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To swedge or not to swedge...

Author: asartain
Date: 2010-08-25 23:20

Hi, I have a student model Selmer that I decided to do some repair work on a year or two ago. Well, I finally picked it up again and I can't decide what to do with it. I know I'll probably be told to send it to a qualified repair person, but that's okay, because I'm not that worried about messing it up as it's a student model, and I don't really have to play for any reason anymore and I've been curious about this kind of thing for a while on and off, and I figure now's probably the best time to dive on in. It's in decent repair, a student model Selmer, plastic without L.H. F or low Bb. I have several questions really:

1. I would like to clean every part of it. How best to go about it? Soap and water with keys off? Is alcohol bad for the plastic? Is a toothbrush too abrasive? Alcohol or silver polish on keys? What would be best? (I ask because I already did the bottom joint and now it seems a little dull. Whoops!)

2. I've noticed that there is a vertical gap of a little less that a mm on most of the posts. Is it worth worrying with? If it is would swedging be a good learning experience or should I send it to someone else?

3. Would I then need to replace all of the pads? I will already be replacing three of the lower-most pads. I'm worrying about things like tone-hole rims not being smooth enough and the pads not sitting perfectly. Is this something I should necessarily be worried about on a student instrument?

4. What is the best way to clean and re-lubricate posts and pivot screws. I was planning on using pipe cleaners and alcohol, but the pipe cleaners don't seem to fit through the posts. Maybe a creative use of yarn? And when re-assembling would oil be okay, or does it need something thicker, like grease?

Thanks to anyone who is even willing to try to answer these questions, as I know this is the kind of thing that people spend years and years learning the art of. It's kind of like one of those, I'm not worthy types of scenarios. I was almost too scared to post.

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