I was thinking of making a short video on polishing the keys. All I use is an old bench grinder with a cheap buffing wheel. Probably ran me less than $50. I got the bench grinder at a pawn shop for $35 and the price for the wheel and Polish is minimal. I timed myself yesterday and on average it takes me about 2 minutes per key. The trickiest part is remembering to hold the key at the right angle so the wheel doesn't grab it. In the beginning I had a few fly across the shop!!

Hello all, A new clarinet arrived today! I thought that it would be fun to get some feedback on how I should restore it. How much to shine the keys, gilding, or just replacing pads? I usually go with the Roo Leather from Prestini, so tan or white? Thought it would be fun to make it a group effort.  It is a Buffet Carl Fischer with serial number K42, in Eb I believe. A cute little fella in my opinion. Small crack in the bell and a small chip on one of the tenons. Should cleanup nicely, any input would be greatly appreciated!

   I searched the forum and didn't see where it was mentioned before, so I though I would share.

 MIMO searches 24 musical instrument collections from around the world and gives information and pictures.  On the bottom of the page you can search by instrument family, then go through many other search criteria. Be prepared to drool! Enjoy


http://www.mimo-international.com/MIMO/accueil-ermes.aspx

oops I knew I forgot something lol. Its about 50/50.  I also forgot to mention that on the posts I just use a Q-tip and swab carefully around them, although a tiny paintbrush might work better. then just swab with a Q-tip and water to neutralize the acid and wipe with a paper towel. I haven't had any issues where small amounts of the acid make contact with the wood. I also haven't tried it on anything but a wooden body, so might want to test a hidden area on a plastic body.

Here is a link to the diamond paste. I purchased it to sharpen Wood plane blades with leater strips. ITs amazing stuff!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12pc-5g-Polishing-Lapping-Paste-Compound-Syringes-W40-W0-5-Grit-320-to-10000/252435186914?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D014362af900442179be578ab32e64a62%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D311686196616

Before I Polish the keys I wash them off in diluted muratic acid to remove the heavy tarnish. Then I Polish them on my bench grinder and then buff with .5 micron diamond paste. It usually takes me about 1 hour to polish all the keys and posts. I try not to over Polish them, by removing every little scratch. The super high Polish softens up after a short bit, better matching the instrument IMHO.

Thank you for the information!

  I am currently researching Ullmann to see if there is any correlation with Reinhold Oskar Ullmann, from Leipzig. Reinhold Oskar Ullmann worked for Penzel starting in 1903. He was born in Leipzig and was the son of Gustav Erhard Ullmann who was a wind instrument maker. It seems that he specialized in Trombones.

Here is some info about Penzel/Ullmann

 Langwill Index, citation below

 Penzel, Johann August (d Lubeck 31 October 1873). WWI fl Lubeck 19c.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hennings 1951.

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 Penzel, Christoph Friedrich (d ?1896) WWI fl Markneukirchen late 19c.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY: 4/716.705,20.691.
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 Penzel, G.L., & Bro. WWI fl New York 1882-1998.
 Established 1881 in Germany by the brothers Gustav Ludwig ('Louis') (b Germany 4 October 1855; d New York 27 May 1920) and Gustav F. ('Frederick') Penzel; 1882, on immigration, transferred to New York; 1898 joined by their relative E.G. Muller; 1899 succeeded by PENZEL & MULLER. Spet in flute (4k-6k models) and clarinet, especially German system.
 MARK: [a] (American eagle with downturned wings) / G.L. PENZEL / & BRO. / NEW YORK '(eagle), G.L. Penzel, New York' ADDRESS: 1882-84: 216 Sixth Avenue; 1885-99: 368 Bowery.
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 Penzel & Muller (Mueller) WWI fl New York 1899 pl 1950.
 1899 established as partnership between G.L. PENZEL and Edward Georg Muller (b Germany 1869; d New York 6 November 1956); from 1920 as 'Penzel & Mueller'; 1920-55 Mueller served as company President, retiring 1925 from production work and building the firm into the leading American maker of standard WWI lines; his sons Walter and Gustave were also active in the firm. From c1920-1935 the firm owned the A.G. BADGER CO.; 1946 the firm Of CLOOS was acquired. Employed trade name 'Empire State'; see also LAUBIN, PRUEFER, W.S. RICHARDS.
 MARK: [a: 1899-1920] (American eagle) / G.L. PENZEL & MUELLER / NEW YORK / [b: from 1920] PENZEL-MUELLER / NEW YORK
 ADDRESS: 1899: 368 Bowery; 11)01-216 Cooper Square: 1921-70 31-11, 33rd St, Long Island City, NY.
 INVENTION: application of "Nicolene' (nickel-silver alloy) for WWI keys.
 PATENT: 1899 (US) #023422 (G.L. Penzel and E.G. Mueller): improved 'simplesystem' clarinet mechanism.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Farrar in NAMIS 7.3, 8.1(1989). AMIS committee (private communication).
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 Penzel, J.C. BI fl Leipzig 1842-1880.
 1842 established by Johann Christoph (b Elster/ Adorf 15 March 1817; d Leipzig 5 May 1879) as successor to C.F. SATTLER, whose daughter he had married. Trombone spet. 1879 his son Christoph Hermann Robert (b 1947; d 1880) became his successor, but only survived him by one year. Both SCHOPPER and (2) 0. ULLMANN were each later to call themselves his successor; however the former opened nine years, the latter 23 years after Penzel's death, both at different addresses.
 MARK: 'J.C. Penzel, sonst C.F. Sattler'
 LOCATION: tenor trombone: D-Leipzig: 3303; bass trombone: D-Berlin: 28 [X].
 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Heyde 1980b.
 ---------
 Directories of the period create some confusion about the Penzel brothers. There are references to Gustav L. and Gustav F. , as well as Louis G. and Fred G. in the years between 1882 and 1896. These probably are the same two men who were Louis, the senior, and Frederick, the junior brother—one who quite probably died about 1896 or returned to Germany. It would be exciting to connect these brothers to the Sattler-Penæl-Ullmann dynasty in Leipzig, which dated back to the 1760's



So my search begins,

My daughter wanted to try playing the Piccolo, so I found one at the local pawn shop for $10. It was painted black, and the pads were destroyed. I stripped it down and sprayed the body with brake cleaner and the black paint melted away as expected. It turned out to be a Guy Humphrey Paris but says made in Italy lol. Anyway for the keys, my basic process is safe for all key types. Put a pot on the stove that you can put roughly 1 liter of water add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and a piece of aluminum foil. Bring it to a boil turn off heat then add your keys. This is a great way to polish the silver keys and it turns the old pad adhesive to soft goo.  You will see the tarnish and contaminants bubble, I go for about 2 min at a time, with a fresh water rinse in-between.