snakes for little slides

derekph · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2002 1:37 pm Post subject:

The snake that I use to clean my trumpet has trouble getting through the little slides' crooks and turns. Is there a better one out there that is more flexible, smaller but still strong?

Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

derekph,
You can solve the problem of cleaning the smaller slides by buying a small piece of rawhide (Walmart sells them as shamey's for cleaning cars), and attaching one corner of the rawhide to the end of a strong nylon string. Attach the other end of the string to a small weight (like a small lead fishing weight). The weight just needs to be small enough to make it through and around the smallest slide of your horn. Soak the rawhide in warm water and pull it through the slides. Works great. Or you can buy the same thing from the Bob Reeves web site for several $$. Oh, obviously, rawhide shamey's are too big so you will need to cut out a small section to use for this purpose. I made one that I've been using for years now.
Larry Smithee

pair of kings · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2002 2:38 pm Post subject:

H.W Brass Saver brushes are great

Pedro · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Nov 2001 Posts: 539

Hey Larry,

Guess should have thought of that before I purchased about 5 of the the Bob Reeves leadpipe swabs, which are essentially the SAME THING you're describing!! Good suggestion. The swab works great and the assembly lasts what seems like...FOREVER!!