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trombone polish

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Mark Sutherland

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May 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/2/00
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HI EVERYONE
I OWN A YAMAHA TROMBONE AND HAVE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO FIND A POLISH,THE ONES WHICH I HAVE TRIED LEAVE THE BRASS LOOKING DULL.ALL SUGESTIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.
 
REGARDS
MARCO

Kevin D. Clark, MD

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May 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/2/00
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I don't think most of us use polish - at least I don't.

actikid

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May 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/2/00
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> Mark Sutherland wrote:
> I OWN A YAMAHA TROMBONE AND HAVE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO FIND A
> POLISH,THE ONES WHICH I HAVE TRIED LEAVE THE BRASS LOOKING DULL.ALL
> SUGESTIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.


I mix a little Lemon Pledge with my water for the slide spray. I keep a
very soft cloth handy. When I overspray a little on the bell, the
Pledge residue cleans up the lacquer nicely. If there is a good lacquer
job, you really shouldn't need much of a polish. I wonder if somebody
used a harsh cleaner on your horn at one time. Perhaps your lacquer has
become etched. Is this dullness uniform?

You aren't in the habit of giving your horn a HOT bath, are you? The
water should be considerably more tepid than you might prefer for your
own bath. Use time, not heat to loosen the junk inside your horn.

Tim Dowling

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May 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/3/00
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Mark Sutherland wrote:

HI EVERYONEI OWN A YAMAHA TROMBONE AND HAVE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO FIND A POLISH,THE ONES WHICH I HAVE TRIED LEAVE THE BRASS LOOKING DULL.ALL SUGESTIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. REGARDSMARCO


If your trombone is laquered it must not be polished with a brass polish.
Give it a wash with soap and water and dry it off.

If it's raw brass (it doesn't sound like it is), try to avoid Brasso- which is quite rough.

I have used 'Record' and "unipol" on my raw brass instruments.  Go for a good quality polish in any case, but only for raw brass.

Tim Dowling

Ginger cantrell

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May 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/6/00
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just wondering bu t why is it not ok to use a brass polish ?

Mark and Terry

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May 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/6/00
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Brass polish will eat away lacquer, which is the protective paint that
keeps your horn shiny.

Mark

actikid

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May 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/6/00
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Ginger cantrell wrote:
>
> just wondering but why is it not ok to use a brass polish ?

Mainly it is not necessary if there is a good lacquer finish. Lacquer
is much softer than the metal, and easier to scratch with a hard
rubbing. In particular, some of the brass polishes have very harsh
chemicals (ammonia and such). They are designed for raw brass.

If you want to use something very inert (like Pledge), there shouldn't
be a problem as long as you do it gently. Avoid using anything that
will build up on the finish over time, as this may change the playing
characteristics.

While we're on the subject of horn care, a lot of bells have
discoloration spots on the bell because saliva drains from the slide
section when the horn is in the case. Over time, the saliva eats
through the lacquer. If you have a choice about which way to pack the
slide, put the open tubes at the tuning slide end of the bell. If not,
consider tucking a small rag into each of the open slide tubes (the
leadpipe and the fitting that connects to the bell) to absorb the
moisture before it drips on the bell. In any case, be careful to blow
out as much of the water as possible before packing the horn.

cdmmcnamara

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May 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/6/00
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It's a perfectly fine lacquer remover.

D. McNamara


cdmmcnamara

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May 6, 2000, 3:00:00 AM5/6/00
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Better yet, swab out the slides. That cocktail of condensation and spit
(plus whatever you may have drunk during the gig) will eat at the raw brass
interior.

D. McNamara

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