cracked sousa bell

[Tim Jackson]

This has been discussed before but maybe someone has discovered a miracle cure.
I just received a used conn 36K fiberglass sousa bell by UPS. The sender did a poor job with the box. The bell edge (plastic) has a 1 1/4 crack.
I used epoxy the last time I repaired one and it held for a long time then finally let go. The bell I'm replacing has several cracks - just wondering if I should just fix the cracks in the old bell and collect the insurance on the replacement. I figure UPS will take the item back if I make a claim.
Whatever that plastic material is it sure is difficult to bond.
Plus, seems like the older the bell is the more fragile it becomes. Not a good mix for a gigging horn.

I think someone mentioned PVC glue before.

All cracked up!
Tim

[bloke]

Those plastic bells (flare is plastic / elbow is fiberglass) repair best with PVC glue. The limit to the strength of the bond is defined by the thickness of the material (thin), which limits the contact area of the bond.

Epoxy isn't much good for plastic sousaphone bell flares.

That plastic becomes quite brittle over time, and I'm trying to remember if any of those instruments are even as young as forty years old...??
The Conn E-flat sousaphone bells (brass) are the same as the 14K bells (which fit 36K fiberglass sousaphones).
You might consider trying to find a Conn 14K, Conn 26/28K (same as 14K) bell, having it straightened out and polished nicely.
Those brass bells - all of which are compatible with your fiberglass body - are far from the thickest/heaviest brass sousaphone bells, and none should prove to be particularly top-heavy.

not arguing with poor packing job:
If new, that bell - most likely - would not have cracked - even if handled a bit roughly.

[Tim Jackson]

Bloke...Thank you, my friend! I remember you bringing this up before. I called my shop/friend here in town who makes PVC architectural items out of PVC. Very interesting company. He started making signs but it didn't produce the $$ so he evolved into this. https://www.durabrac.com/home.php

Anyhow... I have done some projects with them in the past. They have a PVC glue that seems thinner than the regular plumber's product. I called and got the full education on the PVC glue. Now it all makes sense as I found out that PVC cement is not really a glue/cement at all. It is a product that causes a chemical reaction that actually welds the plastic. BTW they said to use the regular off-the-shelf plumber's PVC cement.

I will fix and not return the damaged bell. Now... the bell I repaired earlier with epoxy... not sure if I'll spend any more time on that as the cracks have epoxy in them and will have to be cleared out and prep for the PVC binder. I think that bell is rotten anyway. That was a sousaphone that sat outside as a yard decoration for years before I found and rescued it. I think the overexposure to the element caused it to be very brittle.

Guess it's time to faux-paint another bell! and I have to find the extra PVC bow guards I made last time I did this project for the back of the bell.
Gotta love/hate them plastic sousas. TJ

Will look like this:

Conn 36 Bell.JPG (53.19 KiB) Viewed 154 times