There are few good threads on importance of cleaning tuba inside, suggestions of using hydrogen peroxide, etc. Has anyone tried one of these devices to help remove gunk from inside?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 0894443923
Cleaning old tuba
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sugawi
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MaryAnn
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Re: Cleaning old tuba
But won't wire brushes scratch the inside of the tubing, that is, damage it? I recently took something to be cleaned and the guy rubbed the entire inside with PUMICE, which I figure did irreparable damage.
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Sandlapper
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Re: Cleaning old tuba
I got one of those snakes with brushes on the end. The wire is stiff enough to push the brush in but I've always been afraid to use it on anything with a bend in the pipe because there is some stiff wire (the body of the snake) that looks like it would gouge a grove on the inside of the tube. I got one of those other styles that pulls, but have never been satisfied with what it does. I really would like to know what safely works. Got a horn that need scrubbing.
John
John
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sugawi
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Re: Cleaning old tuba
I got PM suggesting using this product, anybody else used it and can share experience?
http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-RRi ... Detail.bok
http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-RRi ... Detail.bok
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royjohn
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Re: Cleaning old tuba
MaryAnn,
The pumice usually used in brass repair is actually a polish. Historically it has been used to lap in valves during valve rebuilding, although many use 1000 grit diamond paste now instead. The pumice breaks down as the polishing goes on, producing a finer and finer grit size. So I don't think any irreparable damage was done. On the contrary, polishing the innards of the horn probably helped its playability, if anything. You don't hear much about this, but there is one guy (Flip Oakes) building custom trumpets who does a "Total Enhancement" on trumpets which is a tune-up that includes polishing the insides of the tubing. People rave about this. I don't think it would have much effect on the largest bore parts of a tuba (the bell and bottom bow, etc.) but for the lead pipe and valve tubing it could well make a difference. Certainly wouldn't hurt. So you might want to ask the repairman what kind of pumice he used and what his rationale was. You might be pleasantly surprised.
sugiwa,
Another cleaning tool is a high pressure spray hose which hooks to your faucet opr garden hose that comes with the Horn Flush Kit for low brass, which also includes a supposedly safe chemical solvent that is sloshed around in the horn. The spray nozzle will fit into the leadpipe and is several feet long, so it will reach all the parts of the horn when inserted in the receiver, the bell and perhaps into the rest of the horn through the main tuning slide. It has a convenient shutoff valve so that you can get it into the horn BEFORE you turn on the water and turn it off before you pull it all the way out. I stepped on mine and broke part of it, but I think I'll get another. The spray is strong enough to dislodge most anything but hard calcium deposits, and the solution should get those. A good next-best alternative to a pro chem clean. I think the kit is about $40. I would get a snake with a plastic brush, too, and run that through wherever I could.
The pumice usually used in brass repair is actually a polish. Historically it has been used to lap in valves during valve rebuilding, although many use 1000 grit diamond paste now instead. The pumice breaks down as the polishing goes on, producing a finer and finer grit size. So I don't think any irreparable damage was done. On the contrary, polishing the innards of the horn probably helped its playability, if anything. You don't hear much about this, but there is one guy (Flip Oakes) building custom trumpets who does a "Total Enhancement" on trumpets which is a tune-up that includes polishing the insides of the tubing. People rave about this. I don't think it would have much effect on the largest bore parts of a tuba (the bell and bottom bow, etc.) but for the lead pipe and valve tubing it could well make a difference. Certainly wouldn't hurt. So you might want to ask the repairman what kind of pumice he used and what his rationale was. You might be pleasantly surprised.
sugiwa,
Another cleaning tool is a high pressure spray hose which hooks to your faucet opr garden hose that comes with the Horn Flush Kit for low brass, which also includes a supposedly safe chemical solvent that is sloshed around in the horn. The spray nozzle will fit into the leadpipe and is several feet long, so it will reach all the parts of the horn when inserted in the receiver, the bell and perhaps into the rest of the horn through the main tuning slide. It has a convenient shutoff valve so that you can get it into the horn BEFORE you turn on the water and turn it off before you pull it all the way out. I stepped on mine and broke part of it, but I think I'll get another. The spray is strong enough to dislodge most anything but hard calcium deposits, and the solution should get those. A good next-best alternative to a pro chem clean. I think the kit is about $40. I would get a snake with a plastic brush, too, and run that through wherever I could.
royjohn