I've asked this before, but I would really like to take my flute to the shop and get the tarnish removed from it, if possible. How much does this usually cost, about? Is it safe for the flute? Is there a way I could remove the tarnish myself? I know it doesnt affect sound, but I HATE looking at my flute and seeing that reddish tint on the metal.

I don't know how much a store would cost you, they vary. You would have to call or take it in and ask. I can tell you what I charge, but again, I don't know what others do.

It will vary from shop to shop. In my shop I rarely just do a cosmetic cleaning--tear it all down and clean it with nothing else needed--on a customer flute that's been played regularly. There are often other issues to be addressed. Depending on what those issues are sometimes I have an extra fee for the cleaning and sometimes I do not. Best to just hoof it to the repair shop and find out the specifics.

JD

sorry i wouldn't know. my flute's stainless steel. but i agree with them ^ (the person above me)

Stainless steel? How nifty! What kind of flute do you have, if you don't mind me asking?

Well you see I bought it used, my home is very clean and it was tarnished when I purchased it. And it doesnt come off with a light wipe, and its not present on the keys but under them and around the posts.

Thanks a lot! I'm going to my music store next week to get a price. I'm really looking forward to getting rid of this red, rusty looking crap on my flute...

If your flute is tarnished only around the tone holes and the posts, this small problem will most probably repeat within a short period (a few months, maybe even a few weeks).

Of course this is a matter of personal taste, but unless your instrument neeeds a COA or other repair, I would wait before sending it to a shop just to get the tarnish off those parts that are unreachable and hardly visible.

My case is similar to yours. My hands seem to clean the tarnish (or my skin oils could be protecting the silver from tarnishing). So tarnish develops only where my fingers normally do not reach, that is, under the keys and around posts.

I believe there is always some risk involved in the disassembly of an instrument and (personally) I do not feel like facing this risk (and the cost involved) just for a minor cosmetic problem that will probably reappear in a very short time

Last I heard, the average going rate for having your flute handpolished at a music store was about $55.

That sounds about right to me but there will be variation. Most shops will just do the tube and hand wipe the keywork as best as possible. That still is a huge improvement in the way it looks.

The only flute I know made of stainless steel is the wessel flute and that is just the keywork.

Here's a picture of the Stephen's stainless steel keywork with black inlay.

http://www.wessel-flutes.co.uk/G%20area.JPG

Joe B