Week 4

This week I learned about the removal of trumpet bell stem dents and constructing tuning slides. When removing stem dents I used a tapered universal trumpet mandrel and drew out the dents. It is important to put lubrication on the mandrel so that the drawing can be done without scratching the brass. When setting the trumpet on the mandrel it is important to measure how deep the mandrel needs to be to reach the dent. My hands need to be placed on opposite ends of the trumpet so that I am in total control to draw out the dent. During the week I also built a first tuning slide from a crook, two ferrules, and two inner tubes. This was also another soft soldering exercise that was awesome! All of the parts needed to be clean in order to solder them together. In order to solder these small pieces together I used an expander to hold the parts and then used a trumpet as a fixture when soldering so that my tubes would be parallel and even.

The pieces of a first valve slide. The crook, two ferrules and
two inner slide tubes

The ferrule with a counter bore to receive the crook

The crook

One ferrule and inner slide tube soldered together

Using the expander to hold the inner slide tube while soldering
on the ferrule

The soldered ferrule to inner slide tube

Both ferrules and inner slide tube soldered and tinning
sanded in preparation for soldering the crook

Using the trumpet as a fixture

Setting up the tubes in the first valve slide

Using a straight edge to line up the parts

The top joint has been soldered

Excess solder because the part was too hot

Soldered first valve slide

Placing the valve slide on an expander for hand buffing

Finished hand buffing

Final buff using yellow rouge

Looks just like it would from a factory

Tubes are parallel