What do you call a person who repairs brass instruments?

Answer 1

a tuba glue

Answer 2

It depends on what's actually broken. I'll guess that you are interested in one of the two most common things: 1: Dents: Basically, you remove dents by "burnishing" them out. For dents that stick out special hammers may be used; for dents that go in it's common to push a hard metal ball on the end of a rod, down the tube from the larger end. The technician may use a series of many such balls, in gradually increasing sizes. Dents that affect moving parts are the most critical (say, in Trombone slides, or valves or rotors on various instruments). These often involve complete disassembly using a torch. These parts also have to be repaired very precisely or they won't move freely and seal tightly. Trombone slides should be straight within about 1/1000 inch in all directions. I don't think it's worth even trying to do this kind of critical work yourself, especially because it takes a lot of special tool$. 2: Finish: If players don't wipe skin oils off of the instrument every time they play, the lacquer finish wears off quickly, and then the metal underneath discolors. It's usually not a good idea to refinish a horn unless it's in really awful shape. Some reasons: * The lacquer itself has a big effect on the sound quality, so if you change it you may have really unexpected effects. * The lacquer has to be unusually thin (typically spray ones will add far too much weight to the thin metal, which badly effects the high range of the instrument), and tough but not brittle (so it vibrates, and doesn't crack off with temperature changes). * The best lacquers are dangerous to work with, being made with nitrocellulose, which is also used in some explosives. * Polishing the metal (after you manage to get the old lacquer off!) has to be done very carefully, or you can polish off the engravings, or even enough metal to affect the tone or weaken the instrument. That said, I'm just about to try all of this -- but it's an old horn that doesn't work anyway, and I bought it cheap just so I can practice some of this. I may very well destroy it, but it's pretty much destroyed already, and cost me only a few dollars. I'm investing in learning; but for any real horn I'd hire a top professional. There is some great information at http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/gallery.htm

Answer 3

It depends on what finish was used. Silver polish for silver-plated horns, brass polish for raw brass, and perhaps dish soap and warm water for lacquer.

Answer 4

a tuba glue

Answer 5

A tuba glue

Answer 6

a tuba glue

Answer 7

a tuba glue