New Life for Tarnished Flute

We caught up with flute finisher Karl Kornfeld this week after he completed quite an amazing transformation on flute that had been left alone, unplayed, and badly tarnished.  As you can see in the photo above, he was able to transform this flute back to its original beauty.

So, how did he do this?  Well, he had the chance to document the process in a series of photos which you will see below. It's not the same flute as above, but it was one that was tarnished nonetheless...

Tarnished footjoint 

Keys must be removed.

Footjoint goes into the ultrasonic cleaner first.  

Footjoint after the ultrasonic cleaning.

Footjoint is dipped in an acidic solution to remove the tarnish.  After this, it goes through the ultrasonic cleaner again.

Polish is applied.

Polishing keys with a "tarnish ragging cloth."

"Tarnishield" is applied to body.

"Tarnishield" is applied to keys.

Keys are ready!

Everything is reassembled, and the tarnish is gone!

The process seems pretty straightforward, and it essentially is -- but it takes a great deal of time and careful hand work.  Karl told us that it normally takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete the tarnish removal and polishing process.  The flute featured in the photo at the very top of this post was extremely tarnished, and it came in to the shop needing a complete overhaul.  So, in the case of that flute, the total time from start to finish was roughly 19 hours!

Cleaning a Tarnished Footjoint

Ever wonder how tarnish is removed?  Well, this week, we had a very tarnished flute in the shop for repair, and flute finisher Karl Kornfeld captured the process of cleaning the footjoint...

Before:

Footjoint disassembled before cleaning:

Dipping the footjoint in the ultrasonic cleaner:

How it looks after the ultrasonic cleaner:

Dipping footjoint in acid tarnish cleaner:

After the acid bath:

 

Applying metal polish:

 

Polishing Keys:

Finished keys:

Applying TarniShield: 

The clean footjoint body:

Tarnishing from Cloth?

Anti-tarnish shield (being applied here) can get worn away by some cloths and chemicals.

We stopped in to the repair shop this week, and our repair technician told us that she had a customer who called with a tarnishing problem.  She said the customer had used a treated polishing cloth and could not understand why her flute was tarnishing right after she polished it with the cloth.  We knew quite well that our repair technician frowns upon flutists using anything other than a plain, microfiber cloth on their flutes, so we thought this would be a good chance to find out more about the "perils" of the treated polishing cloth.

Our repair technician told us that the treated polishing cloths contain polish, and polish is abrasive.  So, if you are using a treated cloth, you will wear away the protective anti-tarnish shield that covers the flute.  Once the anti-tarnish shield is worn away, the flute is prone to tarnish faster.  So, even though the customer had just polished her flute, it was shiny -- but it was also vulnerable to tarnish faster, and that is exactly what happened!

Our repair technician tells us that tarnish is "a personal thing," and that some people have a body chemistry that makes their flutes tarnish faster, and some people have flutes that never tarnish.  However, we do know that anything that would wear away or dissolve the anti-tarnish shield is not good for your flute.  As mentioned above, polishes and cloths treated with polish are abrasive and will wear through the protective coating.  If you use alcohol on your lip plate to clean it, that is okay -- as long as you use it only on the lip plate.  Make sure never to wipe the rest of the flute with alcohol, because alcohol will dissolve the anti-tarnish shield.

If you are curious as to what the anti-tarnish shield is, we have a previous post on it, which you can read by following this link.  We realize that having a shiny flute is nice, but make sure that you are using only a plain cloth  to shine it -- and nothing that will eat through the flute's protective anti-tarnish coating.

New Anti-Tarnish Strips

New anti-tarnish strips

It's summertime, and we can all enjoy the long days, sunlight, and warm temperatures.   The change in temperature is certainly welcome for many of us, but it is often accompanied by higher humidity as well. This increase in humidity can also mean that you find yourself cleaning off tarnish from your flute more often.

We had a previous post about anti-tarnish squares which you can read by following this link. Our Vice President of Production, Rob Viola, came across new anti-tarnish strips from 3M that he found to be even better, so these will now be in the cases of new flutes.  However, they are also available for purchase at the VQP Shop at https://powellflutes.com/vqpshop/polishing-cloths-swabs-and-anti-tarnish-supplies/anti-tarnish-squares.

Now that we have these new strips, we wondered if there is a particular part of the case where they should be placed for maximum effectiveness. Our Repair Technician and Customer Service Manager said that you can really place them anywhere you'd like -- other than inside the flute! They also noted that it's okay if you open your case and find that the strip has moved.  The strips are very light and will not damage your flute if they move in the case.  At Powell, we place the strip in the bottom left-hand corner inside of the top of the case -- simply because it fits well there!

So, enjoy the beautiful summer weather, but don't let the higher humidity get the best of your flute.  Always remember to swab out your instrument thoroughly, and consider adding a small anti-tarnish strip inside the case. You'll want to replace the strip from time to time since they do wear out. Also, if you purchase a new Powell and see this strip, don't throw it away -- it can help keep your flute happy and tarnish-free!

Bottom left corner inside the top of the case is a good spot for the strip.

Flute Lip?

Silver Powell Custom

Flute lip, flute beard, flute goatee, flute tattoo, flute burn -- do any of these terms sound familiar?  After one of our sales associates inquired about a "black mark" under her lip and above her chin when she plays flute, we decided to do some research.  It looks as though there are many people, from younger students to professionals, who have experienced the "mark of the flute player."  Our sales associate asked why this happens, what she can do about it, and if there are any cosmetics she should avoid.  After looking into the topic, we realized that this may have to be the first in a series of posts to answer the questions, because it is a very popular topic with many variations...

Our sales associate said that she had experienced this mark her entire life, even when she started playing flute as a young girl.  She played on plated flutes, silver flutes, and is now playing on a gold flute.  The problem still occurs, and we have read that there could be a couple of causes -- the pH of her skin, chemicals in her makeup or facial creams and cleansers, or both.  Essentially, something (and most likely her skin) is reacting with the metal and causing a black tarnish mark.  We'll kexplain more as we continue our research, but this week, we thought we could tackle at least one of her other questions, which was, "Should I cover my lip plate with clear nail polish?"

Hmm... Well, we read several forum discussions where flute players suggested the clear nail polish, so we went to our repair technician, Rachel Baker, to get her opinion.  She said that she does not experience the "flute lip" other than at times when she plays headjoints that were just polished.  She said that she thought the nail polish might "feel weird" and flake off, too.  But, was it safe to do?  Can you really put nail polish on the lip plate?  The answer is yes and no.  In fact, Rachel told us that she gets several flutes in the shop that have small nail polish marks on the headjoint and barrel to help the player align the headjoint properly.  She said that when she gets these flutes in, the nail polish comes off when the flute is cleaned in the ultrasonic cleaner.  But, there is one caveat -- this is only the case with flutes and headjoints made from solid precious metals.  She said that if a flute or headjoint is plated, that is a completely different scenario, and she always advises to use caution because she says, "You never know what kind of plating it is exactly, how thick it is, and what is underneath."  In the case of anything plated, she says, "If you are going to put something on and take it off, there's a possibility that the plating could come with it."

So, if you have a plated flute and/or headjoint, you might want to consider some other alternatives to nail polish to help prevent "flute lip" marks.  We've read forums where people have used postage stamps (not self-adhesive), bandaids, or other types of gently removable tape.  If you are looking for a solution that is safe for you and your flute and are unsure what to do, you might want to call your technician before trying anything that might not be reversible...

Tarnish -- Part II

Customer Service Manager, Rebecca Eckles, told us about a customer she was working with recently who had a very, very tarnished flute.  In fact, Rebecca recalled that it was essential black from tarnish.  The customer sent the flute in for a COA, and it was revived beautifully -- tarnish removed, and sparkle restored.  The flute was then sent back to the customer, and it was blackened with tarnish once again, as soon as she started playing it.  Often times, when this happens, customers ask Rebecca, "Why did this happen?  This never happened with my other flute(s)..."

Paul Edmund-Davies doesn't mind the tarnish...

Since the customer's flute became tarnished so quickly after it was returned, we can gather that this particular case was different.  The flute certainly would not have gotten tarnish from "exposure to the elements" of air with various levels of moisture over time.  No, in this case, we can gather that the tarnishing problem came from the player having very acidic hands.  Some people simply have this problem and often times switch to flutes made of a different metal -- most frequently, gold.  Some people don't mind the look of a tarnished flute.  In fact, Powell Artist Paul-Edmund Davies has very acidic hands, and his Powell is very tarnished, but it certainly hasn't affected his playing ability!  Aesthetically speaking, the tarnish is not a problem for him -- but we are all different...

As for the question on why the other flutes didn't tarnish, well, it all depends on the metal and plating.  Knowing the metal content of your flute is very critical.  Sterling silver flutes could tarnish when played by people with acidic hands, but if that person previously played on flutes that were not sterling silver, the tarnish problem would not occur.  The other flutes may have been nickel-silver, or perhaps they were nickel-silver with silver plating.  Perhaps the keys were made of a different metal than the body -- which is always a choice with Powell Custom flutes.

So, if you are experiencing a tarnishing problem with your flute, or if you are looking for a new one, it really is important to think about the flutes you've played in the past.  Try to think about how they responded -- did they tarnish?  Keep records of the models and their specs -- especially the metal content of the body and keys.  This will help diagnose problems if they arise (like the "quick tarnishing") and truly help you pick the best flute for you!

The Anti-Tarnish Square

The anti-tarnish square in the case

Have you ever wondered what that little square sponge is inside your Powell flute case?  Maybe you've seen it in some of our photos on Facebook, too.  Well, if you order a new Powell and see it there in the case, don't throw it out.  It's not an extra packing sponge or cushion for the G# key.  It is actually an anti-tarnish sponge.  When your case is closed, it helps create an "environment" that will keep your flute from tarnishing.  Powell's Vice President of Production, Rob Viola, shared the story behind the square.  He said that it was really quite simple -- he got it at a place that sells tools.  As he recalls, it was being used in packaging ball bearings to help keep them dry.  He figured it would work well as an anti-tarnish piece in the flute case, so he gave it a try.  It worked very well, and it also fit better in the case than the typical anti-tarnish strips.

At Powell, we also hand treat each flute with an anti-tarnish coating as part of the finishing process.  So, with the protection of the coating plus the safe environment created in the case by the sponge, your flute should be happy and tarnish-free.  Also, always remember to wipe your flute only with a microfiber cloth.  A microfiber cloth, as opposed to a polishing cloth, is free of any chemicals or solutions -- so it is safe.  As tempting as it is to use polishing cloths, Rob reminded us that anything that makes your flute "shiny" will wear it down.  So, trust in the power of the plain, microfiber cloth to keep your flute clean -- and don't throw out the little square sponge in the case!

Tarnish?

Is your flute tarnished?  Ever wonder how to remove the tarnish and bring back the shine?  Well, unfortunately, the only safe way to do this is to send your flute to a repair technician.  As tempting as it may be to want to run to the store and buy some silver polish -- or rummage through your household cleaners -- don't do it!  Applying these polishes to your flute would be extremely detrimental as you risk damaging your pads and causing the mechanism to come out of adjustment.

However, there are some ways to prevent tarnish.  Most of the preventative measures are simple rules of good "flute hygiene" and cleanliness.  Always make sure to swab out your flute after playing.  Also, wipe your flute down to remove finger prints.  A simple microfiber cloth is the best type to use for this.  Unfortunately, some people have very acidic hands, which may become evident with excessive tarnish problems.  In this particular case, preventative measures will help, but you may find yourself sending the flute for cleaning more frequently.  There is always an option to try flutes with different metal content.    If your flute does become as tarnished as the one in the photos below, it is alright -- your repair technician will be happy to bring back its original shine!