Flute Rust
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Flute Rust
I purchased a flute about a year ago (still need to learn how to play it) and I've checked it recently, and there is some rust-looking stuff on 2 of the keys... So I wanted to know, does anybody at all have good advice for how to deal with this? I don't want the flute to be further damaged.
- bassoonuba
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- FluteOfTheNewWorld
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Re: Flute Rust
Well on my marching flute i have these silver dots... they don't look like rust but there are quite a few of them... is this what you're talking about?Zeke wrote:I purchased a flute about a year ago (still need to learn how to play it) and I've checked it recently, and there is some rust-looking stuff on 2 of the keys... So I wanted to know, does anybody at all have good advice for how to deal with this? I don't want the flute to be further damaged.
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It's silver (pretty sure) and its kinda a brown sort of coloration on the metal of a couple of the keys that wasn't there before.
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Proud member of Riverside King Marching Band
French Horns rock, but then again, all musicians rock.
- fieldshowqueen
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Sounds like tarnish ... which is normal for flutes. http://www.jennifercluff.com/care.htm#tarnish My sister played flute and had hers cleaned like this every 2 years.Zeke wrote:It's silver (pretty sure) and its kinda a brown sort of coloration on the metal of a couple of the keys that wasn't there before.
Yes, the brown is most likely tarnish. Unfortunately, tarnish can only be removed by buffing the metal - either by hand or with a wheel. If your mechanism is plated buffing by wheel is not an option, as it will most likely remove all the plating. Buffing by hand can be done, but it is still risky and all the tarnish may not be removed.fieldshowqueen wrote:Sounds like tarnish ... which is normal for flutes. http://www.jennifercluff.com/care.htm#tarnish My sister played flute and had hers cleaned like this every 2 years.Zeke wrote:It's silver (pretty sure) and its kinda a brown sort of coloration on the metal of a couple of the keys that wasn't there before.
I recommend wiping the instrument down - not leaving any fingerprints on it while it is in the case and placing a 3m tarnish strip in the case. The strip will not remove existing tarnish but will slow the tarnishing significantly. Tarnish strips should be changed every 3 months and can be purchased at most jewelry stores.
Please DO NOT use store purchased silver polish on the instrument. It is usually too abrasive for the fine polish used on flutes and you run the risk of getting it in the mechanism and causing damage.
Tarnish is going to happen on anything sterling silver but you can slow it down by always cleaning out the instrument, wiping it down and changing 3M strips regularly.