How Much Does It Cost To Clean A Trumpet

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Concertjazz Regular Member Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 73 Location: Michigan	Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:41 pm   Post subject: Chemical Cleaning ??? What exactly is "chemical cleaning" of a trumpet? - What "chemical" is actually used? Soap? Detergent? Acid? Brasso? - What exactly gets cleaned? (Valve casings included?) - What exactly is the procedure? - What happens to, say, silver plating? - How often should this be done? - Is this a procedure I can do at home? - What is a fair cost to have a professional do this? Thanks. _________________ Schilke S33 HD Bob Reeves 42S 962
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_Don Herman 'Chicago School' Forum Moderator Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 3344 Location: Monument, CO, USA	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:11 pm   Post subject: Re: Chemical Cleaning ??? Concertjazz wrote: What exactly is "chemical cleaning" of a trumpet? - What "chemical" is actually used? Soap? Detergent? Acid? Brasso? - What exactly gets cleaned? (Valve casings included?) - What exactly is the procedure? - What happens to, say, silver plating? - How often should this be done? - Is this a procedure I can do at home? - What is a fair cost to have a professional do this? Thanks. Disclaimer: This is not really an area I know much about, but what the heck... Chemical cleaning is -- using a chemical to clean it, of course! Typically the horn is dipped (immersed, dunked, whatever) in a vat of some chemical which makes it come out all nice and shiny. There are several chemicals I've heard about. Muratic acid in mild solution seems to be a favorite. Acetic and others have been used... Acids generally do a better job of getting rid of that scaly junk that seems to accumulate. Sometimes they'll just dip the whole horn, but often (in my limited experience) the valves are taken out and dipped separately, without felts and such. Silver plating and decent lacquer is not usually affected by a fairly short dip in a pretty mild (weak) solution. Like any cleaning, how often must be answered by you, based on how soon and how dirty you get your horn. A common answer is about once a year. I use Horn Flush, an over the counter solution, at home. Does a better job than my typical detergent (don't use soap to clean your horn -- can leave a nasty film that's tough to eliminate) and in less time. I've seen prices range from $20 for a quick dip at the local garage repair shop, to around $30 - $50 at the local music stores, to nearly $100 for an ultrasonic cleaning (reputedly safer and better for cleaning the horn). Note that the stores will generally include replacing corks, felts, and minor tweaking if needed for that price. Horn Flush runs about $25 for the initial kit from places like music123, Giardinellis, etc. You can also order direct from www.hornflush.com. HTH - Don _________________ Don Herman/Monument, CO "After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley Last edited by _Don Herman on Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Concertjazz Regular Member Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 73 Location: Michigan	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:00 pm   Post subject: Don, Thanks for the info. Sounds like ultrasonic would be the safest. Do you know anyone that does ultrasonic cleaning? Thanks _________________ Schilke S33 HD Bob Reeves 42S 962
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Flip Oakes Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Feb 2002 Posts: 531 Location: Oceanside, CA USA	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:26 pm   Post subject: I do Ultrasonic Cleanings Details can be seen at: http://www.flipoakes.com/ultrasonic_cleaning.htm Take care, Flip Oakes Flip Oakes "Wild Thing Trumpets" COME AND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE http://www.flipoakes.com "To read what Wild Thing Owners say about their horns, click on this" http://www.flipoakes.com/testimonials.htm Flip Oakes 2559 Mottino Dr. Oceanside, Ca. 92056-3421 760-643-1501 760-643-1511 Fax To Hear the Flip Oakes Wild Thing Trumpet go to http://www.flipoakes.com/multimedia.htm
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razeontherock Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 10610 Location: The land of GR and Getzen	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:03 pm   Post subject: Here's a little more detailed info. Ultrasonic is pretty much the standard "dip" nowadays. A chemical cleaning w/o ultrasonic is a thing of the past. (Not really, some still do it, but why??) W/o the ultrasonic you are indeed relying on the strength of some chemical to do the cleaning, and it literally can NOT be done as well. You either leave dirt, or remove metal. Of course you strive for a happy medium. Ultrasonic removes dirt and leaves metal w/o compromise. Felts of course must be removed. All pieces will be disassembled. New felts will re-align your valves, but the cost of a precision valve alignment might be worthwhile. Flip does great work! Bob Reeve's website gives a test to see if a PVA is worthwhile in your case. Cherish your Schilkes!!
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_Don Herman 'Chicago School' Forum Moderator Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 3344 Location: Monument, CO, USA	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:12 pm   Post subject: Gee, color me dumb -- I'd forgotten that Flip did ultrasonic cleaning, among all the other great things he does (general repair, trumpet and accessories sales -- Kanstul, trumpet design -- WT family, great musician, etc.) razeontherock -- Thanks for the ultrasonic update. I didn't know it was so common. Around here, it's still just The Dip. No sound. Live and learn - Don _________________ Don Herman/Monument, CO "After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley
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DWHass Veteran Member Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 212 Location: Phoenix, Arizona	Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:57 am   Post subject: Do a 'home' chem-clean 2 or 3 times a year and you'll be fine. If the horn has not been cleaned in eons and is all scaled up with gunk then have it cleaned by the pros as a good starting off point. Once clean, just use a 6 to 1 solution of CLR and water when giving the horn its bath and scrub out. My 2 cents worth. _________________ David Hass 1915 Blessing 1919 Holton (alto horn), 1957 Conn 18B Coprion, 1966 Selmer (cornet), 2005 Blessing B155S flugel, Rexcraft Bugle Bach, Giardinelli mpcs North Valley Chamber Orchestra Bugles Across America member
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mulligan stew Heavyweight Member Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 1846	Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:00 am   Post subject: DWHass wrote: just use a 6 to 1 solution of CLR and water when giving the horn its bath and scrub out. My 2 cents worth. To clarify: that's a 6:1 solution of WATER to CLR...not the other way around! Full- or almost full-strength CLR can etch metals after a few minutes. _________________ Scott My trio: https://vectortrio.bandcamp.com/
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Felix c Heavyweight Member Joined: 31 Mar 2005 Posts: 566 Location: Puerto Rico	Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:28 am   Post subject: I do chemical cleaning at my home. The intention of that its to remove any scum, grease and oils residues clompletely for all parts of the horn and bring the instrument like it was new, with out affect the finish of the instrument. In my case I deep the horn and all parts in a tank. The interior of the horn have to recover the yellow brass color , following to brush the entire instrument in all parts until no resudues inside the valve casing, leadpipe,and all crooks of the bell and slides. Then the instrumet will be washed with warm water, pollished at exterior, dried, installed new felts for valve stems, check the valve aligment oiled and fully assembled. Like and extra for service for the customer I like to vacum the case and clean all the mouthpieces. I do this service for 30 dollars. If any other parts its needed are extra. I hope this help _________________ Jesus I Trust In You
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How Much Does It Cost To Clean A Trumpet

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