Stuck trumpet tuning slides and shank (mouthpiece)

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I have been asked to unstick the two tuning slides and shank (mouthpiece) of a trumpet. I have submerged the stuck items in Plus gas  for several weeks, with no joy. I have used heat until some the soft soldering holding the trumpet together parted! Still no joy!

I suspect this may be a common problem with neglected brass instruments, so has anyone come across a solution?

Andrew.

 

[Mark EasingwoodParticipant @markeasingwood33578]

Hi Andrew,

Someone I know used to both play & repair brass instruments, apparently he soaked them in an old bath, I have no idea what he soaked them in tho’, and I haven’t seen him for a few years.

Possibly just soapy water ?????

Mark.

EDIT: You can find him HERE It seems he is retiring, so he might provide a bit of advice if you contact him.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

It is going to be crystalline copper salts at the joint. These are brittle. I would drill a piece of wood to the diameter of the tube, and saw it in half lengthways to make a support. Then very gently tap the tube at the joint – very light so as not to dent it while rotating the piece. Do this for a very long time, even make a little cam driven drop hammer for the lathe for fun. The idea is to crack the corrosion particles and very slightly stretch the outer piece of tube. It works on brass plumbing fittings, eg the screwed cap that held a rubber washer on old loo ball cock valves before they invented plastic ones that don’t work very well.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thank you both, I will try out the suggestions. I will try the soapy water immersion first as it will give me a break!

If all else fails then I will contact Mr Robson.

Thanks,

Andrew.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

There is a YouTube channel called Wes Lee music repair. He specialises in this work. Watch and learn.

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

When my son got the mouthpiece of his trumpet stuck, the repairer used a special-to-type puller to get it out again.  This is not an uncommon problem with youngsters! Of course, if your mouthpiece is corroded in place, that’s a whole different problem, and I can’t offer anything constructive.

George

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