Tech/maintenance Bare brass temptation

[DavidUK]

I've spoken to him now... he'll mask them up.

 

[greenstripe]

Why no one ever mentions acetone?

Easy to use, evaporates without leaving caustic residues (like paint strippers), readily available at any paint store.

Acetone is very useful as a solvent, but needs care in use and storage:

It is extremely aggressive and can damage a lot of plastics. It also can be hazardous as very volatile and has a low flash point and vapour can be ignited extremely easily even at low temperatures. It is also carcinogenic and can cause skin irritation as it de-fats your skin so you should wear suitable gloves - I recommend nitrile.

It needs to be stored in a suitable sealed container that it won't react with. Even the vapor from an improperly sealed container can damage paint and varnished surfaces.

 

[turf3]

Acetone is very useful as a solvent, but needs care in use and storage:

It is extremely aggressive and can damage a lot of plastics. It also can be hazardous as very volatile and has a low flash point and vapour can be ignited extremely easily even at low temperatures. It is also carcinogenic and can cause skin irritation as it de-fats your skin so you should wear suitable gloves - I recommend nitrile.

It needs to be stored in a suitable sealed container that it won't react with. Even the vapor from an improperly sealed container can damage paint and varnished surfaces.

Acetone is NOT carcinogenic. It is one of the lowest toxicity organic solvents.

The steel can it comes in is just dandy for storing it.

You should use it outdoors or with good ventilation.

 

[Stephen Howard]

The steel can it comes in is just dandy for storing it.

Mine came in a plastic bottle. Must have had it at least 15 years now - and last time I looked there was still some left.
I needed it for melting acrylic (I think) pellets into a solution that could be injected into a serpent in order to stabilise it enough for display purposes.

 

[PigSquealer]

Acetone is NOT carcinogenic. It is one of the lowest toxicity organic solvents.

The steel can it comes in is just dandy for storing it.

You should use it outdoors or with good ventilation.

And the reason it’s used for fingernail polish remover. They just add a masking scent. Tryin to getting women to use it outdoors is a little challenging.

 

[Ivan]

Why no one ever mentions acetone?

Apart from the OP right at the start of the thread?

 

[DavidUK]

Mine came in a plastic bottle. Must have had it at least 15 years now - and last time I looked there was still some left.
I needed it for melting acrylic (I think) pellets into a solution that could be injected into a serpent in order to stabilise it enough for display purposes.

Is taxidermy a hobby of yours Steve?

 

[Stephen Howard]

Is taxidermy a hobby of yours Steve?

Safe to say that's one job I didn't stuff...bloomin' thing was worth a fortune.

 

[DavidUK]

A fire breathing one? They're the rarest!

 

[DavidUK]

Anyhow... soda man texted me just... finished the sax. Masked the bumper holders but it went through the masking so has damaged them. You were right (naturally) Steve.
So... a new opportunity for further customisation!
Always look on the bright side... 😉

 

[SaxBoss]

Anyhow... soda man texted me just... finished the sax

Hello Dave

Any chance you could show us a few photos of this finish, when you get a chance? Interested in how fine the matt finish is.

 

[DavidUK]

@Stephen Howard - they look like this (off the 'net) photo...

...any idea how they come out, without damaging them?
I may need to pop them out to effect a repair or glue on the glitter/plastic coloured gemstone/miniature Mickey Mouse.

Many thanks.

 

[DavidUK]

Hello Dave

Any chance you could show us a few photos of this finish, when you get a chance? Interested in how fine the matt finish is.

Yes, I'm collecting tomorrow morning. When he did the test patch on the bell the finish looked very fine, a very light coloured matt gold.

My intention was just to have the lacquer removed so I could finish with the 3M Scotchbrite pad/strip which is very quick and easy to do but the test area was really attractive (to me). It's just whether it ends up uniform over the whole horn or not which will decide if I leave as is or further interfere with it.

I'm going to take the stripped donor body of a Karl Meyer tenor with me as well and ask if he'd do a test patch in dry soda (as with the Yamaha) and also another in wet blasting which he mentioned yesterday and I think gives a more shiny finish. If he can, I'll post some photos.
That body is just a test bed/garden planter now as some of its keys and rod hinges went into my Pennsylvania (both Orsi). The remainder of its keys are also for further experimentation - I might get him to do a key/cup too whilst I'm there.

 

[moxie]

OMG....as they say these days!!! The always verbose me is at a total loss for words. The very idea of the very word "patina" in my collection......my brain chokes up. When I am elected King of the World, you will be in serious trouble for cruelty to saxophones. Until then, have at it, to each his own. I'm just still surprised I made it through all three pages!!!

 

[Stephen Howard]

...any idea how they come out, without damaging them?
I may need to pop them out to effect a repair or glue on the glitter/plastic coloured gemstone/miniature Mickey Mouse.

No idea. Since my one disastrous encounter with them I've never mangled one up since - so haven't needed to remove one. Can't recall how I got it out, but it was knackered anyway...so probably drilled it out.
Looking at the base I'd say you'd need a pair of 'wrap around' pliers (I think they used to be called Plumber's Wrenches...or tune grips...something like that).

 

[greenstripe]

Not whishing to spam up this thread:

I worked in the print trade for approximately 20 years and used to handle lots of chemicals with all of their different concerns.

While acetone is not directly cocarcinogenic in pure form - in use it is quite likely that in use you will create a soup of other substances that could very well be: dissolved lacquers etc the exact formulas unknow in this case, so should be treated as such.

It is common to decant chemicals in to smaller containers to make it easier to use or apply. I used to purchase in 5 or 20 litre containers, we would put it in swan neck squeeze bottles (these are not suitable for storage!) or plunge cans (better)

 

[DavidUK]

Here's the soda blasted Yamaha...

 

[DavidUK]

And the KM scrap body with, from left to right: wet blasted soda; original lacquer; dry blasted soda, dry soda blasted lacquer hand rubbed with Scotchbrite pad...

...the wet blasted and hand rubbed have more shine sparkle. Here's the same shot with flash...

 

[mizmar]

Fascinating!

Maybe it'd be interesting to just leave that test horn lying around, somewhere humid and light (? Or what ever climate might be challenging), to see how it ages?

 

[MMM]

Here's the soda blasted Yamaha...

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That looks really nice: do you know if it had any effect on the toneholes (as in has the process "unlevelled" any)?