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SubCategory Archive (tags): ‘Instrument Repair’

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Water Keys 101

PUBLISHED: September 24, 2011, Dave Weiner

Water/spit. Key/valve. Take any combination of those in order and that is likely what you, dear reader, refer to when I say “water key”. It’s that little device that you operate to dump water out of your horn quickly so that you can reduce or eliminate slide pulls and horn gymnastics. Water accumulates in your [...]

Round for a Reason: The Bell Throat

PUBLISHED: August 20, 2011, Dave Weiner

Out of round conditions in the area of the bell throat, flare, and rim on a horn can be more than just unsightly or annoying. When a customer brings in a horn for repair I do two things automatically: I stick my hand inside the bell as if I’m playing it, and I grab the [...]

How to Prepare an Instrument for Shipping

PUBLISHED: June 18, 2011, Dave Weiner

Using the following method I have had a near-100% success rate for shipping horns safely. It is an expensive method, both in terms of time and money, but worth it. While shipping a horn can be done cheaply, it will not be very safe or secure.  If you take your horn to a …

What is the true cost of being cheap?

PUBLISHED: June 5, 2011, Dave Weiner

A quick story with a moral:  Years ago I had a customer who was using Spray ‘N Wash® as a rotor lubricant.  He was using it on the strength of his belief that a certain very well-known horn player was using it and recommending it.  I asked him how it was working, and he told [...]

What is “Red Rot”?

PUBLISHED: May 28, 2011, Dave Weiner

“Red Rot” is commonly used to refer to any reddish patch of corrosion on a copper-based alloy, such as brass. However, this loose usage covers two distinct but related conditions, surface corrosion and deterioration of the alloy due to de-zincification. Red rot is found in brasses, which are alloys of copper and other non-ferrous metals, [...]

Another Use for Ultrasonic Cleaners – Stripping Lacquer

PUBLISHED: May 21, 2011, Bruce Hembd

Today I am posting an article from Lisa Serafini, a sales representative from Ultrasonic Power Corporation. This is not a paid advertisement, but rather a look into an alternate method that might be worth bringing to light. What do you think? Please feel free to add your comments below. * * * Lye …

From the Mailbag: The Horn Emergency Repair Kit

PUBLISHED: March 20, 2011, John Ericson

One recent question that came in is a practical one, of what to keep in your case. A reader wrote, “I’m wondering what I should pack along with me at all times repair wise such as: oil, valve strings, screws, corks, etc.” A Repair Kit? I used to keep a little kit in my case [...]

Categories: Sub-categories:
Instrument Repair
John Ericson & Bruce Hembd
on the French horn, brass related topics, and the field of classical music.