How do you clean a tarnished flute?
Take a tooth brush and tooth paste and scrub your flute down with it. Make sure you use lukewarm water before and after to rinse it off. I tarnished my flute by accidentally soaking it in 3% hydrogen peroxide for too long so it got all tarnished but the toothpaste helped it a lot. To disinfect it I use mouthwash.
Do silver flutes tarnish?
It’s normal for a silver flute or silver-plated flute to tarnish with use. You can use this method to remove fingerprints and make the outside surfaces of your flute shinier, but keep in mind that it will not remove all of the tarnish.
Can you polish a flute with silver polish?
When you’re polishing a flute, don’t use silver polish or other liquids. Although it can be tempting to give your instrument an extra shine, liquid polish isn’t recommended because it can damage the instrument’s finger pads and cause the metal to rust.
Why is my flute tarnishing?
What causes tarnish? The very dark almost black looking tarnish is caused by exposing the silver to sulfur. In the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, silver forms a film of silver sulfide which is black in color. When silver sulfide forms on the surface of your flute, it darkens the silver.
Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean a flute?
Never use silver polish or any other cleaner on your flute. To clean your flute use “saliva” or rubbing alcohol on your cloth. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before playing and never while playing.
Does tarnish damage a flute?
The most problematic spots to have tarnish are on the machinery of the flute or the inside of the flute, as this may slow down the keys or affect your sound. Even so, it should not cause permanent damage provided that you can get it removed within a reasonable amount of time.
Are flutes real silver?
In general, beginner flutes are made of nickel, but are silver-plated to prevent tarnishing and improve sound quality. Many intermediate flutes are made of pure silver or sterling silver. At the professional level, flutes may be made of solid silver, sterling silver, gold, or even platinum.
What can I use to polish my flute?
To sum it all up, cleaning your flute is typically best done with anti-tarnish silver polish and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can also use soap and water but in small amounts so as to not destroy the pads or the headjoint cork either. While Windex isn’t necessarily harmful, it also isn’t recommended.
Is tarnish bad for flute?
It’s not a problem. Any good flute repair tech can clean the flute and remove the tarnish during Clean, Oil, Adjust (COA). Some players have a body chemistry that accelerates tarnish.
How do you remove tarnish from silver instruments?
For instruments with plated finishes, start with a glass cleaner to remove grease and grime as well as those pesky fingerprints. Note that silver-plated finishes will also tarnish over time. An easy way to keep them looking good is to use a silver polish cloth impregnated with a dry polish.
How much does it cost to polish a flute?
Typically the cost to professional clean a flute will cost around $50 every few months depending on the frequency of usage. The cost can vary based on location, the state of the flute, and the musical instrument technician but generally will cost around $50.
How do you get rid of dark spots on a flute?
If dark spots appear on the surface of the flute that can’t be wiped off with a polishing cloth alone, it may be effective to use a silver cloth and or silver polish, which are sold separately.
How much is a solid silver flute worth?
The flute weighs right about 16 ounces total. With the screws, pads, pad washers, head crown, and steels removed, it probably weighs closer to 13 oz. in silver. That would calculate to $585, except that a buyer doesn’t pay but about 80% of the weight, paying you about $470.
Are silver flutes good?
Silver – The most commonly used material in flute making, silver flutes are known for its pure tone and light, fluid sound. Its heavier weight makes it the metal of choice among intermediate and professional musicians.
How to clean a tarnished flute?
All in all, the cleaning of a tarnished flute is relatively simple as it just takes a silver polishing cloth, a microfiber cloth, and some anti-tarnish silver polish. You will also need to be able to take your flute apart but this process is also quite simple if you know exactly how to do it without damaging your flute or losing integral pieces.
How do you Polish a silver flute?
Polish each piece of the flute with a silver polishing cloth. Pick up 1 piece of the flute and hold it in your non-dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to rub a silver polishing cloth back and forth over the piece using gentle, even strokes. Stop after your remove all fingerprints and smudges and the metal surfaces look evenly shiny.
How do you clean tarnished silver?
There are a variety of ways to clean tarnished silver. You can mix together a natural cleaning solution using vinegar, salt, and baking soda to submerge your silver. If you want to make things easy, specialized silver sprays, creams, or wipes can be found at your local cleaning supply or antique store and are usually easy to use.
Why does my flute have a brown ring on it?
Over time, your flute may turn brown or even blackened, caused by tarnishing as the sulphur in the air reacts with the silver. To clean a tarnished flute, start by rubbing down the flute with a silver polishing cloth and then use an anti-tarnish silver polish with a microfiber cloth to rub the area until the tarnish slowly disappears.