Honestly! But in a funny way, I remember using worse ones because they would be both crumpled and lost all of their shine! Public school elementary bands don’t have a budget for polish ;)
@@bobboscarato1313 even in our highschool, my graduating class was 21 people. Most of the parents were meth heads and their children were about as careless as well and still I had never seen an instrument this bad looking
I did this job as an assistant for a summer and I can attest to how difficult it is just to get small dents out of a horn bell. This guy's a wizard. Unbelievable
the first most important part of the technique of any Master is the belief that anything is possible. this is why Masters accomplish and others just wish.
Adding heat may stretch it to a point of no return. This can happen on auto body (metal, of course) as well. BTW, you can repair a 70s or older VW Beetle in this same way.
I would love to hear the stories behind all of these smashed up instruments. All of them were crushed under some weight. My guess is tripped and fell on them possibly. He does unbelievable craftsmanship to bring them all back to life. Nothings impossible. Fun to watch.
A fall down some bleachers would do it. I slipped off the last step of the back bleacher staircase at our HS stadium when I was carrying my tenor saxophone. I held it up so it wouldn't get damaged and bruised my tailbone pretty badly, but I saved my horn!!
My guess would be bullies or post game "band fights".I have seen both, unfortunately. The worst I ever saw was when a bully tossed a kid's flute case into traffic. As for " band fights", after a game between rival high schools, the football teams squared off & fought, while the bands did the same. Apparently it was a tradition, regardless of which team won.
The most impressive thing to me is that if I personally received this instrument in such condition, I'd instantly cry. But not because I love music and instruments; because I know for a fact how much patience and strength it requires to get it back into shape. This man has my admiration.
@@melakee5321 Well, everything existed before hipsters, so you could say that about anything. My point being, he wears clothes from different age, it has nothing to do with his skills as a craftsman. Most craftsmen, great or bad tend to wear modern functional clothing.
Or maybe there is still a demand for this work because orchestras are still a thing. I love how there are hundreds if not thousands of videos of people doing this stuff and some old fart has to say no one is learning this craft. Bullshit, new young people learn this stuff everyday, you just don't see them because you're probably not looking. So stupid.
Quite impressive. I have been curious about bell repair since I was in high school and a sousaphone player left his removable bell section out of his case and it was run over by our bus. At the time I thought there was no way it could have been repaired but it came back a month later.
Tools strength and skill, what I find surprising is the brass took that abuse with-out cracking from being work hardened. I would of thought that one would have had to apply some heat to anneal the metal. Pleasure to watch in this in instant world of gratification !
@@bigfootsburneraccount9160 On part two he has to resolder some areas and the heat does discolour it, so he uses his buffing wheel to bring it back. There also looks like there is some sort of varnish on it to keep it rom tarnishing. I'm sure that will be reapplied after he buffs the bell.
@@HaggisCat1 probably some sort of wax, or at least I'd assume that's what they originally used, today it might be something else I'm not one for brass instruments.
@HaggisCat1 Those were my exact thoughts! I make some brass things for sale and it would be a dream if I could work them and not anneal and clean up before working again. Mr. Bell what is this magic?
Absolutely beautiful results. As a flooring guy, I'm gonna try to use the mans' techniques with a commercial vinyl seam roller and several shaped stones here at home on the tailgate of my truck. What an inspiration!
It's easy to forget that metal is malleable; what has been bent can be straightened to *almost* its original shape/ position. With patience and thinking about the work, great results can be achieved even by us amateurs :-)
I used to be a panel beater, brass is soft compared to steel and easier to work with. I would have thought he would have been able to repair this in a day easy .
It's a question of 'economically repairing', i.e. cost of repair over replacement. Beautiful job, but I hope he was adequately rewarded. That's very specialist work
I have no idea why the almighty algorithm recommended this to me, but I'm glad it did. WOW! What the hell happened to that horn? Amazing job restoring it! Wouldn't have thought that was possible when I saw the first few seconds of the video.
This was a very interesting video! I played French Horn in high school. Graduated in 1974. So it's been awhile since I've played. There was an old horn that hung around the band room that had really bad damage to the bell similar to the one you fixed. You couldn't have told me that it could've been fixed until I watched this video. Great job my friend!😍
@@kishascape Looks like one of those 'Don't ask' situations. I too played French horn in from 7th grade til I graduated, in band and orchestra. Indeed a remarkable repair job.
Hi there. I've been playing tuba for atleast 4 years now and i can definitely say that it's worth it. if you have any questions about how to get started or if you need any tips your welcome to ask :)).
Just when I was going to comment that an English Wheel would be great for smoothing those ripples, you put it right on an English Wheel. That's the best sheet metal tool ever along with a brake.
I played the horn for 10 years, but the past couple years had me practicing less and less, and now my once pride and joy sits in my apartment gathering dust. I think you've inspired me to find some time to play tomorrow.
I just watched your vid about restoring a trumpet with a damaged bell and valves. This one is even more scary. I can't imagine what happened to that poor horn. A funny thought...we get to see HOW it gets fixed. The horn-owner only gets to see the 'before and after'. I can imagine the look on their faces when it's returned to them, they open the case, and just think HOW did he do that? Kudos, good sir. Nothing like watching an artist at work.
I can absolutely not understand how anyone can allow his precious instrument to fall into such a pitiful state. Nice to see some people have a heart and passion and the (awesome) skills to repair even such seemingly hopeless cases. Respect!
@@fivefingerfullprice3403 I don't know what happend to this instrument, but to me this damage doesn't look like it was one single accident that damaged a well preserved Instrument. More thinkable that this horn was tortured for a long time. If it fell off a building, it probably was an attempt to suicide.
"Skilled Craftsman". And then some. Superb work. I hope some young person out there somewhere takes up apprenticeship with this man. We have to nurture and appreciate folks who get things done using skills like these.
That horn was disrespected! I've seen horns that were thrown after a solo that didn't get that smashed. Anyone else would of cut that bell off and added a new one. I'm glad you were the one chosen to fix it! Nice job!
Hi, I just want to thank you for taking the time to make these video's. I have only just found your channel when it popped up after watching one of Art's videos and i have been binge watching them since :) I Joined a brass band in England in 2008 as a beginner with my then 8 year old son and learned to play, I am a mechanical engineer/bodywork guy by trade and was shocked at the expense my band incurred for instrument repair and just how few repair shops there are in England. I built a very small workshop in the garden and started to learn instrument repair and twelve years later i am well established and giving back to my banding community but it's all thanks to channels like Art's and yours. I have had to improvise a lot of tools or just build them myself but i am always on the lookout for tips and advice on repair techniques and tools. Great job on that horn bell btw. Never seen a bell wire so bent as that one, makes you wonder how they get that way. Was it a school instrument? I just repaired a schools Euphonium bell that looked almost as bad as that horn.
Thanks for watching. Art is a good guy, we actually went to Redwing together. Lost touch after graduation as people got their lives together and there were no cell phones/internet. I’m glad you find the videos helpful, and I’m very excited to hear that you practice the trade. We are a dying breed. I’m also pleased to read that you make a lot of your own tools as well. We often have to think outside of the box to do the best job.
My thoughts exactly. I've made copper model steam engine boilers and had to anneal multiple times. I would have thought the copper content of the brass would make this impossible, but he just did it right before our eyes.
Awesome work sir. I have 1960s Conn double horn that's not quite that damaged, and I've been able to clean and repair most everything except the bell. You've renewed my interest in tackling that job, thank you!
Sir, every time I watch one of your videos I am impressed at what a master repairman you are. I never would have thought in a million years that bell could have been salvaged. I have dabbled in sheet metal for a few jobs I've had, but you are an absolute master in knowing how to make the metal move in just the right ways. If I wore a hat, it would be off to you.
I am thoroughly impressed with how well this kind of damage can be repaired! I would have never thought someone would or could do this! Amazing work sir. You're expertise, knowledge and dedication show!!
Idk what surprises me more lol to see a French horn damaged like that or the fact that I never thought there was people that specialize in fixing that kind of damage. Very interesting video thank you
Before I started watching, I figured he would have some kind of magical tool that would fix it straight away...but nope...old fashioned elbow grease, patience, knowledge and general metal working tools. Fantastic Job.
Respect. With the right knowledge, tools, effort and patience no problem what so ever. A very time consuming repair. Would be interesting to hear how it became so damaged.
@@andrewut7ya511 don't get me started, unless you wanna hear a story about flowers and an electronic key board. But in sure everyone has heard that story.
What happened to it that it was so messed up when it came to you? Either way.....borderline unbelievable job!!! You clearly did a wonderful job restoring the bell!
@@nickknapp5782 Mine too. Was it in a case when whatever happened to it? Can't imagine how an instrument could be damaged that badly. Looks almost like intentional vandalism.
probably a school instrument, when I was in middle school about 16 years ago I saw some seriously abused brass instruments in my band class, never understood how some kids can have such an uncaring attitude towards others possessions, I guess they don't realize how expensive instruments are or they just don't care.
I agree with@@bug3518. And I presume it was done over the course of many years. Likely some children that didn't know how to properly hold the horn (among other things) and repeatedly dropping it by accident. When I was in Middle School, some of the trumpets I would practice with had dents similar to this French Horn. Although not to this degree.
I destroyed the bell of my trombone back in '80. Upset and stupid. Didn't know my dad paid $400 for that instrument. Didn't learn my lesson as I destroyed my Les Paul Custom in '84. I bought that one myself. That was some amazing work there.
Отличная работа! Хотелось бы услышать, как звучит поврежденный инструмент, а потом сравнить со звуком отремонтированного) Интересно, на сколько сильна разница.
Never in my life did I think I would watch a trained professional butter a French horn with a giant lubed up knife while grunting, and yet, here we are.
This French horn hasn’t been to the chiropractor in 10 years - with an active lifestyle and little rest, this chiropractor was able to adjust all its kinks until it felt brand new
This is absolutely amazing. I remember I dropped my silver cornet in the early 80's, a few dents in the bell! And my parents wanted to kill me. They brought it to a guy like this and repaired it. Was such a smooth repair you definitely couldn't tell at all.
As a former high school band student, I watched in horror as my 2nd chair fellow horn player grab and wrench the bell of the school owned horn one day as he laughed. I took care of the double horn that the school provided me. Great times.
@@kishascape The metal is fairly thin and soft, not thin and soft enough to deform with normal, careful use, however. Like I said, I have never seen one that badly damaged. I don't know this horns story, so I can't imagine what was done to it to cause that!
Kids are just terribly rough. I did a work shop with junior high kids. Most rehearsal areas are very close quarters. One kid entered the room with lovely tenor sax when someone called his name. He spun around and the damn sax into the door way. I was terrified for sax the entire work shop.
My music teacher once had a bunch of the school’s brass instruments in a trailer to take to some event. She didn’t secure the door to the trailer properly. Several of the instruments were later found on the highway looking like this horn.
There is no way I would have the patience to do that. Just extraordinary talent. On a side note people have told me they don't have the patience I have for my woodwork. Guess it's really not patience if it's something you love doing. Keep it up Wes.
Absolutely brilliant. Artistry/skill combined with very hard work. That work must be so hard of your joints, hands etc. Brilliant not just because of the skills and hard work involved, but also the ingenious shop made tools that facilitate the work. Anyone that makes some difficult task seem easy is across their brief. Wow. i would love to see how these things were made in the first place!
I love watching this kind of work. You use a lot of the same sorts of tools that Jesse James uses with his metal shaping and metal forming when he fabricates things.
I used to work for a place called ideal music in Atlanta Georgia. our brass guy, a guy named Mike Jones, once brought back to life a sousaphone that had been run over by a bus at an away game... The only thing that had been unharmed were the valves. It took him a week or so of continuous work. Cutting, rolling, pounding with various specialized implements turn me into a big fan of this craft. In the end he saved the school a couple Grand...
How!?! How did it get so crumpled in the first place? These instruments he repairs so astonishingly well - they make me wonder, do brass instrument players break a lot of hearts?!
I dont know why youtube recommended this to me, but this is amazing! thank you for sharing. It reminds me of my trumpet that I dropped in junior high, and it had a dent in the bell
Having personally done some dumb things to trumpets I've owned over the years, as well as seeing some astounding amounts of damage done to brass by drunk college band members - I'm truly amazed at what can be done to restore them instead of sending them to the bottom of lake woe-be-gone. You really are not only doing an incredible job of metal repair, but also healing the emotional scars of stupid mistakes that brought the horn to you in the first place. I wish my career job choices had been as rewarding as that. Some day I'd like to meet you and shake your hand.
