Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
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Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Question for all of the repair people here. Where did you get your mandrel to work on bass trombone bells? Something you've had for years? Ordered somewhere? Thanks.
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Ferree's is the only US company that offers a trombone bell flare mandrel for repair purposes. Böhm in Germany also offer one.
Why do you ask??
Why do you ask??
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
- elmsandr
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
More specific, what repair are you looking to do? Do you need a steel mandrel/bell iron to use as a reaction surface? Mine came from Ferree’s (actually from Cliff’s trunk as he was redoing the designs like 30 years ago).
For a general wooden holding mandrel to hold the flare while working on other things and/or supporting the horn in in a vice, I made mine from a table leg that I bought at Home Depot or Lowes.
Ferrees will sell to anybody and have in the past been very helpful over the phone to guide you to what you actually want rather than exactly what you initially ask for… I don’t know who’s working the phones there these days, but in the past they were quite helpful.
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Hi Matthew. A friend of mine found a french horn mandrel at a yard sale! Really?? He thought it was for the bass trombone but it's not. He has zero internet presence so I thought I'd ask. Yes I can google myself but I don't even know specifically what I'm looking for. Matthew are you saying that you have 1 bell mandrel or are there different ones for tenor and bass?hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:22 am Ferree's is the only US company that offers a trombone bell flare mandrel for repair purposes. Böhm in Germany also offer one.
Why do you ask??
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Thanks Andy!!elmsandr wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:37 am Some links:
https://www.ferreestoolsinc.com/collect ... e-mandrels
https://www.ferreestoolsinc.com/collect ... -bell-iron
https://www.ferreestoolsinc.com/product ... ly-mandrel
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Repair wise, there is one bell flare mandrel for trombone, which suits tenor and bass. You actually don't want a form that fits the bell precisely when repairing, because often times the metal has to be taken past where you want it to eventually be.
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
- elmsandr
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Ferree’s made at least one batch of a specific large trombone mandrel… it wasn’t popular nor more useful, so I think he decided not to make any more. Measurements for that tool came from my horns, I still have the blue sharpie marks on two of them…hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 10:58 am Repair wise, there is one bell flare mandrel for trombone, which suits tenor and bass. You actually don't want a form that fits the bell precisely when repairing, because often times the metal has to be taken past where you want it to eventually be.
Cheers,
Andy
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Matthew makes a very valid point here. Those mandrels that are the same shape as the brass instrument bell flares have a very limited use. I only use them for quickly getting a badly twisted rim back to being on the same plane. Otherwise, those mandrels usually sit around and accumulate dust!hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 10:58 am Repair wise, there is one bell flare mandrel for trombone, which suits tenor and bass. You actually don't want a form that fits the bell precisely when repairing, because often times the metal has to be taken past where you want it to eventually be.
The most effective tools for bell flare and bell stem work are the roller tools (come in a few different diameters), and a bell stem mandrel (just like Matthew, I have one that works for almost all trombones and bass trombones). Sometimes I use a Votaw tool that has different dent balls that can attach to the end. That tool can very effective for sharp dents that are up on the narrow part of the stem.
For good finishing work, burnishing tools are used return the metal to its original shape. That’s an entire topic all to its own. In the end, good dent and finish work is not in tools…..it is in the skill of the person using the tools.
Brian D. Hinkley - Player, Teacher, Technician and Trombone Enthusiast
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
I have both the "tenor" and "bass" bell mandrels from Ferree's and rarely use the bass unit.
I use the slightly curved bell iron most of all, but also the "stubby" mandrel quite often.
I find it odd that the tenor mandrel is cut from a larger rod blank than the bass mandrel.
I guess to allow a sharper taper from the vise end?
I use the slightly curved bell iron most of all, but also the "stubby" mandrel quite often.
I find it odd that the tenor mandrel is cut from a larger rod blank than the bass mandrel.
I guess to allow a sharper taper from the vise end?
Eric Edwards
Professional Instrument Repair
972.795.5784
"If you must choose between two evils, choose the one you haven't tried yet."
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." -Sophocles
Professional Instrument Repair
972.795.5784
"If you must choose between two evils, choose the one you haven't tried yet."
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." -Sophocles
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Re: Bell Mandrel-bass trombone
Really? I find that the “stubby” mandrel is probably the one I use the least. Honest inquiry here. I’m very interested to hear….how do you use it? I would love to get more use from it. Whenever I use it (maybe 3 or 4 times a year), I usually spend more time removing the oxidation on it than actual time with a bell on it!
Brian D. Hinkley - Player, Teacher, Technician and Trombone Enthusiast