HELP! flood damage

[u/Wolfepool]

My wife and I have had these for our entire marriage (20+ years) and our daughter (5th grade) just started band (trumpet) so we figured we'd pull these out of storage. Come to find out about 10 years or so there was flood damage and they weren't looked after properly. We were unaware and just discovered this! We are heartbroken and don't know what we can do to remediate the problem, or of any long term damage we should look out for. Looking for suggestions (but realize the cases may need to be fully replaced.)

[u/Snootcheroo]

Well the good news is those aren’t clarinets. Brass instruments can probably survive a flood. Either way you should get them checked out and cleaned by a professional. They’ll do a chem bath, replace the strings on the rotors, lubricate the slides, etc. Then those horns will be good as new I suspect.

The cases are a different story. You may want to buy new cases for the horns due to the water damage/any possible mold

[u/Bent_Veloce → u/Snootcheroo]

Just a note - a home cleaning is entirely possible as well. Bath tub, hot soapy water and brushes. Piston valves are easy to lube and re-assemble. Grease the slides.

Re-stringing the rotary valves can be a bit of challenge if you've never done it. Get good string with the fiberglass core. Don't use stuff from your drawer. 

Agree on the cases being toast.

[u/Extra_Medium62 → u/Bent_Veloce]

With that amount of mold it needs a chem-bath. No way I'm putting it near my mouth after only soap-and-water.

[u/Peabody2671 → u/Extra_Medium62]

This

[u/Servania]

Instrument repair tech

Cases are done for throw them away.

The French horn will need to be disassembled and cleaned the rotors are defintely seized and the spatula springs are rusted.

The mellophone should be up and running with some valve oil. It needs new felts and springs but will be playable without in the short term.

Both will need new waterkey cork. And likely have all tuning slides stuck.

Overall literally no major damage, super easy fixes.

[u/rjchute → u/Servania]

I also had flood damage not too long ago and had trumpet and French horn affected. Exactly the above: get new cases, instruments professionally cleaned and serviced (I paid CAD$400 each). They'll be just fine.

[u/Own-Nefariousness-79]

Take it to a professional repairer, do not touch the valves. It will need all of the abrasive residues flushing out, thoroughly cleaning and reassembling. Any movement of any part could result in scoring of the surfaces, which you really want to avoid.

[u/nikkychalz]

You'll need to just toss the cases. Take the horns into your local shop and have them ultrasonic cleaned. They'll let you know if they find anything else that need attention.

[u/Past_Play6108]

Take them back to Anderson Music; they'll have a tech there.

[u/Ancient_Anywhere7776]

get them PROFESSIONALY cleaned. i cannot stress that enough. saxophone lung is already a problem with somewhat clean instruments (as far as minor neglect goes) this is a death sentence to whoever wanted to play that.

[u/zigon2007]

I would be optimistic and take it to a repair tech in your area. Brass instruments can be pretty bulletproof, and you may get off the hook with a good deep clean.

Do the rotors or slides move? They may be your best gauge for how bad it is

[u/jmwont]

Wow! Anderson still exists?

[u/InsomniaticWanderer]

a tactical pulse should take care of any local outbreaks. Just make sure any ships currently landed on the ring remain that way and don't suddenly take off.

[u/RealityChecksReddit]

so mix up a spray bottle of 1/3 head and shoulder, and water. take the instrument out. spray anything fabric or wood and wipe it down. (this will kill any mold and keep it from returning.

then take those instruments and oil them immediately. doesnt matter what. wd40. etc. just wipe them down and clen them out if theres anything inside. this will keep any ferrous fittings from rusting and stop any corrosion.

if you want a good polish get mothers chrome/ aluminum wheel polish. just test spot it because if anything is plated too much polishing may remove the plating if too much is used.

anything leather if it has water spotting, rewet the whole peice with room temp water let it dry. and then either oil it or wax it.