Tech/maintenance Making parts you can’t find.

[PigSquealer]

Missing parts are often a pain to find. Making a new part can be done. Cost, more than a thick combo pizza & pitcher of beer.

It’s all starts with the phone call… “ I didn’t notice that missing on the Goodwill auction pictures “ .

With no carcass horn to pick at…. its time to just make one.

A section of chopstick for size and bit of cork to check fit.

 

[PigSquealer]

Scrap brass round sourced (Buick or Jaguar throttle shaft?)

Chicken scratch blue print from NASA (cost billions. It’s lightweight!)

For ten minutes of lathe work it looks good-n-nuff. This could also be done with a drill motor and a little creativity.

 

[PigSquealer]

I parted off the piece. Tinned the base. Minimal spot cleaned the body. Applied a smidgen of flux and wedged the part into place between Key and body.

Perfect, nope. Working yep.

Actually it’s challenging not to disturb old dirt (aka patina). Too clean and shiny will standout.

Repad + repair + clean & wax.

 

[PigSquealer]

Next. A King Super 20 baritone cloth guard.

 

[Ghr9204]

@PigSquealer , You mentioned Buick or Jaguar throttle shaft parts; my first impressions for sure were Jaguar, as there is no loss for abundance of potential parts sources with Lucas, the Prince of Darkness. A Lucas relay standoff pin for example might mean less work, plus it's patina would match perfectly.

I made a clothes guard for my Beaugnier Vito bari, used scrap auto body repair sheet steel trimmed with tin snips. Got the bari temporarily in storage as am entertaining a move, else I would show. It's nothing to look at, but works.

 

[scotsman]

🙂🙂 Nice one mate!! I am also a big fan of reusing anything which costs Nowt!! Must be my Northnern upbringing!!! Regards 🙂🙂

 

[Ghr9204]

I must admit though, @PigSquealer , that bumper standoff you made is good enough to pass for an OEM replacement part. There is nothing wrong with new to illustrate that the sax was restored to useful service and not just a display item only.

 

[TobyB]

Actually it’s challenging not to disturb old dirt (aka patina). Too clean and shiny will standout.

I have a really hard time 'just fixing' a silver plated instrument.
One clean spot, and then out comes the polish, and now suddenly
I've taken the whole thing apart...

t

 

[PigSquealer]

Sometimes it’s down to whatever works. My machines have always completed the gig.
EML(the kit maker) stands for "Eigen Makelij", meaning made myself.

 

[PigSquealer]

Next. A King Super 20 baritone cloth guard.
View attachment 27680

The picture above was accompanied with a question. “ Can you make a pants guard for this ?”
I had no clue what was missing ! The owner is 500 miles away.
Picture requested and furnished. Yep can do !

 

[Ghr9204]

Nothing wrong with a King bari. 1980's, I played one that was from perhaps late 1950's to early 1960's. It didn't look as pretty as a used Martin that replaced it, but ones who made the decision weren't sax players and out-ranked me. (Brass player decision, like birds, loves shiny things over function. Chirp-chirp)

 

[Woodpad]

Nothing wrong with a King bari. 1980's, I played one that was from perhaps late 1950's to early 1960's. It didn't look as pretty as a used Martin that replaced it, but ones who made the decision weren't sax players and out-ranked me. (Brass player decision, like birds, loves shiny things over function. Chirp-chirp)

In such a case we ask the brass players who is first second, third, fourth and fifth. This seems to be more important than shiny things.

Sometimes it’s down to whatever works. My machines have always completed the gig.
EML(the kit maker) stands for "Eigen Makelij", meaning made myself.
View attachment 27688

There is a Dutch firm with that name.

 

[Ghr9204]

In such a case we ask the brass players who is first second, third, fourth and fifth. This seems to be more important than shiny things.

Perhaps a better description would have been "military intelligence", which is an oxymoron.

 

[JayeNM]

This is why when one gets somewhat serious about their DIY, having a boneyard collection of horns is a good thing, so you can pilfer pieces off of another one.

Or, get to know a machinist in town.

About 1/3 of the techs I know well can machine new parts, the other 2/3 rely on cadaver horns. I am the latter, fortunately I have a former 35 miles away from me.

 

[turf3]

Someday I have fantasies of owning a barn with a small lathe and Bridgeport.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I was told, that with a mill and rotary table, you can make lotsa useful stuff, including a lathe. Bearings are best to buy.
Can use my mill as a vertical lathe, with parts made on the mill.

 

[Ghr9204]

Some have used a hobbyist lathe/milling machine, which is less expensive than a machinist grade set-up, with good success to make replacement and upgrade parts for model aeroplane engines, when parts are unattainable. Plus they don't take up as much shop space.

These one on type musical instrument repairs would seem to lend themselves to such a setup, no?

 

[wakyct]

One of the more respected techs here in town has a lathe and a drill/milling machine in his (tiny) basement workshop (both Emco I think). I heard getting the lathe into the basement was fun (he had moved from his commercial space downtown). I had some work done on my alto last week at a different tech, who hasn't been in business quite as long and is much younger, and I noticed -- no lathe.

 

[PigSquealer]

Yeah, it’s really a good idea to have a horn boneyard of everything you never know if you’ll need.
It gets real interesting when you ask the person for mount dimensions. Basically a triangle with a curvature from the base to the top. Should be easy
This is where patience, guidance and a little luck come in. Starting from nowhere and building a usable part. Team effort and simple communications to get the job done. All by email pictures.

This below is exactly what I’m working with.

 

[PigSquealer]

Try to get a idea of the needed curvature. Just guess if you have the proportion right from a picture without scale.

Sample provided pictures for comparison.