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Alex.Witt New Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Location: Miami FL
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:36 am Post subject: Raw Brass Upkeep |
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So I have found it difficult to keep up with the raw brass on my trumpet, are there any DIY tips to help out with it? |
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acritzer Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 827 Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Isn't half the fun with raw brass just letting it go and seeing how the patina develops?
Last edited by acritzer on Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Don Herman rev2 'Chicago School' Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 8951 Location: Monument, CO
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:07 am Post subject: |
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Lacquer. _________________ "After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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Don Herman rev2 wrote: | Lacquer. |
There you go!
Seriously, if someone likes the non-shiny matte look of raw brass, couldn’t you put lacquer over whatever level of patina the horn has? Or, do a scratch lacquer finish? Then you have a flat finish that basically needs no upkeep...until it wears, which usually takes quite some time for most people.
Personally, I think the very slight difference in sound (if there’s ANY) is not worth the upkeep (or maybe the smell and hand staining....which admittedly not everyone experiences) of raw brass. I think more often than not the choice of raw brass is for appearance reasons.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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aTrumpetdude Regular Member
Joined: 20 Jun 2016 Posts: 74
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Well feel free to say this is nonsense but after I have polished a raw brass horn I leave it sitting out on a stand for a couple weeks and try not to touch it with my bare hands for that time, I'll wrap a cloth around it when I play it. The brass darkens up a little during this time and then it seems to me that when I handle it it after that it ages more evenly and doesn't take on those really pronounced fingerprints. _________________ Scodwell Boston
90's Bach Strad MLV 65GH
1950 Bach Strad 38
1969 Conn 8b Artist
1980 238 CL
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm1qCev_sfof-Bfj5MAMLrQ |
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chuck in ny Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3597 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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personally i can't stand raw brass. i am not acidic by any means but it reacts with my hands and stays on them.
you would think a coat of high quality carnauba wax, butchers, simoniz, would seal raw brass up and get past skin reactions. i haven't tried it. |
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MTS Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 41 Location: NH
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:11 pm Post subject: Care of Raw Brass Horn |
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Although I don't recommend this used frequently, I have used the least abrasive steel wool (0000) which works well to remove fingerprints and saliva stains and leaves a nice unpolished patina. This followed by a polish or wax as previously mentioned that coats the metal has provided a protective, attractive raw brass appearance. |
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Crazy Finn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8335 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Raw Brass Upkeep |
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Alex.Witt wrote: | So I have found it difficult to keep up with the raw brass on my trumpet, are there any DIY tips to help out with it? |
acritzer wrote: | Isn't have the fun with raw brass just letting it go and seeing now the patina develops? |
No kidding.
What's the point of having raw brass and then "maintaining" it or "keeping up with" it? The point, in my experience, is to let the raw brass develop a patina and look all rustic (or whatever adjective you choose). If you want to keep the raw brass shiny and bright, well, then you should have gotten lacquer. That is literally the point of lacquer - to do exactly that.
It's like choosing a gravel driveway instead of blacktop or concrete and being annoyed with all of the gravel on it.
Seriously... _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn |
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kristiner Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Oct 2012 Posts: 118 Location: California
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Main thing is to keep it dry! Empty all the water and wipe it down meticulously after every time you play, and stuff a cloth in the bell to catch any drainage. That’ll keep most of the ugly spots from forming. +1 on leaving it out of the case to speed up the patina, too. If you do get dark spots, scrub them lightly with #0000 steel wool. You’ll have a nice even patina in a couple of months, then it basically takes care of itself. _________________ Kris Tiner
Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Studies
Bakersfield College
http://kristiner.com |
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razeontherock Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 10609 Location: The land of GR and Getzen
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:54 am Post subject: |
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My raw brass took years to develop patina but I agree, trying to maintain raw brass defeats the purpose. Leather Specialties full coverage hand guard keeps the brass from absorbing through the skin, I wouldn't play raw brass without it. No affect on sound, but I wonder if a lightweight horn would be affected? My horn is on the heavy side, about like a 38B.
I'll admit to having pondered getting it nickel plated. |
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Dan O'Donnell Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 2287
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:45 am Post subject: |
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1. Gently use very fine steel wool to remove water stains etc... 2. Wash and dry very well... 3. Liberally apply pure carnoba wax and remove excess with soft cloth... 4. Allow to dry.😁 _________________ God Bless,
Dan O'Donnell
"Praise Him with the sound of the Trumpet:..."
Psalms 150:3 |
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jazzhorn04 Veteran Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 289
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Raw Brass Upkeep |
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Quote: | What's the point of having raw brass and then "maintaining" it or "keeping up with" it? The point, in my experience, is to let the raw brass develop a patina and look all rustic (or whatever adjective you choose). |
Totally agree. I love my horns to look like this. I've always said I want my horns to look like i found them on a WWII battlefield |
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razeontherock Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 10609 Location: The land of GR and Getzen
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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The battle axe look! Good theft deterrent. |
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wiemelen Veteran Member
Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 455 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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I use renaissance wax.
Keeps the horn and my hands from turning green.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Wax
you can also find some related topics when using renaissance wax in the search functionality. _________________ Trumpet : Yamaha YTR-9335CHS + Yamaha YTR-6335H
Trumpet mouthpieces : Lotus 2L (main) + Lotus 2L2
Flugelhorn : Kanstul 1525 with Curry 1,5FL
Cornet : Conn 80a (1919) with Curry 1,5 BBC + Curry 1,5 VC + GR L66,9 #6 |
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Jazzalive Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Bay Area
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:55 am Post subject: Re: Raw Brass Upkeep |
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jazzhorn04 wrote: | Quote: | What's the point of having raw brass and then "maintaining" it or "keeping up with" it? The point, in my experience, is to let the raw brass develop a patina and look all rustic (or whatever adjective you choose). |
Totally agree. I love my horns to look like this. I've always said I want my horns to look like i found them on a WWII battlefield |
I'm going to upvote these two comments. You wanted raw brass because it looks unique over time. I have two raw brass horns. I keep them pristine on the inside, but on the outside, I welcome "the wear."
Luckily I don't have the issues folks talk about with smells, or acids eating the metal, or other alien stuff like that. Actually I think a lot of those things are urban legends which are overblown and spread on forums like trumpet herald, but then, your mileage may vary.
Play your horn, oil your valves, and tub it once a month. Now if you happen to enjoy the upkeep... then go for it! Polish that baby weekly man. Otherwise, don't sweat it man. |
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nieuwguyski Heavyweight Member
Joined: 06 Feb 2002 Posts: 2349 Location: Santa Cruz County, CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Some people's skin chemistry reacts with raw brass. I've known players whose hands turned green and smelled nasty after one rehearsal or gig on a raw brass horn. I don't have that issue. Well, I've noticed a bit of the smell on my hands after a really sweaty gig, but only then.
On the other hand (so to speak), my hands go through high-quality silver plate quickly. And other players don't have that issue, of course. _________________ J. Notso Nieuwguyski |
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Ronnman Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Aug 2019 Posts: 409 Location: SE Louisiana
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Another vote for Renaissance Wax application after cleaning/drying/polishing.
Ron _________________ Martin Committee #2 1954
Leblanc “Al Hirt” Model 1966
Olds Custom Crafted Ultra Sonic 1974
Edwards Gen II 2014 |
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