Bell Patch Repair

[TheHatTuba]

If a tuba has a bell patch, is it possible to remove the patch and fix the crack?

[SousaSaver]

It depends on the situation: the size of the crack, the thickness and age of the bell metal.

What are you dealing with?

[fairweathertuba]

This is somewhat related. Today I was testing an older miraphone 186 BBb that had the bell rolled out from being crushed I could see at least two pinhole cracks in the bell but they didn't affect the playing of the horn one bit as they didn't buzz or otherwise seem to distract from the instruments tone or playability as far as I could tell.

I'm guessing that you see a patch on a bell and think that it is an unattractive fix. If it plays well with the patch, it probably could be sealed up better without the ungainleyness by a really good repairman and have the same playability. Usually a patch doesn't affect the horn too much unless it's really large.

[Michael Bush]

Somewhere the Internet has some pictures of a big hole in a trumpet patched flush with the surrounding brass. It's almost invisible. Probably also pretty expensive.

[The Big Ben]

Somewhere the Internet has some pictures of a big hole in a trumpet patched flush with the surrounding brass. It's almost invisible. Probably also pretty expensive.

This is how one guy fixed the hole in the bottom bow of a 345:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9824&hilit=Holton+345#p79557" target="_blank" target="_blank

Cracks can be fixed with patches or by grinding out and silver soldering requiring more time, money and skill. It's your call.

[Dan Schultz]

Somewhere the Internet has some pictures of a big hole in a trumpet patched flush with the surrounding brass. It's almost invisible. Probably also pretty expensive.

This is how one guy fixed the hole in the bottom bow of a 345:

Dan did a great job on that horn. However... I seriously doubt if a King 1240 would have received the same treatment. The King probably would have had a patch slapped on it. On the other hand... a 3V King 1240 would most likely not have been sent to Dan for restoration in the first place.

As one poster mentioned.... the repair is matched to the horn. I just had JC Sherman do some bell work on one of my Marzans that I wasn't comfortable doing. There were several BIG tears in the bell. For a 'lesser horn'... I would have either patched the bell or stuck another suitable bell on it.

[Michael Bush]

Here's the flush patch I was remembering. Scroll down to the Bach Stadivarius #174.
http://www.metzlerbrassrepair.com/Examples.html" target="_blank

[The Big Ben]

Here's the flush patch I was remembering. Scroll down to the Bach Stadivarius #174.
http://www.metzlerbrassrepair.com/Examples.html" target="_blank"

Nice examples! Mr. Metzler is quite the artist!

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

I've wondered two things about that approach:

1.) What is done to the inside of the bow? Is it finished as finely?

Answer: Yes

Removing a future dent would be a mess if it wasn't.

Answer: True, but it should not be an issue when the work is done correctly.

2.) How soft was the surrounding area after the heat of silver soldering in the patch was applied to the area? Soft bows collect dents even with the most carefully use.

Answer: After brazing, the brass was completely annealed to dead soft so as to eliminate its brittle state. It was then completely re-tempered by hand.

Daniel C. "who is relatively handy with a torch and hammer" Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank" target="_blank