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How much does the silver plate on a tuba weigh vs what the lacquer weighs? I've heard a lot of speculation, but don't remember the definitive answer.

My guess is that the difference is negligible.

I think my Alexander weighs about 22 pounds. I know there was a tuba weights thread a while ago, but I'm not sure if that included data about finish, age, etc.

A while back, I made a survey to collect data about tuba mouthpieces. Maybe it could be interesting to do another survey about other tuba characteristics (age, finish, weight, etc...). Maybe not... but hey, what else are we doing with our horns these days!

Stryk wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:37 am How much does the silver plate on a tuba weigh vs what the lacquer weighs? I've heard a lot of speculation, but don't remember the definitive answer.

I don't know but they sure sound different....

' doubt that many scales - sold in retail stores are sensitive enough to detect the difference.
"Slightly less buffing" (from one instrument to the next) could easily negate any difference.

Typical plating - these days - is about .0004"

.0006" is considered to be fairly heavy (today's standards).

.001" can begin to become problematic, and could require chasing threads, very aggressively (rather than a quick pass) polishing the insides of outside slides, considerable re-lapping (rather than "touch-ups") of pistons, etc...

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:56 am ' doubt that many scales - sold in retail stores are sensitive enough to detect the difference.

So - if/when the horn gets dings and dents, which shows the repair more? How about if the bell gets a crinkle in it, which will show the repair the most?

I satin silver plate SOME old instruments - that I have restored, because it hides surface nicks and scratches, without having to buff the crap out of those instruments to rid the instruments of those things.
Otherwise, an epoxy lacquer finish is an infinitely more practical finish than any finish than any finish which tarnishes (in my view).

Portions of lacquer finishes can be replaced. Portions of plated finishes cannot be replaced.