Flute Tarnish (tips for removal and prevention)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ค. 2020
- Flute Tarnish (tips for removal and prevention) learnfluteonline.com
Icky brown tarnish ruining your flute shine?
In this video you will learn how to remove and prevent tarnish on your flute by me, Rebecca Fuller at Learn Flute Online. We'll go through 4 important details you'll want to know and pay attention to about flute tarnish with tips for removal and prevention from a professional instructor.
The Anti-Tarnish (Silver Saver) papers I love are here:
amzn.to/3cexlU3
Get started with Learn Flute Online's free Silver Level to learn how to play the flute in a sequential, fun, convenient, and effective way. Join us! bit.ly/3eWg3L0
Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the anti-tarnish strips mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!
• Flute Tarnish (tips fo...
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Have tarnish? How old is your flute? What have you done to keep it in good condition? Thanks for stopping by! -Rebecca
I used to have an impregnated silver polishing cloth to clean my new solid silver flute with, every time I used it. This is a soft dry cloth, and rubs any marks right off. It kept my flute shiny for years until it was stolen.
Then I paid $40 for a 40 year old silver plated Gemeinhardt flute. It was absolutely black with tarnish. Inside and out. I used Tarn-Off liquid on this, figuring it couldn't get any worse. This is a clear liquid. As soon as it touches tarnish, it turns it back into silver. Like magic! I used a small soft paintbrush to get in between all the fiddly parts. Then you have to rinse with hot water. Some of the keys and rods were sticky before this treatment, but the Tarn-Off and hot water freed them up. I used a tiny amount of oil at all the joints. A fine crochet hook soon reset some springs which had popped out.
I cannot advise anyone to do this to an expensive flute, in case the pads get damaged.
But I now have a very impressive looking, lovely sounding flute that plays well, for next to nothing.
Hi Ruby, the silver polishing cloths work pretty great to some extent. I don't enjoy that after awhile they help turn your chin black. :\ Wow- you really operated on your flute, didn't you? haha I hope it turned out well enough. Yah, it's best to leave the nitty gritty to the trained flute techs.. I agree. :) -Rebecca
@@LearnFluteOnline
Yes, this old flute is great for getting me back into playing after several decades break, but I am treating myself to another shiny one since I have been good and practised diligently!
i used to leave my flute out for an hour or so... YES , sometimes overnight... I thought it was fine :)
until i noticed it started getting weird stuff on it, so i did some research and watched this video. Im about to order the strips!! TYSM
i got my flute when I was 5 years old, I am 19 now. I didn't touch my flute in 3 years because I was focusing on other instruments. I've recently gotten back at it and I really hope those tips will help me clean my old flute :)
I’m similar I haven’t played since 8th grade and now I want to start again but my flute hasn’t been touched in four years
I'm glad I could help! Best of luck to you both beginning your flute journey once again. If you need any help don't forget that you can always head over to learnfluteonline for my lessons for all levels of flutist. Happy fluting! - Rebecca Fuller
Very helpful; thanks! I played flute beginning in sixth grade and throughout my adult life but stopped roughly 10-12 years ago. I just picked it up again and it’s SO tarnished. Appreciate the helps and tips!
Hey Andrea, I'm so glad you're back to playing the flute! This is great. You're welcome for the tips. Stick around for more and definitely consider joining us in the Members Area of Learn Flute Online (@ learnfluteonline.com ) We're having a great time, and there are loads of fun people like you there. Rebecca
This is incredible. I got my flute in the fourth grade and im half way through high-school, this flute has seen the trenches and looks brand new 🥰
Yay! I'm so glad your flute has been able to sty beautiful and tip top shape. That makes a big difference on its lifespan. Good work taking proper care of your flute! -Rebecca
thank you very much for your tips, Rebecca! it is very helpful!!
You're so welcome! I'm glad that you're here and enjoying these videos. Let me know if I can help you with anything else! And don't forget you can always join us in the members area at learnfluteonline.com for more content like this! - Rebecca
I got my flute for $8 at a goodwill. Its a Gemeinhardt 2SP, and it sounds nice. I'm not a flute player by any means! I'm actually a violinist and a vocalist. I just wanted to try something new. Shes very used so I assume shes old, and needs a nice cleaning. I'm scrolling through videos looking for good ways to clean her!
Score! I'm so happy for you! What a fun little adventure for you and your new (to you) flute. I hope that you get it cleaned up nicely and playing well. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out, and don't forget you could always start my beginner flute lessons in the members area at learnfluteonline.com - Rebecca
I bought a brand new Powell signature (it was a display model at my local music store) and I got it very discounted, however there is major tarnish in between the keys. It plays beautifully though!
I'm so glad you have a nice flute! It's normal for tarnish to be between the keys if the flute is older. It won't affect its performance if it's minimal. You can always have a flute tech look at it to see what it would take to have a full cleaning and adjustment. Have fun with it!
-Rebecca Learn Flute Online
I've been playing flute for 50 years. I have a solid silver standard flute and a silver-plated alto flute. I use a Goddard silver polishing cloth you can get online. It is treated with a dry chemical that shines as well as silver polish, but won't gum up the flute. I use a 4"x4" micro fiber cloth to clean the flute inside and out. Superior to cotton or silk. They are sold to clean eye glasses (So it won't leave minute scratches on the flute body). I keep the flute in its case ALWAYS and only use the Goddard cloth if the need is apparent. Because the alto is big, I use it every time I play. You won't need the papers if you use the Goddard cloth regularly. Both flutes look brand new. Very easy, but I cannot stress enough to NEVER EVER, EVER leave the flute out overnight. You can use the Goddard cloth in the nooks and crannies by draping it over a cotton swab, but if you keep your flute in the case, you won't have to.
Thank you so much for your comments! I am so happy you keep your flutes in such good condition. The silver polishing clothes are great if used correctly, but they can leave a black streak on chins of those who wear makeup. Thanks for being here today! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
That could be an issue! I suppose if you avoid the lip plate, which is easy to keep clean and shiny, it would solve the dilemma. In fact, you could not use the Goddard cloth on the head joint at all. It's the body that really gets the tarnish and has all those small spaces to collect dirt and gick. Thanks for replying. I hope you think I added some useful info. I guarantee I did not start out knowing or doing what I suggested! No TH-cam back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I was playing Jethro Tull songs.
Dear Rebecca Fuller, I really appreciate your video. Thank you. Regarding sterling silver--whether solid or plated, can tarnish (my opinion) much faster in gas homes and/or homes that have septic tank issues. Placing sterling silver in air tight containers really make a difference. So, if one can find in stores plastic containers that have a pretty decent air tight or sort of tight lid can maybe help keep it from tarnishing so quickly when they are not using it, that is, in the flute case simply placed into an airtight plastic container. A lot of these plastic bins have kind of floppy lids, and I am not sure if that would help much, so it all depends what one can find. Also, I've had quite an adventure in trying to clean old instrument cases. Sometimes a cloth with rubbing alcohol can make them feel very hygienic again (inside and out) and even visually clean. But I've also tried cleaning instrument cases that appeared to be in an attic for decades by its smell and appearance. I've taken drastic measures in even submerging these in various detergents, etc.due to the severity of them--but with great care and attention to get them dry again (lots of work), and had some successes but a few fails to clean them. The thing I perceive is that the glues used long ago to adhere the cloth to the wood and pieces of cardboard within, by cleaning it, causes the fabric to get saturated by its old glues and become so stiff that the fabric is indeed ruined. But if one has the ability, new fabric can be cut out and laid down where the old cloth was because the old fabric can be peeled off or falls off, and the cardboard can be replaced with things like new foam core boards, even bought at the dollar store. So, due to my experience, cleaning an icky interior case--first option I believe is the rubbing alcohol. Since you want the alcohol to dry immediately, don't use dripping cloths of it, but just enough so it constantly evaporates rather quickly depending on your humidity and environment where you are doing it.Rubbing alcohol is amazing for keeping a lot of instruments in great shape. I stand amazed. Thanks so much again for your video. God bless you in Jesus' Name.
Wow thank you so much for your input! I will take everything into consideration that you've commented. You're so welcome for the video and I am glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you! - Rebecca Fuller | learnfluteonline.com
Thank you!
You're welcome Janet! I am glad you found this video helpful.
Another option for tarnish prevention are the Gleam anti-tarnish sachets from Doctor's Products (assuming they're still available). I keep 2 of 'em in they case of my silver-plated tenor sax. Supposedly they're better than the 3M strips since they contain more anti-tarnish agent.
Good to know - I'll have to find out if any other flutists are using them. Glad you're keeping your sax shiny! There are loads of sax players in the members area at Learn Flute Online - learning how to double on flute, and finding out how much fun it is! Join us if you can learnfluteonline.com Thanks for the comment today. -Rebecca
@@LearnFluteOnline Cool - think I'll check out the re-beginner / silver level stuff. Thanks!
Awesome 😎
Glad you enjoyed this one! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Hi! The other day I was cleaning my old flute, and I found there was a deep tarnish and some of the silver had turned almost a shade of green/brown inside the middle piece. I bought a silver tarnishing cloth, and some silver polish, I havent used the silver polish yet, but there was no change when I used the cloth. Do you have any ideas on how to clean it off? thanks!
Hi, I am so glad you are concerned for the condition of your flute! That being said, I am unsure of the quality of your flute to start with. It's possible that your flute has been left to oxidize and tarnish to the point that the metal has changed color. It is not recommended to use silver polish yourself because you can damage the mechanisms very easily. In my video I show you how to use denatured alcohol on a proper cloth, have you tried this? If you flute is high quality, you should take it to a flute technician and have them help you professionally. Good luck! I hope that you get your flute back into good working order, and I would love to see you at learnfluteonline.com in the members area for beginner-advanced flute lessons! - Rebecca
I like to leave my flute out on a stand, as it encourages me to play more often. Unfortunately, my newer flute (about 2 years old) is really starting to tarnish. I do have a cover bag for it. Any suggestions? Could maybe clipping an anti-tarnish strip inside the bag/cover work? Where did you get your strips? Is alcohol wipes my best bet to get it back to original shape now? It is a Gemeinhardt open hole.
Hey Sonya, great question. I'm glad that you have motivation for practicing your flute. However, the silver on your flute will tarnish much more quickly when it's out and exposed to oxygen. I would recommend making a quick clean off, and putting the flute in it's case part of your post practice routine. You can do your best to clean up with the denatured alcohol, but if it looks pretty bad we can assume the mechanism is gummed up also from the flute being left out. You may need to take it to a flute technician for a COA (clean oil adjust). Good luck, I'm excited for you to get your flute back into tip top shape. - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Hello! My flute has like for the most part turned into grey/black, I tried using silver cloth but it never helped. Any Ideas what I can do? It makes my flute look less shiny and makes me feel bad.
I'm so sorry! How well it will clean up depends on the quality of your flute to start with. It's possible the silver plating might not have been a very concentrated silver. No worries, you can still play your flute and enjoy it's beautiful music! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
I have a flute that has tarnish on the outside a lot. I want to be able to clean it at home so I can continue to play for school. I have Isopropyl alcohol which was on the list in the video. Would that type of alcohol get the tarnish off of my flute. If so how do I clean with it
I'm glad that you are caring for your flute! That type of alcohol might not get the tarnish off- but it could, depending on what type of flute you have and what type of tarnish it is. It will definitely clean your flute nicely. In order to use it, put the alcohol on your cloth, and avoid the mechanism so that you don't damage it. Keep up the amazing care and happy fluting! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
@Rebecca Fuller when i got my first flute it came with cloth but then the second time getting a flute it didnt came with a cloth and wipes to clean my flute
How exciting, congrats on your new flute! No worries, if you need to purchase a different cleaning cloth you definitely can, just make sure that it is microfiber so that it doesn't cause any scratches on your beautiful new instrument. - Rebecca learnfluteonline.com
Hi, I just got a flute and I looked up what t do if your silver instrument tarnishes bc mine was sort of tarnished. I used silver polish and i used a q tip to get it all out but now im worried. Will it damage mu flute forever.
Hi Sydney, I'm so glad that you are here and ready to take good care of your flute! A little bit of tarnish is natural, but it is important that you continue to give your flute good care over the years to avoid as much as possible. Clean your flute the way the I show you in this video, and make sure the wipe it out with a microfiber cloth and put it away each time you use it. You're going to be great. Let me know if you have any other questions! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Hi for your online lessons - Can you tell me how many lessons are in each package? or how many modules in total? Thanks
Hi - yes, there are 72 modules just in the Gold Level alone. There are another 80 modules in the Intermediate level and the Advanced level is still being added to.. so I'm not sure how many. ( a lot) We also have a live component to the lessons here where each month we have challenges, ensembles, recitals, extra trainings etc. A whole barrel of flute fun all the time! I hope you come join us. learnfluteonline.com -Rebecca
Hi Rebecca, I noticed in your shop on your web page, you suggested a polishing cloth. I used the link and bought a yard (as that was the smallest amount to purchase) How do I use it? Just polish and make sure I don't touch any mechanism? I noticed it is flannel and I thought flannel gives off lint and therefore not so great for flute??
Hi Anne-Marie! I noticed that you asked this question on my members site and I responded to it already there in the comments. In case you missed it, I will add that response here:
I am a bit unsure of which cloth on my shop page you chose. It sounds like you might have purchased the anti tarnish cloth that I use to make a flute sock (something I make to slip over your flute in case you need to leave it out for a bit). You won’t want to use that for polishing. I am glad that you are taking good care of your flute:)
I really respect the way you take care of your flute I know everyone can't afford a gold / goldplated because gold flutes don't tarnish the same flutes are like Swiss watches. I may be wrong how many students are going to listen to what your saying I saw on one of the comments where a person said when they got there flute they didn't know what the cleaning rod was for talk about being navie it's good job student models are not to expensive. Some flutes like yahama now come with instructions but there a we bit more expensive I wonder how many of them would even bother to look at them.
Taking care of your flute properly makes it last a very long time, and gives you years of beautiful music, without trouble. Thanks for your comment today. Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
I have an Armstrong 104E, have had it since 4th grade and im 27 now. Its tarnished pretty badly (thought i lost it for about 7 years, couldnt find it ANYWHERE). After my daughter was born i spent 8hrs looking for it at my moms and found it, but its BAD. Should i just cough up the $ and have it professionally cleaned or just wipe it down best i can?
Hi Anthony,
If you would like all the mechanisms to work properly, I would suggest paying a professional to clean it and give it a good overhaul before playing it. I'm glad you found your flute! -Rebecca
Be careful with the 3M tarnish strips as they can scratch your flute. I know this because it happened to mine 2 weeks after I bought my new Yamaha 222 beginner flute. Its very abrasive. I heard there is another brand that's less abrasive called Intercept and I will be looking into that in the near future. The scratches the 3M strip it caused can be felt with my finger nail and would need to be buffed out or polished rigorously probably when I decide to do a major overhaul which won't be for 2 years provided I continue to take care of the flute (pad care, oil, watch the screws, clean the flute properly, never ever drop it, never touch or move the cork). I figure its just my beginner flute and it doesn't affect the overall function of the instrument and I will upgrade to an intermediate flute in a few years but it was a tough lesson to learn the hard way. I also like to take care of the things I own so it was painful to see the result of such a stupid mistake on my part. If you use the 3M strips I'd advise to cover it with something less abrasive when you put it in your case or take it out when you travel as it can move around scratching your instrument. Also you might want to cut it in half as well if your case does not have a lot of wiggle room for it. Do not put it on top of your instrument but put it below preferably the body part. I put mine below the body but it touched the instrument because I did not cut it in half for proper space. I've read this happened to other people online with the 3M strips after the fact of course. We all make mistakes so live and learn and move on.
Thank you for letting me know, I'm sorry you had to come to this understanding in an unpleasant way. Hopefully things go better for you from now on. Happy Fluting! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
I just bought a yamaha flute like 3 weeks ago, I have played it just once a week since then, I have cleaned it and put it back in its case everytime after playing, but I'm already starting to see little tarnish spots in the mechanism, is this normal? could it be that I am not cleaning my flute correctly?
Congrats on your new flute! Depending on the quality of your flute, it may begin to tarnish more quickly than you might expect. I would recommend that you keep up the good cleaning, and use the tips from this video. No worries, your flute will still continue to make beautiful music! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Myflute is almost 2 years old is it norma, for it to start to tarnish? Is it because i practice a lot?
Tarnish comes from your flute being out of it's case a lot. You can keep your flute shiny and silver by always cleaning it, and keeping it in its case when you're not using it. Also, the quality of the flute affects how quickly it tarnishes. No worries, it should still play great for you as you learn to play and learn good maintenance. Thanks for being here! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Can you make a video of how to clean a flute that has mold, please? I believe there are some mold spots in my flute and has not been touch for 8 years and I would like play but I saw some green spots.
To get rid of mold, it would be the same process as what is shown in this video. You can use denatured alcohol yourself, or take it to a technician to get an even more thorough job done. Good luck! And happy fluting. - Rebecca
Thank you!!
Hi, the anti tarnish strip link is no longer working. Can you provide another link?
Oh, thank you for pointing that our Bridgette! Here is an updated link for you: amzn.to/3cexlU3 I will be sure to change it in the description as well. Happy fluting! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Is there any videos of you in concert.
Unfortunately, the videos from "back in the day" are stuck on old fashioned equipment. Thanks for mentioning this, I have new performances that I will be doing for this youtube channel this year. - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
I’m a violinist and wanted to try out the flute but I forgot about it bc of practice “40 hourling ling practice” lol but now since the flute it has been in the case for months and it has tarnish literally all over it it doesn’t look silver anymore and I was gonna use toothpaste but the video said not to what else to I do Bc it’s still tarnish ?
I am so glad to hear that you are picking up your flute again! It sounds like you are quite the musician. Once the flute becomes tarnished, you won't be able to make it completely silver again, because the metal has changed. I would recommend using denatured alcohol on the proper cloth to try to fix the tarnish. Depending on the quality of your flute you could also take it to a technician to see what they can do to help. Good luck! Thanks for reaching out, I really hope that you can get your flute back into working order! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
@@LearnFluteOnline oh thank you 😊
Came here for the tips (thank you) Stayed because I cannot identify the song that you're playing in the intro and it's driving me crazy
It's called Norwegian Wood, a beautiful piece. I teach it on my website LearnFluteOnline.com if you're interested in learning it. Hope to see you there soon! -Rebecca
Thank you so much! How could I forget this Beatles song? I’ll be definitely checking that piece out ❤
Hi!! How do I use the anti-tarnish strips? thank you! :)
Hi, good question! Just add the silver saver paper or anti tarnish strip to your case, in addition to the other cleaning tips I give in this video. It will do the rest! Then, make sure that you change the paper out every 4-6 months. I hope this helps! Have fun keeping your flute shiny - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com/
@@LearnFluteOnline thank you so much! you're amazing! EDIT: Just wondering bc you're an expert: what's your opinion on shove-its? BTW I put my anti-tarnish strip in just now. It's so cool!
So if it gets tarnished in the mechanism its best to leave it alone?
Yes, unfortunately it looks kind of yucky, but it will mess up the flute if you try to clean that area yourself. Leave it to a good flute technician to take care of it someday if you really need it done. - Rebecca
What % of IPA should I use? 70%? 99%? 90%? Thanks!
Hi Hope! Denatured alcohol is a mix of 60% - 90%” the Klean Strip brand sold at Home Depot here in the USA is perfect!
Oh, and I'm glad you're keeping your flute nice and shiny! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Where is the link?
Thank you for asking! It looks like the previous link I had (in the video description) was no longer available. I updated it for you! Here are the anti tarnish strips from amazon that I like: amzn.to/3cexlU3 - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
Are all flutes made with real silver? I have not played mine for a few years and so it has been put away in its case but the tarnish is grey/black and not brown.
Hi Nat, great question about the tarnish on your flute! Depending on the actual flute you have, it could be made of a mix of metals including silver and nickel etc. The tarnish could be grey, brown, green, blue, .. and hopefully you can take care of a lot of it yourself with the tips I have here. If it’s a higher quality flute, you’ll want to take it to a technician so they can help you finish the restoration and also to be sure that it is in nice playing condition. Hope to you in the Learn Flute Online member’s area soon! - Rebecca
@@LearnFluteOnline oh it’s not high quality at all. I forget the brand offhand but it is one that I hadn’t heard of when I was gifted it or since.
I wish I had realized that fuel denatured alcohol is different than S-L-X denatured alcohol.
Uh oh, yes. Be very careful before you put anything on your flute. Check, and double check. If you ever have any doubts be sure to take your flute to the technician. Good luck! - Rebecca
Hello there Rebecca please could you play Jimmy crack corn and I don't care only joking.
Sure, I think that would be really fun on the flute haha, why not? Folk songs are always fun to play. - Rebecca
My Music Shop says I can still play my tarnished flute but it will impede my performance. I'm thinking of buying a new student flute.
Andrea, I'm so excited that you are here ready to play! You certainly came to the right place. If you are looking to buy a new flute I would love to help you out in your search! Email me at rebecca@learnfluteonline.com and I can help you get started:). How exciting! - Rebecca | learnfluteonline.com
This did not work at all for me! Very disappointed, my flute looks worse than when I started. Now I have to go to a pro shop to have it cleaned.
I'm very sorry to hear that. The video provided usually gives good end results when being followed. I wish you the best in getting your flute back to beautiful shape. - Rebecca
This video confused the hell out of me. I came here hoping to learn how to polish a flute I just got that hasn't been used in years - only to spend the entire video wondering what it is I was looking at. Did you really say you've been teaching for 33 years?! No offence, but you look younger than that number. So how is it possible? Are you a witch? Do I need glasses? Heh, I appreciate the tips - but you left me more confused and with more questions then I came in with. Hmm.
:)
I'm sorry that you did not find what you were looking for in this particular video. If you would like, you can comment the questions you had and I can answer them as best I can in text. - Rebecca
@@LearnFluteOnline Oh no, you got that all wrong: I loved the video and the tips (I had no idea you could use alcohol to help cleaning and it worked out great for me). I was trying to make a joke of how very pretty you are and how I find it puzzling that you look younger than the numbers of years you have been teaching. That was intended as a compliment with a spice of humour. In fact I plan to sign up for the free lesson for my 12yo, who is about to start taking fluting in his music class at school (thus the reason for me finding him a used flute). You seem like a great teacher and looking forward to the lessons.
PS: on yet another (hopefully not failed) attempt at humour: you look a ton better than his teacher, a balding overweight guy that lacks even the slightest resemblance of personality.
Honey, you look 17 yrs old. Teaching the flute for 30 years???