C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Repairs and Refurbishing / my method of restoration

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 May 16th 11:45 AM
I am a very small-time rebuilder. These operations are from my own experience, with a bit of training from a first class repair man. This is a very pleasant part time job for me as I look to retirement in a few years.
First, I disassemble the horn. Penetrating oil and a torch are sometimes neccessary.
Second, I look things over for any big problems, such as dents, broken keys, etc. These are done by an outside person, as dents are a very skilled process.
Thirdly, comes the polishing and sometimes removal of lacquer from a metal plated horn. I have found the best little tool here to be an electric toothbrush, with mildly abrasive polish. Most of the old horn are too tarnished to use a liquid polish alone. When cleaned up, I use a final coat of anti-tarnish polish. This leaves an invisible layer of Silver Oxide on the metal. The silver atom prefers to unite with the oxygen ion, rather than the tanishing sulfur ion in the air from pollution, so the horn will stay bright for a long period of use.
Fourth: Measure for pads. Use resonator type, as the plain leather pads make a horn sound dull.
Fifth: re-assemble, doing the left and right hand stacks first. Remember to spring that leak-prone Eb flutter key shut. These are not useful enough to bother with their leaky design on most horns. Use light weight oil (gun oil is best) on all screws and rods. Some rods/ keys need to be swedged or stretched, using a motorised rod, which is tricky and can cause some hand injury. This is a job that must be taught by a pro.
Fifth: Install the pads, using contact cement, in small related groups, using a leak test light as you go. There are tecqniques for key bending and shimming of pads for a good seat. Use alcohol on each pad after it is level, and use wooden wedges to pin it shut against the tonehole for at least twelve hours. I know you purists love to use the old stick shellac, but in cold temperatures, it can become unfastened. I remember the terror of losing half my baritone sax range and seeing a pad roll across the floor in the middle of a big concert solo. Be sure to install the silencers and shims of felt and cork on the keys at this point.
Sixth: More leak light tests after all pads are in. Play it. More leak testing. Play it for an hour. More leak testing. Advise the new owner about pad break-in and offer to re-adjust horn free of charge after 6-8 hours of playing. If you have a leaky-sounding horn, pay attention to the old soldered tone holes (older Holtons are notorious for this) and be prepared to dis-assemble sections of the horn to re-solder a hole. This is a tricky job and I usually take it to a pro, as it is difficult for an amatuer to do this operation neatly. I welcome any suggestions and improvements to my basic method, as I'm sure some of you are more knowlegeable than I am. Thanks.

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 May 17th 6:39 AM
Oops -- Added an extra "Q" to tecniques. Sorry.
I did work hard to get my Grammar School diploma and I won a class spelling bee!

ukebert
User ID: 9906923 May 17th 1:56 PM
tecniques?

;-)

General Sir Alan
User ID: 8200143 May 17th 4:08 PM
I just put the sax under a big cardboard pyramid, go and have a couple of pints of scrumpy (strong cloudy cider), and let 'the magnetic forces' do it all for me !

Once changed a tenor into a baritone that way, or it may just have been the scrumpy.......

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 May 17th 8:14 PM
jazzbug1....Your rebuilding method seems quite sound to me. As I have stated before. You are an interesting and astute guy. You seem laid back and intelligent as well as humorous. Quite like the USA's answer to Alan Tucker. (I believe you are from the States). Correct me if I am wrong. You and Alan among a few other chaps make this forum quite interesting and informative as well as comical! This forum brings out the best and worst in me, and I love it. It makes me feel satiated, relieved and well rounded in general. It's the best!

jazzbug1
User ID: 9990163 May 20th 10:00 PM
Thank you, Muggsie. Yes, I am from the former colonies. C Melody forum keeps me well-rounded, as I usually snack while reading it. Also, I try to be astute when I toot.

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Apr 21st 7:29 PM
"Quite like the USA's answer to Alan Tucker." ?

Hmmm - I thought the USA's answer to me was, quite often, "*&?! off..."

8-))

jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	May 16th 11:45 AM I am a very small-time rebuilder. These operations are from my own experience, with a bit of training from a first class repair man. This is a very pleasant part time job for me as I look to retirement in a few years. First, I disassemble the horn. Penetrating oil and a torch are sometimes neccessary. Second, I look things over for any big problems, such as dents, broken keys, etc. These are done by an outside person, as dents are a very skilled process. Thirdly, comes the polishing and sometimes removal of lacquer from a metal plated horn. I have found the best little tool here to be an electric toothbrush, with mildly abrasive polish. Most of the old horn are too tarnished to use a liquid polish alone. When cleaned up, I use a final coat of anti-tarnish polish. This leaves an invisible layer of Silver Oxide on the metal. The silver atom prefers to unite with the oxygen ion, rather than the tanishing sulfur ion in the air from pollution, so the horn will stay bright for a long period of use. Fourth: Measure for pads. Use resonator type, as the plain leather pads make a horn sound dull. Fifth: re-assemble, doing the left and right hand stacks first. Remember to spring that leak-prone Eb flutter key shut. These are not useful enough to bother with their leaky design on most horns. Use light weight oil (gun oil is best) on all screws and rods. Some rods/ keys need to be swedged or stretched, using a motorised rod, which is tricky and can cause some hand injury. This is a job that must be taught by a pro. Fifth: Install the pads, using contact cement, in small related groups, using a leak test light as you go. There are tecqniques for key bending and shimming of pads for a good seat. Use alcohol on each pad after it is level, and use wooden wedges to pin it shut against the tonehole for at least twelve hours. I know you purists love to use the old stick shellac, but in cold temperatures, it can become unfastened. I remember the terror of losing half my baritone sax range and seeing a pad roll across the floor in the middle of a big concert solo. Be sure to install the silencers and shims of felt and cork on the keys at this point. Sixth: More leak light tests after all pads are in. Play it. More leak testing. Play it for an hour. More leak testing. Advise the new owner about pad break-in and offer to re-adjust horn free of charge after 6-8 hours of playing. If you have a leaky-sounding horn, pay attention to the old soldered tone holes (older Holtons are notorious for this) and be prepared to dis-assemble sections of the horn to re-solder a hole. This is a tricky job and I usually take it to a pro, as it is difficult for an amatuer to do this operation neatly. I welcome any suggestions and improvements to my basic method, as I'm sure some of you are more knowlegeable than I am. Thanks.
jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	May 17th 6:39 AM Oops -- Added an extra "Q" to tecniques. Sorry. I did work hard to get my Grammar School diploma and I won a class spelling bee!
ukebert User ID: 9906923	May 17th 1:56 PM tecniques? ;-)
General Sir Alan User ID: 8200143	May 17th 4:08 PM I just put the sax under a big cardboard pyramid, go and have a couple of pints of scrumpy (strong cloudy cider), and let 'the magnetic forces' do it all for me ! Once changed a tenor into a baritone that way, or it may just have been the scrumpy.......
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	May 17th 8:14 PM jazzbug1....Your rebuilding method seems quite sound to me. As I have stated before. You are an interesting and astute guy. You seem laid back and intelligent as well as humorous. Quite like the USA's answer to Alan Tucker. (I believe you are from the States). Correct me if I am wrong. You and Alan among a few other chaps make this forum quite interesting and informative as well as comical! This forum brings out the best and worst in me, and I love it. It makes me feel satiated, relieved and well rounded in general. It's the best!
jazzbug1 User ID: 9990163	May 20th 10:00 PM Thank you, Muggsie. Yes, I am from the former colonies. C Melody forum keeps me well-rounded, as I usually snack while reading it. Also, I try to be astute when I toot.
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Apr 21st 7:29 PM "Quite like the USA's answer to Alan Tucker." ? Hmmm - I thought the USA's answer to me was, quite often, "*&?! off..." 8-))