Posted by Avogadro on November 14, 2000 at 16:33:56:
My horn has some ugly dents... nothing that affects the playing quality, but they do look offensive. Fixing them will cost $thousands, and that is out of the question. So I'm trying to get used to them.
Why is it so expensive to fix tuba dents? Why do they have to disassemble the instrument? Isn't there a way to get a jig into the tubing, on a cable or something, to press out the dents?
Would I be able to take dents out myself... say, the ones that are accessible, in the bell? What are the techniques? Do I work from the perimeter of the dent inwards toward the center of the dent? Should I hammer or push?
Can dent removal be done without removing the lacquer?
Paintless Dent Removal is a relatively recent technique for repairing car bodies. PDR is cheaper and does not impact the car's finish. Can the PDR techniques be used for repairing dents in tubas?
Maybe I will take the horn down to Joe's Body Shop and get an estimate.
Just curious about the whys and wherefores...
Avogadro