Case Restoration- Wes Lee Music Repair

[@MoarCheeseBirb]

I'm a big fan of these practical school fixes, doing what's needed to get it back in a classroom on a tight budget.

[@mississippichris]

I've watched you repair many a horn, but this case repair is my favorite. Hot glue is hot...and sticks hotly. I laughed in empathy at the warning. Happy new year.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for watching. Happy New Year!

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

I was so happy to see you wrap the lining around the foam rubber. Looks much better. And more importantly solid.nice job.

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good afternoon master .Happy New year to you from Georgetown Guyana South America. Keep up the good work.

[@mariomalette4155]

This guy does everything! Wowww,great job Sir! All the best Mario

[@skepticalobserver7484]

Never knew I needed an air assisted riveter in my life until now.

[@thetacticalfuturist588]

Very nice rehab on the case. May I offer one suggestion-use washers on pop rivets with non metallic applications. I know nothing about music instruments but am fascinated watching a craftsman work!

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks. I use “banana peel” rivets which create their own backing washer

[@theoldbigmoose]

@@wesleemusicrepair9820 Thanks for that tip. I was wondering the same thing, having only used pop rivets on metals.

[@Olson2BW]

My oldest sister's husband's father played saxophone and clarinet in Benny Goodman's bands. When he died, most of his instruments got lost (no idea how) when my sister mentioned that she was about to throw out (I nearly killed her when I heard this - not literally of course) her old saxophone I scolded her harshly and told her to NEVER, EVER(!!!) throw out music instruments. Someone doesn't want them, give them either to me or the local grade school, middle school or high school. They can always find someone who needs whatever instrument it is. Anyway, my brother-in-law's father's sax in beautiful and well loved. My sister and her husband just gave me both saxophones AND a third one a friend had and didn't know what to do with (see my earlier note on what to do with instruments). My issue is that there is some kind of (I'm color blind) white mold on the case and I'm thinking about using alcohol on the case to clean it up. Do you suggest something else? (PS: I'm looking at your previous posts on how to disinfect instruments and will be doing what you said. You probably get so many questions that mine will probably slip through the cracks but I thought I would give it a shot. Anything you do I will follow completely. Love your videos. Yes I have subscribed with bells on. I was in band (1st chair trombone, first chair bass section) in my band. My sisters played sax and clarinet and I "borrowed" them until they took them from me (for their kids) and I taught myself how to play them and transpose music and used tape cassette recorders (this was the 1970s) to layer the instruments as I played them. I also taught myself how to play trumpet when my friend's mom let me borrow his old trumpet for a month (don't tell ____ but take this and teach yourself how to play it and come back and play for me ... and I did). I play about dozen instruments now ... well sort of. Not much time to play my musical instruments but I'm putting renewed emphasis on it now that I have ... THREE saxophones. Two altos and the tenor my brother-in-law gave me to keep. He doesn't want it back. He has plenty of other things from his dad already. I'm watching episode 22: Clean, Sanitize, Disinfect and following it before playing any of them. I don't want to catch --anything--!!!

[@gegu937]

I recently got a beautiful vintage alto sax and the case is more mold than wood, so I’m thinking about stripping it down and using the parts as a template to make a clone of the case. Any tips?

[@kristimiller-lee2338]

So surgical assisting came in to play as my mystery hands passed tools. Hahaha, glad to be of service.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for lending your talents!

[@chriskowalski7038]

Case restorations just as interesting as the instrument repairs.

[@CraigRodmellMusic]

I think that Bass Clarinet thanks you as well. It looks much more comfortable.

[@juliuscarey7248]

Wes I've been watching you lately and I saw you repair the clarinet case. I thought about a 1926 buescher alto sax I purchased and the case smelled so bad I got rid of the case but since I saw you repair the clarinet case I wish I had kept it and got it repair I didn't know it could be repaired.

[@marcisaacs9407]

Hey there, pleasure watching you get at it. Hopefully the owner will appreciate it. I have a question. I re-line small cases from time to time like piccolo and flute and am always searching for nice materials for the inside lining and padding. Any thoughts on those bits? Also have you ever run across a case where the support material inside the liner( a kind of semi hard charcoal colored foam or rubber) completely disintegrated into a sticky powder? It was used for a kind of hold down on a flute/ piccolo, when the case is closed? Thanks in advance M

[@richardcasey7521]

Isn’t it accepted practice to insert washers on the expanding end of the pop rivet so it doesn’t pull our?

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Rivets used are called “banana rivets” because they peel and form their own backup washer

[@kurtrichter1732]

Here's how the banana peel rivets work: www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Cases/PeelRivet/peelrivet.html

[@DIDALL]

nice work!

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for watching!

[@pL3Ym0b1L]

Nice one thanks Doc!

[@MazichMusic]

I used a lot of rivets, handles, Duck tape, spray paint and hot glue when I taught in a Detroit middle school for 19 years. We eventually dud major find raising and replaced the worst cases and had field trip for my musicians. Good days, but a lot of work.

[@aflynnhpg]

I'm working on a Jupiter Tuba case for my local HS doing gratis repairs. This case is missing some of the outer trim where the plastic case joins to wood. The manufacturer used the trim piece to staple through and join plastic to wood and then it has a little black insert that covers up the staples. I can't find that anywhere, it's like Rub Rails for boats but way smaller. Do you have any idea what this trim is called and where I can get it?

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Did you get my email back to you?

[@aflynnhpg]

But yes, I did.

[@aaroncottam2817]

What kind of foam are you using?

[@WillBrown3]

How does one contact you for this work?

[@donhall2759]

Good to see the case get some love! They work hard and just get kicked around.

[@ReedmanFL]

Towards the end, it looked like a plastic bucket on the floor of clarinet upper and lower joints. Just keeping them for parts?

[@michaelshelley1289]

i wish you could repair my baritone horn case!!! I searched everywhere to buy a new one for it but can't find one.....it has a curved, removable bell and all i can find are straight ones

[@holmganghamburg]

That's not a restauration. That is a field repair in a war zone :)

[@jpdesroc]

I have a vintage Fender case that is for my stratocaster. I need to do a job on some rivets underneath the orange plush that covers the inside. Do you know good way to temporary lift off the plush in some area to reach the rivets to repair ? I don't want to tear out the plush when doing so.. It seems to be glued to the case wood sides.. Any idea ? Thanks and keep the good work.

[@Pazair-nq6gl]

Has probado a aplicarle calor con un secador de pelo? (O una plancha para la ropa); No t aseguro que funcione, dependerá del tipo de adhesivo usado y algún otro factor; si te animas a intentarlo, haz alguna prueba en una zona dañada u oculta; utiliza un mártir, una toalla o bayeta, no le des calor directo a la felpa, supongo que no sería buena idea 🤷‍♂️. Salud 🤙

[@jpdesroc]

@@Pazair-nq6gl I finally repaired the damaged part of the case by slowly lifting the side plush. There was only a small amount of glue applied on the sides. The big foot rivet underneath the case that was pulled inside the case had still a small amount of wood stuck to it that permitted me to reglue it back in place and finish the repair. I then reposition some amount of white filling under the plush and finally glue back the plush sidings. Thanks for your help anyway !

[@jstep4146]

For hot gluing the velvet, I use popsicle sticks instead of my fingers! Lots less burns that way. Instead of "school repair" level, I prefer doing total restorations of cases to better than new. A lot more work, but more satisfying. I have seen a lot of those whimpy cases and have used aluminum tubing the whole length of the case a couple of times to fix it. Dumb design with the handle having almost no backing, but you see those often. My most satisfying task is recovering the outside with new vinyl material. Ahhh that new case smell....

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Drop me an email to [e-mail] along with some pictures of your work. I may have something for you.

[@kennethellison9713]

Have you ever replaced the zipper on a (selmer) sax case? I can't find anyone to do mine. It's a shame because the case is otherwise really nice.

[@Swearing0000]

I build french fit pistol cases. I prefer using hot hide glue for a lining. Takes some prep to get started gluing, but sets quick and reversible.

[@BoazKimMusic]

@@kennethellison9713 I would check with you local tailor, seamstress, and dry cleaner. Often they have a full supply of different zippers and can repair them if possible.

[@kennethellison9713]

@@BoazKimMusic Thanks for the reply. But this is a Selmer case from the early 70's, maybe late 60's that has an oversized zipper stitched into the wood shell of the case. I even brought it to a luggage repair place that told me it was impossible. Looking for a specialist who knows the case.

[@kypiper]

You ever done this to a Yamaha tuba case? Looks like someone dropped it and more or less cracked the wood in around 4 different places. I think some spot metal patches even from the outside like you did on the corners is what it needs where the cracks are in the wood. Any suggestions? The case doesn't feel like it has a structure, just kinda sloppy on the case latches.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Yes, complex curves can be rebuilt using angle aluminum and sliced on half to make a sort of purfling. Another thing I have done is using sheet metal. Make a brake and bend, then use shrinker/stretcher to make solid patches/ runners. Everything gets drilled and riveted into place.

[@jstep4146]

I just did 2 of those yamaha cases! Gorilla glue, fiberlass mesh, resin, and bondo, . Then I recovered the vinyl and replaced the handles and such (ALWAYS missing or broke handles/latches lol) The backing for those Yamaha tuba case handles is pretty strong, but the handles break a lot.

[@randolphfriend8260]

❤ Lovely! Sadly, here in northeast Oklahoma, we seem to have not a reputable service person for brass instruments. 😢 I have a Besson & Co. Baritone. Engraving says "Class A" & "Prototype" It needs some TLC. It plays lovely, as I hold it together. I'm thinking some duct tape, until I can get it repaired, will suffice.

[@skepticalobserver7484]

Bruce Kitzell at Edmond Music in Edmond OK. He’s one of the best. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. As (obviously) is Wes Lee!!

[@alexo5861]

7:15 “Pain don’t hurt unless you let it!” Dalton, Roadhouse

[@blcouch]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mdickinson]

What a mess this old case was - nice job! I enjoy watching you work... but given the level of repairman skill I see, it seems that this repair represents a fair bit of money, sunk into a case is never going to be very kind to the instrument. Since a brand new high-quality bass clarinet case is available from Pro-Tec for $149, I have to wonder whether your time was well spent. Wouldn't it have been better to toss this in the trash and get a new case - one that would protect the instrument far better than this one ever will?

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for watching. $20 or so in parts and 30 minutes labor. That protec case is my go to, but some schools have zero budget dollars this year so we make the best of what we can.

[@carlcarlson180]

Lucky you have schools that give you business,my repair work was taken away from me

[@ms-mac521]

👍👍👍

[@davidwood351]

Sometimes you can get cases on eBay for a decent price.

[@AgOG47]

I found this video to be "riveting".

[@loutwo5099]

Well played, sir. 👍

[@dougmurray4719]

Your air riveter needs oil added internally so it will get a full stroke.

[@mikerichards6311]

👍

[@afoot4silver800]

Why wouldn’t one just buy a new case? Seems it’d be more cost effective.

[@DNKG669]

Time effective would be more accurate in more cases

[@MrGuto]

Nice repair job, but I wouldn't call it restoration. The case is now functional, well done, but it's not restored to it's original like-new condition.

[@TealCheetah]

It looked like such a crappy case Im surprised this was worth it

[@imtrex521]

pro

[@stevegreen2432]

Case repairing, not case restoration!

[@mauriciopineda7565]

Qué reparación tan MEDIOCRE señor. Debería de darle vergüenza colocar un ángulo de aluminio en la esquina,siendo una pieza fuera de la originalidad del estuche !!!¡. Bárbaro!!!

[@91dodgespiritrt]

Wes, what kind of glue did you use? Can it be brushed on?

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Contact cement, hot glue, spray adhesive are the 3 general types I use