Rhino Lining Your Sousaphone

[Liberty Mo]

Has anyone ever thought or tried to place a patch of Rhino Lining on the bottom bow of a sousaphone or any tuba for that matter? Any thoughts on its ability to prevent scratching or damage? Obviously you could still dent the metal, but this would appear to provide a lasting barrier to rust and scratches. It may also affect the sound negatively. It can now be mixed with almost any paint and a nice silver or gold patina might work on a horn. Any thoughts?

[Dan Schultz]

I would not recommend using this type of treatment on the bottom bow of a tuba or sousa. However, I have considered making bow guards out of fiberglass and resin. A fellow could cover the bottom bow with shrink-wrap and coat the area with a couple of layers of fiberglass. After the resin hardens, the cast can be removed... trimmed and finished... and lined with 'moleskin' to keep it from scratching the bow after it is applied. Some velcro straps could hold the new bow guard in place.

I have some manufacturing experience with fiberglass products and also vacuum-formed plastics. Either would be a good process for making bow guards. All a person would need is a set of master models and some cheap raw materials. Go for it.. you young-eager entrepreneurs

[Liberty Mo]

Just take better care of it and Joe, Dan, Sam, Lee, Matt, Me, and any other TubeNetter that fixes horns will not steal you from your bed late one night and RhinoLine your BUTT!!!!

Later!

Wade

Wade,
Do not get too excited, I do not even own a sousaphone, and I would not try this. I had a friend who had the stuff installed on the underside of a crawler and was contemplating its other applications. Just curious to see if it would have a use in tuba world. It is quickly obvious that it would not.

[Liberty Mo]

provide a lasting barrier to rust and scratches

Rust?

Rust.

[ThomasDodd]

I was making a very poor attempt at humor. Sorry!

It though it was a very funny.

Not a poor attempt at all.
Rather a resounding success.

And, Dan, Love the fiberglass idea.
I might try that for my horn if I ever get the outer bow really fixed.

[Liberty Mo]

Seriously, though, brass does not rust per se, as someone else obliquely pointed out to you. Though you can call it that according to Webster's, it is usually called "corrosion" or "red rot" (actually a very specific problem) or "really bad tarnish" or even "a fine, brown patina" (by those that play stripped horns that do not ever polish them).

From my own limited understanding, brass is a mixture of copper and zinc, both of which are not subject to the effects of oxidation. If an instrument is made of cheap materials, lets say a Chinese tuba for example, is it then possible that they are composed of some impurities such iron or steel or possibly is steel plated with a brass coating that protects the component metal? This is a question and not meant to be a statement. I am no chemist, and am unsure if "brass" instruments are truly made of 100% pure brass. Having seen a tuba made into an outdoor fountain, it sure appeared to be “rustedâ€

[Will]

what about on the outside of the old sousa cases, I was constantly patching up the ones in college with all sorts of metal plates and duct tape. I thought about having the cases coated in rhino lining.

Would that help keep the case together?

I've wondered about that. My case for my F is pretty beat up. I'd be cheaper that getting a new case (only if the rhino lining worked).


Will

[Dan Schultz]

[quote="Liberty Mo"] Having seen a tuba made into an outdoor fountain, it sure appeared to be “rustedâ€

[Gorilla Tuba]

There is a product called "sousa savers" that work great! They are bottom bow guards that are made of a hard material - Fiberglass, I think. They install easily and last forever. Musch better than the leather/foam Yamaha type guards. I agree with Wade that shoulder pads don't help much.