Dissolving gunk

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ds21
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Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2022 3:04 pm

Dissolving gunk

Post by ds21 »

Would grain alcohol be okay to try and dissolve gunk in my inner slide that remains after a professional chem clean?
Posaunus
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by Posaunus »

Hard for me to imagine that there's much "dissolvable gunk" after a proper chem clean. Usually just mineral deposits (not dissolvable) or residual polishing compound (if used) or oxide (both removable after repeated swabbing of outer slide. :idk:
In any case, I expect that pure alcohol will do no harm - evaporates rapidly.
Good luck.
ds21
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by ds21 »

AtomicClock
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by AtomicClock »

Take it back to the professional and ask them to finish the job?
Blabberbucket
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by Blabberbucket »

Your photo link doesn't work for me.
David Paul - Brass Repair/Manufacture, O'Malley Brass (Chicago)
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JohnL
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by JohnL »

Here's the pic.
thumbnail.jpg
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tbonesullivan
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by tbonesullivan »

Never really seen gunk like that.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
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JohnL
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by JohnL »

tbonesullivan wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 6:41 pm Never really seen gunk like that.
At least some of that looks like pitting to me.
hornbuilder
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by hornbuilder »

That has not been fully cleaned. It needs to be put back into the pickle for longer. It should then be scrubbed with a bristle brush on a slide rod, with detergent to remove the remaining deposits.
Matthew Walker
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Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Doubler
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by Doubler »

JohnL wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 7:08 pm
tbonesullivan wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 6:41 pm Never really seen gunk like that.
At least some of that looks like pitting to me.
I agree; it looks like pitting to me, too.
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Posaunus
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Re: Dissolving gunk

Post by Posaunus »

Is the photo of the interior of an outer slide? Do both upper and lower appear similar?

Do you know the history of this trombone and how this could have been caused?
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