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Funknfritter Regular Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2020 Posts: 17 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:42 am Post subject: Nickel sensitivity |
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Hi folks,
I recently purchased a raw brass horn with nickel silver sleeves on the tuning slides. Apparently I have a sensitivity to nickel and i get annoying little bumps and blisters on my left hand at the contact points. I currently wear a jeweler's glove on my hand, but i really don't like the feel or the look (i know, it's silly but it still bothers me.)
I am thinking of painting a thin layer of fingernail polish over the contact points, but I'm wondering if that amount of coating would have a negative effect on how the horn plays and resonates. My other thought would be a precision application of clear packing tape around the slides at those contact points.
Has any of you done something like this? |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2655 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Life is too short to deal with horns that don't work for us. Move on to another. The world is full of wonderful instruments that won't cause you problems. _________________ Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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Funknfritter Regular Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2020 Posts: 17 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Richard III wrote: | Life is too short to deal with horns that don't work for us. Move on to another. |
Unfortunately I don't have that option financially. Besides, this horn plays better for me than any other i have placed on my lips. |
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Steve Hollahan Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Charlotte, NC
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:58 am Post subject: Nickel allergy |
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This quite common allergy can be prevented by purchase of alcohol fuel, doing a quick blast of clear lacquer.
Suggest wiring or setting up slides and giving 2 coats. If nickel parts are on horn body, mask off and give 2 coats.
This should give you sufficient protection for both horn and you. _________________ Steve Hollahan
Bach 37, 229 C
Yamaha 9620 D-Eb, 741 C, Flugel
Kanstul 900 piccolo trumpet
Sculptured Recrafting Custom Instrument Repair
and Restoration
www.sculpturedrecrafting.com |
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yourbrass Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 3635 Location: Pacifica, CA, USA
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 11:43 am Post subject: |
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You could also try Mr. Becker's trick of waxing the instrument w/Pledge.
That would be less invasive than trying to lacquer it.
Good Luck. _________________ "Strive for tone." -John Coppola
Edwards X-13
ACB MV3C /ACB A1/26 backbore
https://yourbrass.com/ |
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Funknfritter Regular Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2020 Posts: 17 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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yourbrass wrote: | You could also try Mr. Becker's trick of waxing the instrument w/Pledge.
That would be less invasive than trying to lacquer it.
Good Luck. |
Interesting, i will give this a try |
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LittleRusty Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 12662 Location: Gardena, Ca
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Removing the layer of wax might be an issue if you decide to try the nail polish or lacquer |
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Kumara999 Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Posts: 138 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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As someone that is working through metal allergies - raw brass, copper, nickel, silverplate. I would strongly recommend getting rid of the horn. If you are having a reaction I would expect the more you continue to expose yourself the worse things will get.
I have had to move to acrylic mouthpieces and have a reaction when playing both raw brass and copper horns if I accidently touch the mouthpiece.
I have decided to only play with things that do not cause a reaction. Why play roulette with your health.
Heather. |
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Crazy Finn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8333 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Richard III wrote: | Life is too short to deal with horns that don't work for us. Move on to another. The world is full of wonderful instruments that won't cause you problems. |
Agreed.
Funknfritter wrote: | Unfortunately I don't have that option financially. Besides, this horn plays better for me than any other i have placed on my lips. |
Play more horns. There are lots of good ones out there.
Kumara999 wrote: | As someone that is working through metal allergies - raw brass, copper, nickel, silverplate. I would strongly recommend getting rid of the horn. If you are having a reaction I would expect the more you continue to expose yourself the worse things will get.
I have had to move to acrylic mouthpieces and have a reaction when playing both raw brass and copper horns if I accidently touch the mouthpiece.
I have decided to only play with things that do not cause a reaction. Why play roulette with your health.
Heather. |
This. There is a reason horns are lacquered.
Raw brass and nickel don't bother many (or at least don't have obvious symptoms). However, you're seeing why companies do this.
I don't have big issues, but when I play my Eb trumpet - which is raw brass - I wear a glove. It's not sexy, but it works.
I won't buy a raw brass Bb or C or cornet, as I'll be holding it a lot. The Eb doesn't get a ton of use, so I won't fret about it too much.
Good luck. _________________ 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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Divitt Trumpets Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2015 Posts: 520 Location: Toronto
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Kumara999 Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Posts: 138 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:17 am Post subject: |
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Hey Ewan. When I had inquired about getting my PUJE professionally lacquered before I decided to sell it instead I would easily have been in an extra $500 CDN with shipping both ways.
At least in Canada, that is not a cheap alternative. Any options are really limited on who to go to.
Just my 2 cents.
Heather. |
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Divitt Trumpets Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2015 Posts: 520 Location: Toronto
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Kumara999 Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Posts: 138 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:35 am Post subject: |
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Agreed Ewan. If you love the horn it’s a worthwhile investment but if your in it to flip later you would never get that investment back.
Heather. |
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Kumara999 Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Posts: 138 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:36 am Post subject: |
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Agreed Ewan. If you love the horn it’s a worthwhile investment but if your in it to flip later you would never get that investment back.
Heather. |
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shofarguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 7011 Location: AZ
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Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:23 am Post subject: |
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Back you the OP's original question: You would probably not notice any difference in how your horn plays if you apply a thin coat of fingernail polish to the contact areas. If it does happen to change the horn adversely, you can simply use fingernail polish remover to take it off. No harm done.
If you go that route, I recommend that you give the horn a good bath, then prep the areas you're going to coat with 99% Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) from a grocery store or pharmacy. This leaves the least amount of residue on the surface to foul the bond between the metal and lacquer. In tests I performed back in 2013, even the more common 91% Isopropyl alcohol left noticeably more residue behind. Use a cotton round from the cosmetic aisle to easily apply the alcohol to the metal. _________________ Brian A. Douglas
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper
There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds. |
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