Mouthpieces replacing a bite plate

[Jules]

Any of you guys ever put a new bite plate on a mouthpeice? If so, any tips, or basically- what did you use and how did you do it? I've seen and heard of using carved blocks of ebonite, dental epoxy or even nescafe jar lids (oh yes!). If anyone's tried it (successfully)- please let me know the gen.....

 

[spike]

Hi Jules, someone on one of the German forums got his dentist to do it for him, not sure if it's covered under the National Health but with a private dental insurance you should be good to go.

 

[Jules]

My old band's manager is a dentist, might have word with him.

 

[c9off]

Here is a picture of Phil Barone pouring an epoxy bite plate. This is subsequently sanded completely flush then polished etc.

So long as the mouthpiece is not plated (ie the surrounding land can be polished) then it is quite straightforward but hasten to add that although my line of work is composites I have not actually done this specific job!

I guess Griff will chip in also..

cheers

 

[Bobby G]

[No message]

 

[Jules]

c9off wrote:
Here is a picture of Phil Barone pouring an epoxy bite plate. This is subsequently sanded completely flush then polished etc.

So long as the mouthpiece is not plated (ie the surrounding land can be polished) then it is quite straightforward but hasten to add that although my line of work is composites I have not actually done this specific job!

I guess Griff will chip in also..

cheers

Any idea what the epoxy is in this case- I've always assumed that car filler or araldite wouldn't fit the bill due to brittleness and potential bad taste/toxicity.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I had a new biteplate inserted into my first (old) Link by my local technician. He used reclaimed ebonite from old mouthpieces or clarinet bodies. When finished it looked like new (the bite plate, not the mouthpiece).
Colin

 

[jools]

I replaced the 'black spot' on an old white Brillhart with plumbers filler! - mixed with a little black enamel paint this stuff set really hard and shined up quite well. The stuff is made for emergency pipe repairs. Did the job really well.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I wouldn't use anything industrial without checking it first for toxicity, You could try asking in the plumbers' supplies about licking the pipework.

I think the stuff dentists use must be the safest.

 

[c9off]

"Any idea what the epoxy is in this case- I've always assumed that car filler or araldite wouldn't fit the bill due to brittleness and potential bad taste/toxicity."

I believe it is Araldite 302, but there are hundreds of different epoxy (and acrylic) resins, you just need one that adheres well, flows whilst being thixatropic (contradiction I know), takes colour, sands easily, polishes to a high shine and be hard as nails..

There is no toxic or taste issues with epoxy.

Car body filler is definately not suitable.

 

[spike]

Tis called "Dental repair epoxy" comes in various forms and colors, check out dental supply merchants it must be readily available.

 

[jools]

...and not as I did.

(have to say in my own defence, I do a lot of things I wouldn't recommend anyone else to copy. FYI my dad was a plumber and I cut my teeth on bits of brass pipe, so it seemed logical in my warped mind)

However... what do they 'actually' use in the manufacture of mouthpieces?