What type/ number reamer for adjusting a leadpipe?

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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

Inexpensive leadpipe I want to adjust to sit the mpc deeper. What kind of reamer do I need? It’s a large shank leadpipe (.547 bore slide).
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GabrielRice
Posts: 1496
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by GabrielRice »

There's a tool you can buy from Allied, but I've been warned not to use it. You will more than likely ruin the leadpipe.
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

If it's one of my shanks that you want to go deeper, it's no prpblem for me to make the taper smaller. But I have another idea - I will email you.
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Crazy4Tbone86
Posts: 1654
Joined: Jan 14, 2020

by Crazy4Tbone86 »

There are a few instrument repair vendors that sell tenor and bass shank mouthpiece receiver reamers. I also remember seeing a European shank option for the tool. I DO NOT recommend that you use them on a trombone receiver. Most trombone mouthpiece receivers are actually the first inch of the leadpipe or mouthpipe that is soldered into the inner slide. The gauge of the metal is quite thin. If you take off too much metal with a reamer the integrity of the entire leadpipe is at risk.

A better use of those tools is for a baritone or euphonium mouthpiece receivers. However, I again advise caution because the distance between the end of the mouthpiece and the leadpipe (commonly called the “gap”) is a delicate relationship on the bari/euph. If the gap is altered, many aspects of the instrument’s playability can be impacted.

Generally speaking……if you don’t know what you are doing, stay away! As a person in the repair business, I RARELY USE THESE TOOLS. When I use them, it is mostly for baritones and euphoniums, and only when they are pulled apart. If the receiver/leadpipe part of a trombone needs to be adjusted, I always do it when the leadpipe (mouthpipe) is pulled out and I always use other tools.
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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]If it's one of my shanks that you want to go deeper, it's no prpblem for me to make the taper smaller. But I have another idea - I will email you.[/quote]

Yes…. XT8 shank….
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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

Sticks out quite a bit
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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

I am quite brave and dilligent… worst thing would be a new leadpipe…. But a bit more patience would be better, that would involve a trip to the repair shop in a week or two. <EMOJI seq="1f600" tseq="1f600">😀</EMOJI><EMOJI seq="1f607" tseq="1f607">😇</EMOJI>
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

Just get a new leadpipe. The insertion depth is part of the leadpipe design.
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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

I think it is a production error. It is Chinese, although I had a bach 50 slide with even less insertion depth. Not as designed…
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brassmedic
Posts: 1447
Joined: Dec 14, 2018

by brassmedic »

That leadpipe is garbage. I could make you a new leadpipe and take off that ring and put it on the new pipe.
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WGWTR180
Posts: 2152
Joined: Sep 04, 2019

by WGWTR180 »

"Back in the day" I witnessed a very respected and current day instrument maker use a blow torch and a wooden hammer to set my mouthpiece further into my lead pipe. Ha!!! Not kidding.
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

Is that not an Edwards leadpipe?
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Wilco
Posts: 211
Joined: Mar 24, 2019

by Wilco »

Nope, but it sure looks like one

I sent the leadpipe to my local tech in Germany to get it fixed properly. Will let you know the results. I think he will make a new one or order a part from B&S or some other source in Europe
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ithinknot
Posts: 1339
Joined: Jul 24, 2020

by ithinknot »

[quote="WGWTR180"]"Back in the day" I witnessed a very respected and current day instrument maker use a blow torch and a wooden hammer to set my mouthpiece further into my lead pipe. Ha!!! Not kidding.[/quote]

That's fundamentally how a one-piece pipe *is* made, though. The long taper is drawn, and the receiver taper has to be formed afterwards. Obviously it would be better to use a form that continues slightly longer/narrower than the mpc shank and then tapers faster/rounds off to eliminate the risk of the shank tip digging in...
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brassmedic
Posts: 1447
Joined: Dec 14, 2018

by brassmedic »

[quote="WGWTR180"]"Back in the day" I witnessed a very respected and current day instrument maker use a blow torch and a wooden hammer to set my mouthpiece further into my lead pipe. Ha!!! Not kidding.[/quote]
I'm surprised you ever got it back out of the leadpipe.
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Blabberbucket
Posts: 305
Joined: Oct 09, 2022

by Blabberbucket »

[quote="ithinknot"]<QUOTE author="WGWTR180" post_id="258281" time="1731336692" user_id="7573">
"Back in the day" I witnessed a very respected and current day instrument maker use a blow torch and a wooden hammer to set my mouthpiece further into my lead pipe. Ha!!! Not kidding.[/quote]

That's fundamentally how a one-piece pipe *is* made, though. The long taper is drawn, and the receiver taper has to be formed afterwards. Obviously it would be better to use a form that continues slightly longer/narrower than the mpc shank and then tapers faster/rounds off to eliminate the risk of the shank tip digging in...
</QUOTE>

Kind of. The swaging/flaring tool is not a fully conical tool like a mouthpiece shank.

Regarding OP's post: if you are in some way attached to that leadpipe, the collar could be removed and the mouthpiece seat lightly annealed and flared further until you are satisfied with the depth of the mouthpiece seat. The collar will then need to be modified to fit the adjusted mouthpiece seat. I would not suggest a reamer.

With that said; there are repair tooling companies that sell such a reamer - I will leave you to find that on your own should you choose that path.