Misc Polishing The Inside Of The Tubes On My Vibes

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-11-2016, 12:19 PM

I'm restoring a 1937 Leedy vibraphone. I need to polish the inside and outside of the resonator tubes., not for looks but to remove the tarnish and gunk so they might resonate more freely. They are made of thin aluminum. I can't use any kind of motor driven device, as the excessive heat will knock them out of tune.

Mother's Aluminum wheel polish works great. Dipping in Tarn-x or something like it won't work for me. I've researched it, and Mother's and old fashioned elbow grease is it.

The tubes have a plug at the bottom and don't go all the way through. A couple of them have bases of mud dauber nests stuck at the bottom.

I polished the shortest tube to test the polish. You can see the difference in one of the pics. There are some measurements in some of the pics, as well.

Anybody got a great idea how to polish the inside of a tube? The short tubes aren't the problem, it's the deep ones. I can use gadgets, but not at an rpm or rate that will generate excessive heat.

I hope the collective CP Genious will come up with something brilliant without having to think to the complete limit or straining something.

TIA

Your pal,
Dinny

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-11-2016, 12:20 PM

More pics.

Fish · 03-11-2016, 12:28 PM

How about a long handled toilet brush?

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/...let-brush.html

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-.../dp/B005AURM1U

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-11-2016, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

How about a long handled toilet brush?

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/...let-brush.html

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-.../dp/B005AURM1U

This looks promising.

Dinny

ping2000 · 03-11-2016, 12:37 PM

Antifreeze and fire. Possibly duct tape.

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-11-2016, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ping2000

Antifreeze and fire. Possibly duct tape.

Wrong thread. Here's the one you want.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...ght=NFL+Rigged

Dinny

Radar Chief · 03-11-2016, 01:02 PM

Cool shit Dinny.

But mud daubers nest?

Was someone storing it in their garage?
As an alternative to the toilet brush you could get a gun cleaning kit. Get one with enough extensions to get to the bottom of your longest tube and make sure it has the eyelet attachment to threat a .50 cal patch through.

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-11-2016, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Cool shit Dinny.

But mud daubers nest?

Was someone storing it in their garage?
As an alternative to the toilet brush you could get a gun cleaning kit. Get one with enough extensions to get to the bottom of your longest tube and make sure it has the eyelet attachment to threat a .50 cal patch through.

Yeah, a shed for sure. I think it also spent a lot of time in a coal furnace environment.

Not being a gun guy, this never occurred to me. I like it. Do I just search for gun cleaning kit? Or are there other key words I'm looking for?

Thanks, Chief.

Dinny

Radar Chief · 03-11-2016, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

Yeah, a shed for sure. I think it also spent a lot of time in a coal furnace environment.

Not being a gun guy, this never occurred to me. I like it. Do I just search for gun cleaning kit? Or are there other key words I'm looking for?

Thanks, Chief.

Dinny

Your local Walmart should have them in the sporting section for around $20.

You're quite welcome, love seeing someone restore an old instrument like this.

03-11-2016, 12:19 PM	Topic Starter
Dinny Bossa Nova MVP Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $9990442	Polishing The Inside Of The Tubes On My Vibes I'm restoring a 1937 Leedy vibraphone. I need to polish the inside and outside of the resonator tubes., not for looks but to remove the tarnish and gunk so they might resonate more freely. They are made of thin aluminum. I can't use any kind of motor driven device, as the excessive heat will knock them out of tune. Mother's Aluminum wheel polish works great. Dipping in Tarn-x or something like it won't work for me. I've researched it, and Mother's and old fashioned elbow grease is it. The tubes have a plug at the bottom and don't go all the way through. A couple of them have bases of mud dauber nests stuck at the bottom. I polished the shortest tube to test the polish. You can see the difference in one of the pics. There are some measurements in some of the pics, as well. Anybody got a great idea how to polish the inside of a tube? The short tubes aren't the problem, it's the deep ones. I can use gadgets, but not at an rpm or rate that will generate excessive heat. I hope the collective CP Genious will come up with something brilliant without having to think to the complete limit or straining something. TIA Your pal, Dinny Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 5,050

03-11-2016, 12:20 PM	#2
Dinny Bossa Nova MVP Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $9990442	More pics. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 5,050

03-11-2016, 12:28 PM	#3
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1191081	How about a long handled toilet brush? http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/...let-brush.html http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-.../dp/B005AURM1U __________________
Posts: 48,773

03-11-2016, 12:37 PM	#5
ping2000 Changes pants while driving Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Washington D.C. Casino cash: $2380495	Antifreeze and fire. Possibly duct tape.
Posts: 17,745

03-11-2016, 01:02 PM	#7
Radar Chief Wearing ballistic dog goggles. Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: In the box. Casino cash: $3041503	Cool shit Dinny. But mud daubers nest? Was someone storing it in their garage? As an alternative to the toilet brush you could get a gun cleaning kit. Get one with enough extensions to get to the bottom of your longest tube and make sure it has the eyelet attachment to threat a .50 cal patch through. __________________ Like "Cool Hand" Luke I'm busting rocks. __/\|_/[___] \|/ \\_\| ---OllllO _( ))~-( ))-0--))
Posts: 25,520