Tech/maintenance What would you say this is on the Sax and can it be cleaned off ?

[JayeNM]

Couple of comments:

I've not tried the "chemical bath" but it'll require complete disassy. Can the springs be left in place, or would residual cleaning fluid wicking into the spring mountings in the posts lead to corrosion there?

One good aspect of this kind of situation is that IF you can improve the look of the speckled areas with a light hand polish, then you can probably make a real good improvement in appearance without disassembling it

Springs stay on during chem or sonic bath.

Agreed, if you don't have the mechanical acumen to disassemble the keywork, a tech can do that....in which case, let tech do disassembly, bath, and reassembly..or even ask how much extra a hand polish would be.

Or have tech disassemble, bathe, rinse...give body and neck back to you for the hand polish, then bring back for reassembly and adjustments.

 

[JayeNM]

If the surface is rough to the touch, then it is pitting corrosion, and what you see/feel is where the lacquer is gone. Yes, you can make it shiny, but unless you do something to seal the surface, it will corrode again.

Yes and No.

Oftentimes the reason it got that way in first place is owner didn't act soon enough in keeping patina/rot away or from developing.

Oftentimes, when you see it on a horn which otherwise has been upkept well mechanically and has had some regular servicing....the tech probably offered a bath in there someplace but the owner declined because it added $75-100 to the final price and 'it wouldn't effect the playability of the horn if not cleaned off'.

I remember GordonNZ, rip, would say this all the time...'whenever I offered a full clean in the scope of work, 80% of the time the owner would decline it to save a few dollars..."

So when you do a bathe and polish, again the polish does leave a protective residue of sorts...then as time goes by when you begin to see the patina turning Evil, hit it with the hand polish again.

 

[JayeNM]

It's citric acid I use - a solution made from crystals.

Aaah...I literally just squeeze half a lemon. Brush it on, let it sit and do its stuff, wipe off, reapply if needed then after final wipe , hit it with the hand polish once

 

[PigSquealer]

It's citric acid I use - a solution made from crystals.
I don't generally use it around pads. Nothwithstanding potential damage to the leather, you really don't want any acid to soak into the pad. The long-term effects could be messy.

Thanks for the tip.
Agreed ! Anything on a pad other than your clean finger has risks.
People don’t realize the leather is very thin at 0,38mm / .015 and can fall apart unexpectedly. This is fully disclosed when this type of cleaning is an option.

Aaah...I literally just squeeze half a lemon. Brush it on, let it sit and do its stuff, wipe off, reapply if needed then after final wipe , hit it with the hand polish once

You’re brave brushing it on. I use a dampened Q-tip.

 

[ghostler]

Or is that a Borderlands thing ?

You oughtah see the job it does placing the sax on the tailgate. Power wash removes pads, old shellac in the pad cups, then blow dry leaves the sax clean and spotless along with the truck, spray hot wax seals bare brass spots and restores shine to nickel keys, ready for disassembly and repad. Saved a bunch by not removing the keys, mailing it to you and having you chem dip it. 😉

Seriously, isn't detailing taking care of non-disassembly detail cleaning with pipe cleaners, Q-Tips, rag strips, etc.? May not be say a traditional expression, but I don't know any better word for it.

 

[JayeNM]

@ghostler ...in my old 'hood (Bronx)...'detailing' got you friggin' flames painted on the side and a complimentary set of Fuzzy Dice....at least 😳

 

[ghostler]

@ghostler ...in my old 'hood (Bronx)...'detailing' got you friggin' flames painted on the side and a complimentary set of Fuzzy Dice....at least 😳

Today at a motorcycle rally vender booth might mean the same, too.

Flames painted or decaled or embroidered patch stitched on the side of one's sax case and a complementary set of small fuzzy dice might be a way to garner extra quid in the sax repair biz these days? 😉

 

[turf3]

Today at a motorcycle rally vender booth might mean the same, too.

Flames painted or decaled or embroidered patch stitched on the side of one's sax case and a complementary set of small fuzzy dice might be a way to garner extra quid in the sax repair biz these days? 😉

Now you've got me thinking about fuzzy dice! Could I hang a pair from the bridge of the upright bass? From the lip of the saxophone bell? From the headstock of the guitar? Maybe from the far end of the flute? Do I get a quantity discount?

 

[ghostler]

Could it be a new sales venue for repairers like @PigSquealer and @JayeNM , set up a sax sales, accessories and repair booth for motorcyclist saxists in the vender area of a motorcycle rally? Take those old Vitos, Bundy's, Bueschers, etc. taking up back shop space with a good clean-up and service, a few on display on the counter for sale to motorcyclists? And those old mouthpieces still in good condition and haven't been able to sell before?

Motorcylist mama find one for son, daughter, grandson, grandaughter, etc. get 'em a start in band? Encourage motorcyclists to bring their instrument into the booth for on-the-spot repairs?

Big posters on each side of the booth of a saxist in leathers playing to catch attention? There at the booth working on sax to give motorcycle folk a chance to see a repair, maybe a dent repair in action while wearing a leather vest with saxist patches? "LOUD SAXES ARE LOUD PIPES, TOO!"

Pair up along side a detailer booth with an actual detailed sax on stand, bell with a custom airbrushed mural painted and another pin striped on display to help attract attention and help out a fellow merchant?

Could the small fuzzy dice and PigSquealer's souvenir piglets, an attention getter for Harley-Davidson fans add a nice touch?

Success or not? YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). 😉

 

[JayeNM]

Today at a motorcycle rally vender booth might mean the same, too.

Flames painted or decaled or embroidered patch stitched on the side of one's sax case and a complementary set of small fuzzy dice might be a way to garner extra quid in the sax repair biz these days? 😉

Plus a bonus....the dice ....when hung from the neck, actually IMPROVES THE TONE of the horn....



It really does

 

[JayeNM]

 

[ghostler]

Plus a bonus....the dice ....when hung from the neck, actually IMPROVES THE TONE of the horn.... It really does

You could take a bit further at motorcycle rallies. The dice improves the tone of their motorcycle exhaust. 😉