| Q:
Would the engraving be filled-in and less distinct by the
re-lacquering or the re-plating of my instrument?
A:
We are extremely careful to in
no way disturb or take away from the bell engraving. The
lacquer/plating that is applied will not fill in or cause the
engraving to be any less distinct than that which is presently
there. We do offer re-trace hand engraving of the entire
pattern if needed for an additional charge. This re-tracing will
restore the entire engraved pattern to a factory fresh crisp
appearance.
Q: In doing
research on this I've noticed that other shops are recommending not
to re-lacquer but to leave it as raw brass, which you seem to
discourage. I would prefer to re-lacquer as long as my
concerns above are addressed.
A:
I have address a few concerns some have with the raw brass finish
which has gained popularity in recent years as follows:
For some time now there have been factory new professional brass
instruments produced by musical instrument manufacturers offered in
the "raw brass" finish. These instruments are sold in their
shiny new appearance and then, over time, oxidize to become the dull
finish horns we occasionally see. There are some issues that
one should consider before selecting the "raw brass" finish.
When restoring brass and
nickel instruments the lacquer, silver-plating or 24k gold plating
is applied not only for their beautiful appearances but these
coatings act as protection against oxidation and wear. If the
instrument is left in raw brass one needs to keep in mind that the
elements, as well as the acid from the player's own hands, will
attack and pit the instrument and greatly decrease the life
expectancy of your brass and or nickel instrument.
Also, the residue from this oxidation process can be absorbed into
the player's metabolic system and may not be very healthy at all.
Some players have discovered that they are actually allergic to this
brass oxidation residue.
The Musical Instrument
Repair Shop does, on the occasion of a customer's request, leave a
brasswind restoration in the raw brass finish, but only after having
advised of the possible negative effects.
The Bach Stradivarius Company used to state on
their web site that Bach instruments are not available in raw brass
due to the possibility of hazardous brass poisoning.
Q: You do offer
Black Nickel Plate Finish?
A: In the past we did offer
the Black Nickel Plate finish, but due to unforeseen problems we
discontinued the Black Nickel Plate. We do have a picture
You may view the finishes that the Musical Instrument Repair Shop
has to offer at
http://www.musical-instrument-repair-shop.com/finishes.htm
Q. What is the process of your Complete
Restoration?
A: Within the process of our
restoration the inside of an instrument is thoroughly cleaned with
our acid baths. Once cleaned we recommend valve oil be blown
throughout the entire instrument as to prevent the reoccurrence of
corrosion, pitting and mold build-ups internally. Simply put
approximately 10 drops of valve oil into the mouthpiece receiver
each time the valves are oil, (every 2 to 3 hours of playing time)
and blow the oil through the instrument. This will coat the
inside of your trumpet as a barrier to unwanted build-ups.
Cleaning once in a while with a trumpet snake, lukewarm water and
some ammonia, then rinse thoroughly will also help a great deal.
Q: What is
the procedure for your Precision Valve Build and Re-fit?
A:
Our Precision Valve
Build and Re-fit involves a series of procedures as well as
tooling specifically designed for this operation. The
first stage of this operation is the truing of the casings to
assure a cylindrical smooth surface for the piston seat fit.
This truing process is performed with a valve casing adjustable
honing reamer until the desired consistency is reached.
The next operation is the
preparation of the pistons for the hard nickel electro-plating.
First there are chemical cleaning processes to remove any
materials that may inhibit the adhesion of the hard nickel
plating. The pistons are machined to assure a consistent
outside diameter the entire length of this part. The
specification of the exact outside diameter is measured from
inside the valve casings to determine the over-sizing
dimension that must be achieved and this information is
forwarded, along with the pistons, to the plater (Andersons) for
the hard nickel electro-plating build process.
Upon
the return from plating the over-sized pistons are machined and
turned down to a point where they are ready for hand lapping,
using a specific compound, into the prepared casings. Each
piston is individually re-fit to its corresponding casing to a
overall tolerance of between .0005" and .001". The
instrument is then washed and rinsed thoroughly to remove all
compounds and the pistons are assembled and installed for final
play testing.
If you would like
more information or have any questions please email us at
info@musical-instrument-repair-shop.com
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