Current Custom Bach Project, begin date: 02-08-03
The "Z" braces will be fitted last. First I need to solder the bell at the tail and mid-valve section. I'll discuss this in detail in just a minute.
Here I'm checking the fit of the valve-to-bell brace. It has to be perfect and flush. We can't have gaps!
Before mounting the bell, I need to solder the spacer brace to the #1 slide receiving tube. This will allow the bell to be aligned. I use a small straight portion of inner tubing as a guide. I'm not soldering to the tube. It holds the brace into place while I solder the brace onto the lower #1 slide outer tube (indicated in photo below). You could use the bell, but I would rather not have any binding wire ever attached to the bell. Using this piece of tube is safe and does the trick!
Now with the spacer brace in place, I can begin to solder the bell. It will have to be soldered at the ferrule and spacer brace. Then the valve-to-bell brace will need to be soldered. This is how it starts -
