Metal wind repairs
Cleaning and tuning
Welds and patches
Bumps and Dents
Elbows and pipes
Lacquer or silver finishes
Cleaning and tuning
In this type of repair the instrument is completely disassembled. The pumps, pistons or rotors, covers, each screw and the drain cocks are removed. Next, all the metallic components are introduced into the Water and Sulfuric Acid solution that we mentioned before. This time for longer, since these instruments accumulate more saliva and debris inside and the treatment must be like this so that it works better. When removing it, it is passed through a solution of Water and Baking Soda to 'deactivate' the acid and we move on to the sink, where the instrument is cleaned and brushed thoroughly, superficially and internally, with brushes of different sizes and appropriate for each instrument.
After this process, the instrument is dried thoroughly so that there is no trace of water and we move on to manual polishing. In the case of Lacquered instruments, it is only necessary to polish certain pipes of the pumps, which are made of 'raw' brass and require polishing to remove the most ingrained dirt and bring out some shine. For silver-plated instruments, everything itself is polished manually to bring out the characteristic shine of silver and remove all the surface dirt that accumulates on it. Afterwards, everything is brushed and soaped well again to remove traces of polish or dirt and dried thoroughly again.
After all this, the assembly process begins, in which each component of the instrument has a special type of lubrication depending on its usefulness. For example, the pistons contain a type of light oil to facilitate and speed up their operation. The rotors, due to their composition, contain a similar but thicker oil. The pumps have different oils depending on whether they are articulated or not. Like trombone sticks, they contain a type of oil/grease created especially for this use.
In the event that any of the parts do not fit perfectly, we proceed to review them with a special treatment of low-density aqueous sandpaper to eliminate imperfections.
It is also worth noting that all the cork and felt components are replaced with new ones made to measure and according to the needs of the instrument.
Finally, every instrument is tested to check its perfect functioning and make possible corrections to its tuning.
Welds and patches
Welds are an essential part of the most common repairs in this type of instrument. After all, they are still "pipes" joined and assembled in certain specific parts, so it is not surprising that many of these joints break. Whether due to a blow, a factory defect or due to the deterioration of the instrument itself.
These welds are highly precise and are carried out meticulously to leave the smallest possible sign that goes unnoticed.
All welds are reviewed once made and the surrounding area is manually polished.
Bumps and dents
As with Woodwind instruments, many suffer falls or accidents that visibly damage its appearance and operation. To solve these types of problems we have various molds and tools that have been acquired for these specific repairs. All of them used manually and without having to resort to any mechanical tool.
These blows usually involve the breakage of a weld or the damage of some component of the machinery, which is usually a job involving several different sections, seeking a common result of perfection.
Elbows and pipes
Another of the jobs that we carry out by hand is the creation of tubes, elbows and pipes to replace other seriously damaged ones.
For example, a trumpet that has suffered many blows on a pump, the ideal is to change the elbow. For this, elbows of different sizes are manufactured that are chosen according to the needs of the instrument that concerns us at that moment.
The same is also done with straight pipes such as trombone shafts, lead pipes, pump reeds, etc.
Lacquer or silver finishes
This is more of a job of customization or giving a second life to the instrument. In them the instrument comes off its previous lacquer or silver plating. It is then polished or satin-finished, depending on the client's taste, and then a new lacquer or silver plating is done. Lately, the combination of polished finishes with other satin finishes has been very popular. Or even lacquered parts with silver plated parts.
It is also worth noting that the bath can be made in other materials such as Nickel, Copper or even Gold.
