Knuckles anyone?

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:49 pm

The Miraphone, sitting in stand, got knocked against keyboard. The side of the bell got two relatively minor but clearly visible dent lines in it from the edge of the keyboard. I took a 2.5 inch steel ball and worked them out fairly well, but left a wavey quality easily visible when viewed from an angle.

I tried wrapping the steel ball in a towel. That helped, but it was too soft. I needed something softer than the steel ball, but harder than the ball wrapped in a towel.

Then I noticed my knuckles. Hmmmm .... IT WOIKS! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. I guess tubas are similar to people in that both can be straightened out with a good knuckle massage -- as opposed to a knuckle sandwich which, I assume, a tuba would refuse to eat. (When's the last time you had a hot, steaming knuckle sandwich? Well ... that's too long.) The lacquer lost some of its luster from all my rubbing around. I suppose if I'd had some kind of adhesive wax paper to stick on it, or something like that.

Do any of you professional repair guys do any knuckle massaging in your repair bidness? Or do you have a special tool that is similar that does essentially the same thing without ruining your knuckles?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:14 pm

<i>Dear Curly,

You got me wondering.

Why would anyone use a steel ball to work on a bell?

Best regards,
Moe</i>

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:26 pm

Why would anyone use a steel ball to work on a bell?

One works with what one has. If there are any better fairly common tools that would be better for minor dent removal, I'm all ears.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm

SplatterTone wrote:
Why would anyone use a steel ball to work on a bell?
One works with what one has. If there are any better fairly common tools that would be better for minor dent removal, I'm all ears.

How about a rolling pin? Rawhide hammer?

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:02 pm

How about a rolling pin?

Next dent, rolling pin it is. Actually ... the 14j is a rather ratty horn.

But really, the knuckles worked very well. Even if one has to do it in doses to allow the knuckles to recover. The steel ball required gentle, patient working to work the brass without making a wavy mess.

I was thinking if I had a softball or baseball handy, I would have tried working that around. I already have steel balls to go with the big, bad magnets for down inside, crude, but functional dent removal.

As long as we are on the subject: Is there anyplace one can get a set of small dent balls for a semi-reasonable price? "Small" as in lead pipe and tuning slide size.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:49 pm

I just saw this Miraphone 191 for sale.
viewtopic.php?t=20118
If you look at the 6th picture, that is similar to the dents I'm talking about. I guess my horn isn't the first to lose a contest with a piano. Same kind of tuba too, except mine is 4 valves.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:58 pm

SplatterTone wrote:I just saw this Miraphone 191 for sale.
viewtopic.php?t=20118
If you look at the 6th picture, that is similar to the dents I'm talking about. I guess my horn isn't the first to lose a contest with a piano. Same kind of tuba too, except mine is 4 valves.

I've heard of some band directors rolling dents in sousaphone bells with a pair of drumsticks. The problem with a ball is, that on thin metal, it can deform things and make things look worse than when you started.

Think of brass as pie dough--easy to stretch, but not so easy to un-stretch.

Just a thought for your consideration.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:06 pm

Not that I'm going to run out and acquire a fresh set of dents to test things out. But the stick rolling does make more sense than the ball rolling.

Now I'm thinking about one of those hard rubber art supply rollers that is like a small paint roller. I wonder if the hard rubber would be too soft to get the job done.

KevinMadden · Post by **KevinMadden** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:25 pm

I've seen bells done mainly with drum sticks and/or softballs. seems to do the trick rather well

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:36 pm

I tried out the rolling pin on the 14j and did a little touch-up on the Miraphone. I likes it. It works good. That little tidbit alone is almost worth the price of admission to this forum.

I'd still like to know who has the best deal (or least worst deal) on a set of small dent ball equipment.