Restoration On The Cheap

[Mister JP]

As mentioned in other topics, I've decided to fix up an old horn, a King Eb Sousy. The valves and slides actually work pretty well, so I think just some routine cleaning wil get those back up to snuff.

My real questions are about dent removal and brass cleaning.

Is there a good way to get the dents out without taking the braces apart? The bows are badly dented, almost to the point where it looks like the thing may have been flattened at one point, but hammered back out. They are nowhere near "flat" but pretty rough looking.

Also, the horn is just plain dirty. What's the best process to get whats left of the lacquer & bare brass clean and as shiny as possible?

If there is a previous topic, or a good step-by-step out on the web somewhere, feel free to just point the way.

[The Big Ben]

Purchasing the gear to remove dents yourself is kind of prohibitive if you are not planning to go into the dent removal business. The dents don't just "come out" either. It takes a lot of practice to do an acceptable job- no matter what method you use.

If you feel the dents are inhibiting the sound, I'd take it to someone you trust and give them a number you want to spend and find out how much you could get for your money. A chemical clean will also take off a lot of the mess that is on your horn.

[Mister JP]

Bloke, as long as it won't make the horn any worse than it is, I'll take your advise. If you are just joking, please tell me because I'm a novice in this dept.

FYI tonight is our last night in CO, headed to the Left Coast.

[rocksanddirt]

well....for a basic internal cleaning....you'll need a garden hose, some manner of spray control nozzle on the hose, a grassy area that drains (or a blanket that you can get wet on the driveway that drains) and start by flushing clean water from the neck connection end until in comes out the bell. if you have an instrument cleaning snake, use it with lots of water also.

for the exterior....start with clean soft rags and see where that gets you, then think about brass polish/silver polish (depending on the finish of the horn).

as far as dent repair.....best bet is to get some recommendations about local repair people who deal in serious brass work, and talk to them about what to do and the costs.

[Mister JP]

Thanks rocksanddirt, sounds like a good plan.

[Dan Schultz]

Whenever I hear the word 'RESTORATION'.... I shiver a bit. 'Play condition' is a good term. So is 'overhaul'. Restoration basically means to make something like it was when it was new. That just isn't going to happen to any tuba that's not already in excellent condition. You simply can't remove a significant dent and leave no trace of it without removing material in some fashion.

In short... 'restoration' certainly is not 'cheap'.

[Mister JP]

Whenever I hear the word 'RESTORATION'.... I shiver a bit. 'Play condition' is a good term. So is 'overhaul'.

Duly noted. I'd say it actually currently "plays" but needs work. I'm certainly not looking to make it in "like new" condition. So overhaul would be a better term.

[The Big Ben]

Bloke, as long as it won't make the horn any worse than it is, I'll take your advise. If you are just joking, please tell me because I'm a novice in this dept.

FYI tonight is our last night in CO, headed to the Left Coast.

IT WAS A JOKE!

Great! What do I do with the big spoon now?

I think the big metal spoon is to push up and burnish the dents that can be reached. The broom handle is to roll dent/wowees out of the bell. The rest is for cleaning and finishing.

[wr4]

http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/tubaoverhaul.htm" target="_blank

This is a link to 'Step 1 of 6', and there are other links in the Oberloh Gallery. Much respect for this level of skill and craftsmanship.

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

Oh man, I have not looked at those pages in quite a while. Thanks for posting the link. Overhauls and restorations on the cheap? I guess its all relative and depends on what you have to start with and what final results you are looking to achieve.

Tubas don't always need to be completely torn down and redone like those shown on my web pages. It depends on how bad they really are, what you can afford and what you are willing to invest in the project. I am frequently only required to break them down partially and address the valves, bell, bottom bow and second branch. Sometimes a new mouth-pipe is in order, if the original is beyond salvage. The horns are often lightly polished and cleaned. Yes they will still have minor dings and scratches but what we are trying to achieve is the delivery of a clean, solid, ready to play tuba.

Overhaul on the cheap? Like I said, its all relative.

Daniel C. "Wishing I too could figure out how to do restorations without having spent the tens of thousands of $$$ on tooling and the whole of my young adult life training to master the skills" Oberloh

Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank

[1895King]

I know from experience the wonderful work Dan Oberloh does. About 12 years ago, he did a Conn cornet that was almost trash and it is beautiful. A couple of my friends have tried it and they think it's a wonderful player. It did cost an arm and a leg, but it was worth it. Now if I could ever save up enough to get the old King BBb restored, I'd be a happy camper.

[The Big Ben]

Dan also can limit the amount of work done to make it affordable for the customer.

I bought a Mira Perinet tuba off da Bay and got it at a price where I thought I would use it as a project horn. It wasn't beat up horribly but it had led a tough life in the public schools. The joints leaked and a valve stem was missing but I figured I'd solder it together and call it good. When it got here, I saw that it had the excellent Mira design and construction and I didn't want to 'ruin it' by fixing it myself. It also wasn't worth a 'museum restoration' but it could be made to play to a certain acceptable point.

Anyhow, Dan got it fixed to that level and it looks pretty good and plays probably as well as it ever played. The valves are kind of bogus but I oil them with thick Hetman's each time I play and they are tolerable. And the price was OK.

I'm sure Dan is not the only repair jockey who can repair a horn to a reasonable price point selected by the customer.