Daily Journal of Mr. Jacob Charles Malec, participant
Robert Barclay Trumpet Making Workshop--July 12-17, 1999

Presque Isle Brass Handling Clinic
Friday, July 9, 1999 -- 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Today Dr. Burdick and I went to Presque Ilse Woodwind and Brass repair shop to learn from master instrument repairman J.B. Salter. We went with a list of brass handling techniques we wished to learn. They included soldering and various techniques in shaping brass (we had no clue as to what we would learn).

When we arrived we learn that we were going to get very dirty and that we needed to tuck in our shirts, because we could die if our shirts caught one of the buffing machines. Then we went on our task of learning brass handling techniques. We learned that there are two types of solder lead and silver, and that learning the basics of these two forms would be all that we needed.

First we learned how to lead solder. It is the easiest type of soldering because of the low temperature of 1200 degrees. It is the easiest type of soldering because of the low temperature of 1200 degrees. Lead soldering is used for holding bracings to the main body of the instrument.

Second we learned silver soldering. Silver solder is more difficult because of the high temperature needed to melt the silver, 4000 degrees. This high temperature turns the solder bright red. This type of soldering is used for fusing flat sheets of brass into pipe It seeing how much we are going to need to learn to build our trumpets. was fun

Daily Journal of Dr. Daniel Burdick, participant
Robert Barclay Trumpet Making Workshop--July 12-17, 1999

Presque Isle Brass Handling Clinic
Friday, July 9, 1999 -- 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Getting ready for the trip to the Trumpet Workshop has involved a lot of little details: reserving the state car, filling out the travel forms, securing funding, making hotel reservations, reserving the digital camera and laptop, etc. However, the trip starts tomorrow. Finally...

I really got excited about the trip when Jake and I visited J.B. Salter at Presque Isle Brass to learn some brass handling techniques. J.B. was an extremely patient teacher as he showed us how to lead solder, silver solder, wire braces, buff solders, rag solders, etc.

I realized during this four-hour clinic that I should not quit my day job and become a brass instrument maker or repair person. J.B. said my hand skills improved over the day, but my solders were still very messy!