Posted by Lap it up! on July 14, 2001 at 23:47:54:
In Reply to: Lapping Slides posted by Lapper on July 14, 2001 at 14:50:36:
The first time I lapped my slides I used (no lie) my hands and Crest toothpaste. I later learned to use polishing compound (rouge) and a cloth, but the most important thing (obviously) is to not take off too much! Lap a little, clean thoroughly, test results, lap a little more.
I have sent an extremely expensive tuba to a repair shop and had the pro (?) repairman grind off so much metal a slide fell out when the horn was inverted and slid all the way in when being played. Someone who needs to have their hand on the 1st valve slide constantly might not have minded, but this was the 4th valve slide!