I wonder if washing a headjoint with water and a mild soap could any harm. I mean, washing also the inside of the tube. Would it be harmful for the cork?

Jose,
Uhtil the repair guys answer with authoruty....
I wouldn't immerse it and run the risk of deforming the cork.

Why not just use a slightly damp (Not dripping) cloth on your cleaning rod if you feel that it really needs it instead of immersion? I sometimes do this when I think that I'm getting sticky pads knowing that it doesn't actually stop the pads from getting any more sticky but it may clean the tube of anything that may have caused the stickiness. Otherwise, if you clean regularly after playing, I don't see why it would need to be cleaned unless someone else played it who was sick.

I would advice taking the headjoint cork out first before immersing it. You don't want to get water up in there causing it to mold/mildew in anyway if it does not dry thoroughly. I just use rubbing alcohol on a cotton cloth and run it through. I also put some on a Q tip and clean out the whole of the embouchure that way about once every two weeks.

Why do you want to wash it?

Joe B

that's right Joe

Thank you all for the answers.

The idea came to my head after I noticed the Yamaha silver body and foot are starting to tarnish in those parts where my fingers do not touch the metal (i.e between holes, under key bridges).

I suspect the reason is that I have been practising for many hours (and at weird hours) in the underground garage, the only place at home where I do not disturb family and neighbours. As aside advantage, it has great accoustics, making me believe I play better than I actually do...

But in that place there are some diesel-oil vapours and they could contain sulphur, causing the tarnish to appear for the first time, after a year of use.

That is why I thought that flushing the HJ could prevent more damage to the silver, particularly in the inside, where I cannot see what's going on...

But I share your concerns about the health of the cork. I have had enough problems with them in my two flutes already!

Hi Jose,

http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemical.php?name=diesel

Garage NOT all that good.
Try a bathroom for that lovely reverb.

Washing the headjoint will do nothing about the tarnish...

There are 2 types of tarnish.. a brown kind and a black kind. The brown stuff is basically the sulpher deposit which can be wiped off pretty easily. The black stuff is more invasive and removing it removes the silver.

If you are concerned particularly about the headjoint though...you can use a little kitchen "Magic" to remove either kind...

Get a plastic tray large enough to hold the headjoint. Line it with aluminum foil. Place the headjoint WITHOUT the cork on top of the foil...Boil water...Pour water on headjoint and then sprinkle baking soda in it. You'll get a very fast reaction reconverting the tarnish. Cold water rinse...apply tarnish shield and hand wipe. Replace cork..done. (Make sure the cork is removed and replaced in the proper manner.)

Do NOT do this to the flute body with the keys on! If you are comfortable with removing all the keywork from your flute, you can do this to the body as well. Be careful of the springs while hand ragging the body with tarnish shield...

(an air compressor come in handy if you have one for drying the body)

Joe B

what Joe just said WORKS! So right you are Joe, I have tried this myself on several occasions, as to where you practice, I agree that Bilbo that the bathroom is perfect, especially while one sits on the toilet...

especially while one sits on the toilet...

Let's just say that Patrick has just added a new dimension in relating constipation to breath control...<G>

Joe B

JoeB, thank you.

I did not know about that procedure and it could be very useful. And it is quite simple, the perfect combination. First time I read about it in this Forum (or anywhere else) and I am sure it could be useful to many.

Fortunately, the instrument has no black tarnish that I can see; the tarnish I refer should be of the brown type (I guess, for the moment it is just a golden yellow).

Most interesting, the HJ is the only part that has no tarnish on it, in spite of being the part most accessible and continuously manipulated by my hands. But I was concerned by the status of the silver inside the tube.

Tarnish has started to show up only in "hidden" places on the outside of the body and the FJ, where I cannot touch or wipe with the cloth easily.

If the problem advances to a point where it looks bad or is considered unacceptable I think I will have to send the instrument to be cleaned by a technician (but I shiver on the idea)

Bilbo, I know (and quite fear) about smoke and gas exhaust from diesel engines. Fortunately there is no smoke in this garage, as it is very small and with very little traffic (we are just seven owners there).

Actually the problem is diesel fuel vapours. Beside the garage is a small room where the diesel fuel for the house heating system is stored (about two thousand gallons of it). For some reason, it partially ventilates into the garage and I can smell it, sometimes strongly.

In any case I have decided to stop studying there, although it was a very convenient place as it is well isolated and I do not disturb anybody, even at night.

Patrick, I admire your sense of humour, but just in case your comment is no joke,I will try my practise sitting on the toilet. With the cover closed, of course.

jose luis,
Reading your description of the possible reason for tarnish to be occuring, it came to my concern that if this substance can harm your instrument and also being the location you described a confined place, I got worried about your health. If you continually practice there, this chemicals could reach your lungs and so on...
Sorry for being nosey :-)

regards,
Zevang

Thanks Zevang, I share your concerns and thank you for them.

In a way I was "forced" to this because I wanted to prepare a new Sonata for the audition in a very short time. (anyway it proved impossiblefor me to reach the right level but I wanted to try).

So I spent some 20 hours shared in different days, but it is not something I would do again.

my boyfriend has been known to play his horn while using the can... not a pretty sound when you hear the grunting combined with sweet music

my boyfriend has been known to play his horn while using the can... not a pretty sound when you hear the grunting combined with sweet music

Maybe you should buy him a didgeridoo...

Joe B