Ferree’s Dent Machine

[arpthark]

My wonderful repairman friend is 92 and just sold me half of his shop, mostly including all the things he can’t physically manage any more. It included a Ferree’s dent machine (the big one) with all the attachments, doo-dads, arms, and bells and whistles.

The past few years I would help him out with it and he would show me the ropes with the large flat/rounded attachment and the roller to iron out tuba and euph bells, but as far as the other attachments go he basically said “I never used these or remember what they’re for, so you’re on your own,” in nicer terms.

So, any general advice or comments about the Ferree’s dent machine are welcome. I’m thinking Father’s Day will be a nice chance to mess around with it. I just need to crumple up some bells first so I have things to practice with…!

[Robson]

My wonderful repairman friend is 92 and just sold me half of his shop, mostly including all the things he can’t physically manage any more. It included a Ferree’s dent machine (the big one) with all the attachments, doo-dads, arms, and bells and whistles.

The past few years I would help him out with it and he would show me the ropes with the large flat/rounded attachment and the roller to iron out tuba and euph bells, but as far as the other attachments go he basically said “I never used these or remember what they’re for, so you’re on your own,” in nicer terms.

So, any general advice or comments about the Ferree’s dent machine are welcome. I’m thinking Father’s Day will be a nice chance to mess around with it. I just need to crumple up some bells first so I have things to practice with…!

I like Wes Lee's videos. He's always using the Mini Z or the full size dent machine. Have fun!!!

[bloke]

- do as much work as you can before using the machine
- avoid sudden stops regarding ironing strokes
- increase pressure as you get something straightened out, and then release pressure gradually for smoothing
- super extreme pressure will absolutely work harden an area, but anything up to that probably won't. (I just smoothed out a 19-in York bell a few days ago - whereby someone had hand-stamped a six digit number into the flare right next to the rim. I went to the brink in order to flatten out the stamping that they did as much as possible, but managed to avoid work hardening the little area. I believe that this involves experience more than anything, so I can't really help you other than to suggest that you be aware.)
- pay attention to the specific angle at which you're feeding something through
- think towards imagining consequences ahead of time
- avoid being determined that you're going to finish a job on that machine. Finishing things are what your other tools are for.
- they sell a special lubricant. STP oil treatment works as good as anything... Actually it works superbly well. You can clean it off with gasoline and then a strong liquid detergent with hot water. If you don't lubricate your piece that you're ironing, you'll probably screw it up.

For me, the machine is almost always a middle stage.

[arpthark]

Got it set up, figured out a few things, and found some resources as far as attachment instructions.

I also got a set of old Conn-branded "Dent Eraser" magnets and dent balls. Pretty immediately I was able to iron out a few things that had been bugging me in my tuba tuba bottom bows.

[bloke]

Got it set up, figured out a few things, and found some resources as far as attachment instructions.

I also got a set of old Conn-branded "Dent Eraser" magnets and dent balls. Pretty immediately I was able to iron out a few things that had been bugging me in my tuba tuba bottom bows.

I would strongly recommend against using any handles that come with any magnets. Just hold the magnet(s) directly with your hand.

Any additional torque that a handle might artificially offer is going to betray you when you encounter a spot that's too difficult to cross. Your hand and the handle will continue forward as the magnet stays back, the handle will tilt forward, the magnet will also tilt on its front edge, and the magnet will make a nice new and severe dent in whatever you are trying to repair.

[arpthark]

Got it set up, figured out a few things, and found some resources as far as attachment instructions.

I also got a set of old Conn-branded "Dent Eraser" magnets and dent balls. Pretty immediately I was able to iron out a few things that had been bugging me in my tuba tuba bottom bows.

I would strongly recommend against using any handles that come with any magnets. Just hold the magnet(s) directly with your hand.

Any additional torque that a handle might artificially offer is going to betray you when you encounter a spot that's too difficult to cross. Your hand and the handle will continue forward as the magnet stays back, the handle will tilt forward, the magnet will also tilt on its front edge, and the magnet will make a nice new and severe dent in whatever you are trying to repair.

Thanks, this is good advice. I've worked with magnets a lot the past few months, but always borrowing someone else's. Some boo-boos as you describe have occurred, on my own tubas (thankfully) and were able to be repaired. It's nice to finally have have my own set!

[MiBrassFS]

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[arpthark]

Ferree’s used to hold classes on various tools (20 or so years ago…). I attended one that Gary Ferree taught (he passed @ 10 years ago…). This guy in the class brought a York Eb to try the Dent Machine on and Gary used it to demonstrate. Everything was going along great until all of the sudden Gary turns white. He hit a little rotten spot on the bell rim and out pops the wire. The bead had split wide open. In Gary’s defense, that bell/rim was toast when he started.

The Dent Machine is a great tool(s). Also a great way to really mess up an instrument permanently.

My first experience with one about a year ago went well, and then my friend/mentor let me loose on a (cheap Chinese) euphonium bell by myself. I learned to pay special attention to the angle, because I caused some nasty creases that I didn't realize were happening in the moment. Luckily nothing too apocalyptic has occurred... yet. I'm just finishing getting mine set up now and found the manuals on all the doo-dads. I am anticipating a learning curve, to be sure, but I have lots of junky brass around here to practice on...

[bloke]

Gary probably didn't have a whole lot of experience with using machine, and my guess is that he probably had more experience with the manufacture, selling, and explaining of it.

Again, with any tool it's important to be able to imagine what's most likely to happen if I use "this" to do "that" and do so with X amount of force.

It's sort of like being an application specific mechanical engineer, and just sort of knowing from experience or a really good sense of imagination/prediction...

..."If I smash this thing down through there, it will knock the dent out, but it'll also jab a hole in the instrument right next to where the dent was." (etc.)

[MiBrassFS]

.

[bloke]

I liked Gary a lot.