Martin Mammoth

[Tubajug]

I probably won't be updating this very often, but since I'm doing something on this, I figured I would start a thread.

I'm planning on using this for a big band reading session I was invited to. My first order of business is to strip the paint from the main slide and bell collar so I can add a water key and bell screws. Whoever painted this did a pretty nice job actually. The surface was clean and smooth and the paint actually looks pretty decent, but.... I'm not a fan of painted brass, so it's going to go.

I used Strypeeze for the main slide last night and it got most of it off. It's going to be a pain to get it out of all the nooks and crannies, but hopefully everything will work out (any tips on getting into all the small spaces would be appreciated).

[bloke]

Though furniture is mostly considered "disposable", now...

...IF (??) your city has any place that refinishes furniture, ask them to strip it.
I'd bet that they wouldn't charge very much.

(Car) body shops - mostly - just sand off old paint, so I won't bother going to one of those.

Within the last year or two, all over-the-counter paint stripper is worthless crap.

[Tubajug]

Thanks for the idea bloke. I tried it on the bell collar and it barely touched some parts of it.

[York-aholic]

For nooks and crannies: a brass bristled brush?

Lamp wick soaked in _________?

[Tubajug]

I just spoke to a guy who's going to pick it up tomorrow or Saturday and should have it stripped in time for next Thursday's reading session! He said it would probably only be $50-100. That's well worth it to me not to mess it with myself! Thanks again @bloke !

[Tubajug]

Here is my Mammoth after having a furniture refinishing guy strip the gold paint off of it. I've been using it with a group that gets together once a month to read jazz charts.

[York-aholic]

Here is my Mammoth after having a furniture refinishing guy strip the gold paint off of it. I've been using it with a group that gets together once a month to read jazz charts.

Perfect! That is what that horn was built for!

[Three Valves]

The ol' dip and strip.

Nice!

[bort2.0]

Front action valves on a mammoth!

[Tubajug]

Whoever painted it actually did a pretty nice job. They roughed up the brass just a bit for better adhesion, and it was a fairly smooth, even finish. I'll probably end up doing a Scotch Brite finish on it when I get around to it.

It won't need a whole lot of work. You can see the big dent on that front bow by the third valve slide. Some slides are stuck (upper third circuit), it's missing the lower bell to body brace. I pulled the bottom guard wire off and will replace it. It's got some dents on the back of the bell elbow, though I don't have the capability to fix those with my home tools.

It did not have bits when I got it. I'm using a set of Reynolds sousaphone bits with a bit of tape around the one that inserts into the leadpipe. It works ok for now, but outside of buying a set of Martin Wilk's replacement bits, I don't have any other options at the moment.

Honestly, it will probably be for sale whenever I get around to finishing it. It was a great find, but I don't really use it beyond that jazz group, and once my BBb helicon is finished, I can probably use that there instead.

[York-aholic]

Whoever painted it actually did a pretty nice job. They roughed up the brass just a bit for better adhesion, and it was a fairly smooth, even finish. I'll probably end up doing a Scotch Brite finish on it when I get around to it.

It won't need a whole lot of work. You can see the big dent on that front bow by the third valve slide. Some slides are stuck (upper third circuit), it's missing the lower bell to body brace. I pulled the bottom guard wire off and will replace it. It's got some dents on the back of the bell elbow, though I don't have the capability to fix those with my home tools.

It did not have bits when I got it. I'm using a set of Reynolds sousaphone bits with a bit of tape around the one that inserts into the leadpipe. It works ok for now, but outside of buying a set of Martin Wilk's replacement bits, I don't have any other options at the moment.

Honestly, it will probably be for sale whenever I get around to finishing it. It was a great find, but I don't really use it beyond that jazz group, and once my BBb helicon is finished, I can probably use that there instead.

I have a few of the bigger Mammoth braces lying around somewhere. I'll have a peek this weekend.

[Tubajug]

Image test, mostly. But I did start working on this a little more. The braces supporting the third valve circuit were partially popped off, so I took them off to resolder them. I need to address that big dent you see on the left while I've got them off.



The leadpipe is dented/bent in a couple places. I've taken it off and will either work it out off the horn, or anneal it and try pulling dent balls through it after mounting it back on the horn.

Here are some other pictures of the dents I will hopefully be removing with my magnet and ball bearings:







All the slides are free except the top two of the third valve circuit. I've applied penetrating oil a few times, but they're not budging yet.

[bloke]

Without getting carried away, you might see if you can find some wood dowels that are just about exactly a perfect fit -or fairly close to fitting inside the upper number three bows, and tap them upward with a hammer - using some amount of care.

[Tubajug]

I was able to get that nasty dent out using a dent puller/slide hammer and my magnets and ball bearings. I also gave it a quick "Scotch Brite" finish on that spot.



I was also able to get the stuck slides free. Progress!

Next up will be the leadpipe and putting the braces back on the third valve circuit.

[bloke]

That's a good job . I would be even more impressed if you combined a low A Martin baritone saxophone with a Martin 6/4 tuba to create a Martin Magmoth.

[Tubajug]

That's a good job . I would be even more impressed if you combined a low A Martin baritone saxophone with a Martin 6/4 tuba to create a Martin Magmoth.

Haha, no Franken sax here, this is a family-friendly thread!

[Three Valves]

I’m glad you fixed that dint.

It was bothering me….

[Tubajug]

Over the last week I was able to get the leadpipe dents figured out. I used @bloke 's method of removing the leadpipe, annealing it, mounting back on the horn, then pulling greased dent ball through it using a bicycle brake cable. It worked very well!

Here's a before and after shot:


Front view:


Next up I'll be pulling the bell stack off to take it and the bell to a friend with a dent machine. After that, it should just be replacing the guard wire and the lower bell stack to body brace, then putting the Scotch Brite finish on the whole thing, and then sell it!

Oh, I do need to replace the screw for the water key, it was missing when I got it. Does anyone have a Martin water key screw? Or will one from any other manufacturer work instead?

[bloke]

When you pick up the bell stack, run your hand around it with white cotton gloves to check for lumpiness and out-of-roundness. I guess the only reason to not do that is if your friend isn't charging you anything, because beggars really can't be choosers, can they?

[Tubajug]

When you pick up the bell stack, run your hand around it with white cotton gloves to check for lumpiness and out-of-roundness. I guess the only reason to not do that is if your friend isn't charging you anything, because beggars really can't be choosers, can they?

Haha, no, they can't! He charges me a bit for using his shop, but let's me use the machine. The large ferrule on the bottom bow (connecting to the stack) is a bit flattened on the outside, so that will be something to look at as well. The stack doesn't have any major dents, just some out-of-roundness I can feel. I find I'm getting more and more picky the more I work on these things... I guess that's a good thing though, right?