Custom Graduated Tubing and Pipe Bending

[djwesp]

Are there any custom brass places that can do this? Is it better to try to out source this to a company that does only these services?

I'm working on a project and it requires replacing a piece of graduated tubing (compensating return tubing), and I would love to take the 2 90' bends that the manufacturer put in the horn out.

[pgym]

I would love to take the 2 90' bends that the manufacturer put in the horn out.

90' bends???

I think we have a new candidate for the world's largest tuba!

Unless you meant 90° bends

[djwesp]

Har har.

90°. Now, that I've hunted that down on the character map, I hope you are less confused.

[pgym]

Most any commercial metalworking shop should be equipped to do this. Check the yellow pages under "metalworking" and "metal fabrication."

[djwesp]

If you're referring to a musical instrument, there are more than a few people (including some high-end boutique manufacturers) who theorize that "sharp bends" are better than "gradual bends"; That school of thought purports that it is better to get a turn "over with" as soon as possible.

Thank you, sir. Great advice as usual.

The bends would not be replaced with gradual bends. This instrument literally has 2 90's for almost no reason. A straight section could easily replace the specific area. The bending would be for the loop at the bottom, not as a gradual bend to replace these 90's.

[djwesp]

' appreciate the clarification Shoeless.

Indeed. A pie is forth coming as soon as I figure out how to ship you one.

[imperialbari]

I have become curious about make and model of the instrument to be altered.

With compensating euphoniums and tubas there appear to be two schools: those who keep the same bore trough the full 4th valve loop (including the comp loops) and those who let the Bore increase through a conical crook in the 4th loop tuning slide.

There are some aspects there we may discuss. Yet I think each models is a compromise improved by trial and error.

What appears being an odd and useless feature may be part of that bigger equation. One has to be very sure about what one does if messing with such complex design.

Klaus