Tuba Cork and Pads

[nummy1]

I'm looking to replace the valve bumpers (cork, felt, etc) on my Meinl-Weston 2145... Does anyone know where to find such things... Thanks

[emcallaway]

I've had pretty good luck experimenting with cutting up wine corks as replacement bumpers. You might not get it right the first few times, but it seems to work just as well as any standard rubber or cork bumper when it is done properly.

Just be very careful not to cut yourself. And remember that if you need to cut one of your hands make it the left hand- you don't need that one to play tuba anyway.

[The Jackson]

Well, since some tuba players only need such items once a month, I buy in bulk at the beginning of the year.


I'm sure any licensed band instrument repairperson has felts for pistons in their stock. For rotary bumpers, use the "Search" function here to find a discussion that took place not too long ago about finding materials for "horseshoe" bumpers. There were a number of recommendations there. A friend of mine had his 186's bumpers become shredded (he bathed them in valve oil), so he used a box cutter and a rod of cork to make a new set and popped them back in. Make sure you check your valve alignment if you do this, though.

For piston valves material, there are also a couple of non-standard options. TubeNet member "bloke" has some synthetic "felts" and Alan Baer sells a kit that replaces the felts with brass washers and rubber o-rings.

I hope that helps!

[Pozzie]

If you relate to rotory valves, you can purchase the valve bumpers here:
http://www.hickeys.com/pages/tuacc3.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank
"Universal Rotor Stop Material"
There are various sizes.