Hi Everyone,
I recently tried to order the Wrights (water based with ammonia) Brass Cleaner and it has been discontinued.
I found two bottles on Ebay for $250.00 !!!!!
I like being able to rinse it good with water after polishing.
What are ya'all using on your mouthpieces now?
I use Flitz on a cotton ball to remove tarnish and a wipedown with Goddard's Silver Polishing Cloth before returning the mouthpiece and any silver plated horns to their cases as maintenance. Also, I take a facial tissue and twist a taper that fits the backbore and throat and then use it to dry the inside, following up with doing the same for the throat from the cup end. A clean mouthpiece is a happy mouthpiece.
Current instruments:
Olds Studio trombone, 3 trumpets, 1 flugelhorn, 1 cornet, 1 shofar, 1 keyboard
For mouthpieces that I actually use on a regular basis, I never seem to have any need to polish them -- especially my DE pieces, which seem mystically resistant to any kind of tarnish (??). I do clean my regular mouthpiece once a week in warm/hot water, maybe with a bit of detergent, brush out the shank, then dry with a paper towel.
But if you need silver polish, the best/easiest/most effective one I've used for decades is Hagerty's ("Silversmith's Polish"). Some years ago I tried just about everything on the market, and some worked better than others. But Hagerty's worked best and was the easiest and most pleasant to use. It seems to be favored by those who have the misfortune to own silver-plated instruments (like many euphonium players) as well, and I use it when necessary to polish my silver-plated 1924 tuba -- when absolutely necessary. It also contains a component that is effective in retarding the formation of tarnish.
After having my trombone mouthpiece replated and adding gold rim and cup by Dave Friedman, I asked him his cleaning recommendations. Mild soap, rinse, and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Follow this on a regular basis and it’s staying like new.
I think the moral of that story is that if you REALLY don't want to worry about about your mouthpiece tarnishing, then have it gold-plated -- or maybe get one in stainless steel or titanium or plastic.
I’ve never had a regularly used mouthpiece tarnish. Trombone mouthpiece is a mix of silver and gold. Even rare for my silver trumpet to tarnish, but it gets a regular wipe down (with an old cloth diaper…how many remember them?) due to finger prints.
I stole my wife's ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. It actually cleans a little tarnish along with the general debris.
Also discovered it will loosen DE parts. I keep mine snug but not overly tight. Usually the 5 min bath loosens the shank so that I have retighten it.
For stubborn spots I use Wright's Silver Polish. Mine is pretty old so I add water to make it thin. Basically just wipe it on and let it dry. Use a soft cloth or my favorite brand of TP to wipe it off. no scrubbing even with this very mild cleaner! When I was in 7th grade I polished all of the silver off the cup of by Bach MP. The rag kept coming out black so I must be cleaning it really good. Nope! Do as I say not as I do.
