Ageing your mouthpiece

[guyfromthesticks]

Hi All,
after a wee practice the other night I thought I'd give my ebonite mouthpiece I was using a little wash using basically warm water and a pull thru I'm sure I never washed it with water any warmer than normal, but after it dried it looks about 50 years old brownish rather than black. Did I wash it in far to warm water or would It be something chemical in the water i.e. chlorine aluminium oxide ????? can I get It back to black thanks. THANKS FOUND THE ANSWER ON EARLIER FORUM QUESTION THOUGHT I HAD READ THEM ALL. "SORRY"

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Yes you washed it in water that was to hot, thats what happens, however you should be able to revive it by rubbing with olive oil (no I'm not joking!) but if it starts to smell/taste sour destroy it as that is a chemical reaction within the rubber and it is said to be carcinogenic (but like so much stuff we read on the internet we cant be sure.........but there again we cant not be sure!).

 

[guyfromthesticks]

Yes you washed it in water that was to hot, thats what happens, however you should be able to revive it by rubbing with olive oil (no I'm not joking!) but if it starts to smell/taste sour destroy it as that is a chemical reaction within the rubber and it is said to be carcinogenic (but like so much stuff we read on the internet we cant be sure.........but there again we cant not be sure!).

Thanks for that Fraser too expensive to through out there was a previous article I found restoration ebonite mouthpiece tech section February. Sounds safer option.

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Yes theres, a few threads on the subject, if you put the word carcinogenic or mouthpiece turning green in the search box to the top right of this page theres quite a bit of stuff there..

 

[Pete Thomas]

I would say that any water warmer than body temperature is too warm to wash hard rubber. You would think it would be fine, but we all discover sooner or later that it isn't.

I haven't heard of hard rubber becoming carcinogenic.

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

You would think it would be fine, but we all discover sooner or later that it isn't.
.

And whatever you do don't do as i did one time and think soaking a second hand one in bleach is a good idea.....cuz it isn't! yes it kills the germs but it also kills the mouthpiece!

 

[Chris]

Just to add something to this interesting thread. I have just finished giving a 'Selmer Soloist' HR piece, a good clean after it got washed in hot water by yes yours truly.. So is was nice and old looking.
I used "Eucryl" Toothpowder. http://www.eucryl.co.uk/products/eucryl_toothpowder.aspx is the link. The method, using COLD water and kitchen roll.. Take a piece of kitchen roll dampen with cold water. Dip in to the powder apply to the mouthpiece and gently rub. Don't allow the powder to dry out or kitchen roll, don't rub to hard as the heat generated will cause the mouthpiece to go off again. Continue until the piece is clean, rinse under COLD water and dry. You will now have one satin black HR mouthpiece that tastes minty and smells minty..

Chris..

 

[Targa]

Hi All,
after a wee practice the other night I thought I'd give my ebonite mouthpiece I was using a little wash

I suggest that you don't take your m/p with you when you have a wee practice.

 

[sushidushi]

I suggest that you don't take your m/p with you when you have a wee practice.

Would that be warmer than body temperature then?

I am so glad that my mouthpiece is plastic and washable at any reasonable temperature.

 

[MandyH]

My Selmer S80 has also gone such a dubious shade of brown / green. But not caused by hot water as I only ever rinse mine in cold from the tap water. It is the sun (no, honestly) that has caused this.
I might give the eucryl a try, although I suspect brasso or jif cream will also work the same (something that is mildly abrasive will polish plastics) but probably won't taste as good!

 

[Pete Thomas]

My Selmer S80 has also gone such a dubious shade of brown / green. But not caused by hot water as I only ever rinse mine in cold from the tap water. It is the sun (no, honestly) that has caused this.

Sun will do it very quickly.

 

[sushidushi]

Why is it that hard rubber mouthpieces are generally so much more expensive that plastic? I can subject my plastic mouthpiece to warm water, hot weather and scorching lips to no ill effect. Many say that the material makes no.discernable difference to sound, other things being equal.

So what advantages do hard rubber mouthpieces bring? Can rubber be formed in to better shapes than plastic, perhaps?

I hope I haven't opened a can of worms here

 

[MandyH]

Sun will do it very quickly.

Sadly I have learnt this the hard way! My saxes stay out on their stands 24/7 unless I am taking one or more to a rehearsal. Our room faces South West, so for most of the afternoon and evening the sun is coming in through the window and in the summer, shining directly on the saxes. Even in the winter, there can be bright light for a number of hours in that room.
The mouthpieces are now in a drawer, and a new Selmer S80 alto on order

 

[Justin Chune]

I bought a second hand Selmer alto piece from a music store. When I bought it the mouthpiece was black, shiny and clean. Before using it I washed it in cold water with a little detergent and it turned green/brown before my eyes.

Jim.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Some detergents are basic enough to start or cause the rubber to turn.

i use plain water and a small bottle brush if necessary. But then I work on the keep the bacteria fighting amongst themselves principle rather than trying to kill them all of leaving only the really tough guys.

 

[jonf]

I suggest that you don't take your m/p with you when you have a wee practice.

I'd go further and suggest that if wee practice is required, there're more important things to worry about than the colour of the mouthpiece........