TubaForum.net

I got the guard wire put on the bottom bow the other night. It still needs to be cleaned up, but it's on there!







Bonus picture of Memphis. She doesn't usually come around when I'm working on tubas, but I guess guard wires are interesting!

Not a lot to report, but I did get the stack pulled off so I can get it smoothed out. I'm meeting with my friend in Omaha who has a dent machine on the 30th.



Here's the inside. It's not super dented, but obviously not smooth either.



I also cleaned out the slides. I just love the feel of smooth, clean brass...I used Dawn dishsoap and a Scotchbrite pad to get the old slide grease off. Then a couple of quick soaks in CLR to remove the lime and gunk inside.

Some of the newer stuff isn't, but a lot of old school slide grease is petroleum based, and as long as you are aware that it's highly flammable, are being very safe, and are in a very well ventilated area, dipping something like a cloth bristle clarinet swab in a little bit of gasoline (maybe 1 - 2 cents worth of gasoline on your brush) really thins down petroleum based grease quickly and effectively, defining that you can use a whole bunch less of that expensive Dawn liquid detergent (several dollars a quart) to clean out slide grease from tubes.

While I had the stack off, I started trying out my Scotch Brite finish in some of those harder to reach places. I used a green Scotch Brite pad, followed by 0000 steel wool to smooth it out a bit.



I also started working on replacing the lower bell to body brace. A fellow TF member sent me a few Martin braces to try. They weren't quite wide enough for the space, so I cut it apart and will use it as an adjustable-size brace, rather than a solid one.



I'm hoping to have this thing together and ready to sell by the end of the week. I was invited to sit in with a polka band this Saturday at a fellow teacher's retirement party and I'd like to give it a go there.

Got the stack back on last night!



Here's the lower brace I made with the two halves and a rod:

This is looking great Jordan! I love the brushed/scotchbrite finish.

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:20 pm This is looking great Jordan! I love the brushed/scotchbrite finish.

Thanks! I'm hoping it looks as good on the big parts (bows, bell, etc) as it does on the little branches and stuff I've done it on so far...

Tubajug wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:30 pm

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:20 pm This is looking great Jordan! I love the brushed/scotchbrite finish.

Thanks! I'm hoping it looks as good on the big parts (bows, bell, etc) as it does on the little branches and stuff I've done it on so far...

Well, if all else fails you can just spray paint it gold again...

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:43 pm

Tubajug wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:30 pm

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:20 pm This is looking great Jordan! I love the brushed/scotchbrite finish.

Thanks! I'm hoping it looks as good on the big parts (bows, bell, etc) as it does on the little branches and stuff I've done it on so far...

Well, if all else fails you can just spray paint it gold again...

You'll piss off YorkNumber3.0, AND activate the Tubah Goddhh at the SAME TIME !

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:43 pm Well, if all else fails you can just spray paint it gold again...

I'm not as good as Pat Sheridan, and I don't want people thinking that I believe that I am.
(I mostly prefer the stuff with whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes.)

I'm too busy, right now, trying to keep up the the summer property maintenance, and trailer loads of re-re-re-torn-up horns...

...but (after I pick over a few details on the Holton 4/4 B-flat I built) I've got some trick lacquer picked out (two different types). Neither one is clear, and one actually has a texture. If I stay physically well, motivated, and "disruptive life stuff" doesn't occur, I might have it done before 2024...We'll see. I've already bought the lacquers.

Here is the completed beast:



Full folder of pictures can be found here: Martin For Sale Photos