HELP- Thumb ring repair

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Willys
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HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by Willys »

I played an outdoor gig today and, in the midst of it, my thumb ring popped off the horn. I'm guessing being out in the hot sun had something to do with it?

Regardless, what's the best method to put that sucker back in place? Butane torch and solder? My wife suggested Gorilla glue.


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bloke
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by bloke »

Willys wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:16 pm I played an outdoor gig today and, in the midst of it, my thumb ring popped off the horn. I'm guessing being out in the hot sun had something to do with it?

Regardless, what's the best method to put that sucker back in place? Butane torch and solder? My wife suggested Gorilla glue.
Only use the Gorilla Glue that's specially formulated for thumb rings.
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This depends on whether your thumb ring is only unsoldered from the instrument and not broken.

If it's still brazed to its flange, it's less work.

If it's broken away from its flange, it's more work and requires more skill.

It can be repaired either way, but I'm not sure that you want to tackle it - particularly not if it requires silver brazing the ring back to its flange.

No pictures...

======================
ALMOST OFF TOPIC:
Quite a few years ago, someone shipped me a (silver plated, no less and) detachable bell four-rotary .750" bore King tuba body with the thumb ring busted loose from its flange.

I went to quite a bit of trouble (involving Anderson, etc.) to make it look as close as I could manage to having never been broken in the first place.
I had to unpack it, repack it, and ship it back. They paid me, but I didn't get any thanks or any kind words for messing with all that jazz.
That's the last shipped in tuba repair I ever accepted.
(Since then, I've asked everyone to bring them, and I put them up overnight and feed them breakfast.)
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Willys (Sun Jul 12, 2026 3:32 pm)
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bort2.0
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by bort2.0 »

bloke wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:32 pm (Since then, I've asked everyone to bring them, and I put them up overnight and feed them breakfast.)
Is that hospitality, or "I know where you sleep" vengeance? :laugh:

Or a Nixon/Brezhnev "you drink first"?
Willys
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by Willys »

bloke wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:32 pm
Willys wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:16 pm I played an outdoor gig today and, in the midst of it, my thumb ring popped off the horn. I'm guessing being out in the hot sun had something to do with it?

Regardless, what's the best method to put that sucker back in place? Butane torch and solder? My wife suggested Gorilla glue.
Only use the Gorilla Glue that's specially formulated for thumb rings.
-------------
This depends on whether your thumb ring is only unsoldered from the instrument and not broken.

If it's still brazed to its flange, it's less work.

If it's broken away from its flange, it's more work and requires more skill.

It can be repaired either way, but I'm not sure that you want to tackle it - particularly not if it requires silver brazing the ring back to its flange.

No pictures...

======================
ALMOST OFF TOPIC:
Quite a few years ago, someone shipped me a (silver plated, no less and) detachable bell four-rotary .750" bore King tuba body with the thumb ring busted loose from its flange.

I went to quite a bit of trouble (involving Anderson, etc.) to make it look as close as I could manage to having never been broken in the first place.
I had to unpack it, repack it, and ship it back. They paid me, but I didn't get any thanks or any kind words for messing with all that jazz.
That's the last shipped in tuba repair I ever accepted.
(Since then, I've asked everyone to bring them, and I put them up overnight and feed them breakfast.)
This is very helpful. It is still well-attached to the flange. It seems what appears to be a relatively simple job must not be so. I'll have to get with someone in-state (Michigan) or find time for a road trip.
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russiantuba
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by russiantuba »

Depends where you are in the mitten state, but I think Kevin Powers might do work still (maybe Meridian Winds). Tyler Ferris is located in Pandora, OH (north of Lima), Rob Phillips in Plain City, OH at Buckeye Brass, and Sam Gnagey is in Fort Wayne, and Colby Fahrenbacher used to do repair work and is in the South Bend area.

I use Rob Phillips, and many tubists doing larger custom jobs make the travel to him, but since your repair seems simple, a decent shop near you should be able to do it.
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by Willys »

russiantuba wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2026 5:28 pm Depends where you are in the mitten state, but I think Kevin Powers might do work still (maybe Meridian Winds). Tyler Ferris is located in Pandora, OH (north of Lima), Rob Phillips in Plain City, OH at Buckeye Brass, and Sam Gnagey is in Fort Wayne, and Colby Fahrenbacher used to do repair work and is in the South Bend area.

I use Rob Phillips, and many tubists doing larger custom jobs make the travel to him, but since your repair seems simple, a decent shop near you should be able to do it.
Thank you! I'm about an hour north of Mount Pleasant (Central Michigan University). I suspect Meridian Winds will be just the ticket.
Willys
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Re: HELP- Thumb ring repair

Post by Willys »

russiantuba wrote: Sun Jul 12, 2026 5:28 pm Depends where you are in the mitten state, but I think Kevin Powers might do work still (maybe Meridian Winds). Tyler Ferris is located in Pandora, OH (north of Lima), Rob Phillips in Plain City, OH at Buckeye Brass, and Sam Gnagey is in Fort Wayne, and Colby Fahrenbacher used to do repair work and is in the South Bend area.

I use Rob Phillips, and many tubists doing larger custom jobs make the travel to him, but since your repair seems simple, a decent shop near you should be able to do it.
Thank you! I'm about an hour north of Mount Pleasant (Central Michigan University). I suspect Meridian Winds will be just the ticket.
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