How to clean a old [semi moldy] instrument? | Page 1 | Woodwinds/Brass | Guild Forums

Calico Oranda

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:03 pm

My school is a bit lacking in caring for their band, so the 'ments arn't that top notch. Well, there's only two Bari Saxophones. Ones brand new cause the other one got junked, and then there's mine. It's affectionately called 'The Health Hazzard'. The person whom used it last year didn't take care of it at all, and they left all their reeds in case, and of corse they molded over the summer.

I took it home today for a cleaning and I'm wondering how to go around doing it because,
a.) It's so damn old
b.) It's so damn expensive
c.) I've never cleaned a sax in my life

So yeah. Its tarnished and ugly everywhere, and around the spit key theres mold.
The neck has a ugly green coating on the part that goes in.
And the bell.. Do not smell it. My friend did for some random reason, and it's rank.
Any suggestions on how to go about semi-cleaning this thing with household stuff? I have a few clarinet swabs but thats about it for real musical cleaning supplies, since the Bari is just a jazz band thing.

EDIT:

Hey would using Peroxide to kill mold work? I saw it mentioned somewhere.

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:29 pm

There's a few companies that make Bari Sax swabs...

Why can't you use the newer one?

That Girl is Fierce

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Calico Oranda

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:32 pm

Harsh Marsh

There's a few companies that make Bari Sax swabs...

Why can't you use the newer one?

My friend who plays with me uses it, plus she's allergic to mold so she can't use the older one anways. Annnddd... I lost the coin toss from before we even figured out the mold thing. [Ha Ha... 'Tards..]

Hmm. I'll check around this weekend for one. It might be usefull. Thanks ^w^ I never figured they would 'cause it'd be kinda rediculous to try and get a string through it successfully.

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:28 pm

Wafflez No Jutsu

Harsh Marsh

There's a few companies that make Bari Sax swabs...

Why can't you use the newer one?

My friend who plays with me uses it, plus she's allergic to mold so she can't use the older one anways. Annnddd... I lost the coin toss from before we even figured out the mold thing. [Ha Ha... 'Tards..]

Hmm. I'll check around this weekend for one. It might be usefull. Thanks ^w^ I never figured they would 'cause it'd be kinda rediculous to try and get a string through it successfully.

biggrin

Do you live nearby a Music and Arts? They have Instrument care kits. Their kind of expensive...$16 for about 5 or 6 things.

The Bari sax we have...like the neck part broke because Melanie dropped it...And we only have one Bari sax in the middle school and probably like...thousands of kids used it. o__o [endrant]

That Girl is Fierce

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Calico Oranda

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:57 am

Harsh Marsh

Wafflez No Jutsu

Harsh Marsh

There's a few companies that make Bari Sax swabs...

Why can't you use the newer one?

My friend who plays with me uses it, plus she's allergic to mold so she can't use the older one anways. Annnddd... I lost the coin toss from before we even figured out the mold thing. [Ha Ha... 'Tards..]

Hmm. I'll check around this weekend for one. It might be usefull. Thanks ^w^ I never figured they would 'cause it'd be kinda rediculous to try and get a string through it successfully.

biggrin

Do you live nearby a Music and Arts? They have Instrument care kits. Their kind of expensive...$16 for about 5 or 6 things.

The Bari sax we have...like the neck part broke because Melanie dropped it...And we only have one Bari sax in the middle school and probably like...thousands of kids used it. o__o [endrant]

No, unfortunatly we don't. My dads going to go pester this dude at Henry's today so. ... I think the neck on mine got cracked once too, because you can see the seam clearly and it's all bent and dented to hell. Mines used by about 3 different people everyday, and Abbys is about 4 so, yeah, high traffic with it too. Like 6 of use used it last year cause the newer one was off limits.

That sounds like our Bass Clarinets. xD Someone dropped it and cracked it in half. There all old, but one brand new 5-part one.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:21 pm

Wafflez No Jutsu

Harsh Marsh

Wafflez No Jutsu

Harsh Marsh

There's a few companies that make Bari Sax swabs...

Why can't you use the newer one?

My friend who plays with me uses it, plus she's allergic to mold so she can't use the older one anways. Annnddd... I lost the coin toss from before we even figured out the mold thing. [Ha Ha... 'Tards..]

Hmm. I'll check around this weekend for one. It might be usefull. Thanks ^w^ I never figured they would 'cause it'd be kinda rediculous to try and get a string through it successfully.

biggrin

Do you live nearby a Music and Arts? They have Instrument care kits. Their kind of expensive...$16 for about 5 or 6 things.

The Bari sax we have...like the neck part broke because Melanie dropped it...And we only have one Bari sax in the middle school and probably like...thousands of kids used it. o__o [endrant]

No, unfortunatly we don't. My dads going to go pester this dude at Henry's today so. ... I think the neck on mine got cracked once too, because you can see the seam clearly and it's all bent and dented to hell. Mines used by about 3 different people everyday, and Abbys is about 4 so, yeah, high traffic with it too. Like 6 of use used it last year cause the newer one was off limits.

That sounds like our Bass Clarinets. xD Someone dropped it and cracked it in half. There all old, but one brand new 5-part one.

Hm...For what? Repairs or the swab thing?
I mean, how can 3+ people use it.....Do they have to like... sanitize the mouthpiece everyday or something?

And the Bari sax at my school has like...Sonething wrong with the keys, otherwise, I just know that the neck[That loopy part, sorry, not a sax player! xD]got cracked and it has duct tape on the crack, xDD

Wait, do you mean cracked in half like the WHOLE Bass clarinet or just a part did?
I just wanted to ask....Do you take the Baritone Sax home? Just wondering.. because if you DO take it home, purchase a care kit, if you don't, ask your band director to do something with it.

And about the mold, it can cause reperatory problems. Some molds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death. eek

That Girl is Fierce

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x-LOLLYGAG-x

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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:56 pm

I would take it to your local music store and have it professionally cleaned.
is it still the school's instruement. if so talk to your director and have the school foot the bill. xd

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:19 pm

~
Yeah..I would send it to a store to get cleaned...there might also be damage somehow that will unknowingly affect your playing=0

(singing in the rain)

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Feyrbrande

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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:28 am

take it into a steamy, hot room to loosen up the crap, then scrub the hell out of it. i've never tried it with a sax, but it works for a lot of other things. just go into your bathroom and turn the shower on as hot as you can get it, close the door, and let the room steam up (with the sax in it).
again, i'm not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try if it's as bad as you say.

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