote:The epoxy is the way to go for reattaching the bell flare. But like Tunatinker said....
TUNAtinker??

I am sorry... that darn "N" key is right next to the "B" key and I have fat fingers.

But at least it caused a few chuckles....

I'm not normally a spelling/grammer freak, but I just couldn't help myself!

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:08 pm

thanks everyone! I am tackling the project tommorrow afternoon

pulseczar · Post by **pulseczar** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:40 am

Will there be update with pictures?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:49 pm

TubaTinker wrote:TUNAtinker??

I've been looking to add a 5th gill to my 4 gill Yellowfin. Would you put it before or after the dorsal fin, and how long should it take?

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:14 pm

No, no, no! You can only do that with Bluefin, as they are the only ones with the big enough bodies to actually hold the extra gill without becoming side heavy. If you want a standard single hand action, put it before the dorsal; if it takes two hands for you to handle your whopper, (:shock::twisted:) then put it after.

REO said it best, you can tuna piano but you can't tuna fish.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:38 pm

iiipopes wrote:REO said it best, you can tuna piano but you can't tuna fish.

Depends on what type of scales you're using...

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:21 pm

Yes, I'll have to bone up, as to not sound like carp.

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:32 pm

maybe,...... but I have to convince my band director to let me paint it! So that way it will look like a bigger transformation