calcium deposits

I would recommend dipping the mouthpiece in a solution of diluted vinegar for a short time. As far as putting a shine back on the mouthpiece, I'm not too sure what to recommend...

I've heard that you can use jeweler's rouge and a buffing wheel to shine them up, but not sure of the exact technique...

Avoid a buffing wheel unless you are planning on having the facing fixed.

I've had luck with soaking it in diet coke.

I hope you don't drink that stuff!

coke of course

I should have thought of coke that **** will desolve anything including the mouthpiece

EastCoastGhost said:

I should have thought of coke that **** will desolve anything including the mouthpiece

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Could be better than vinegar. I used vinegar once on my Morgan Excalibur; it got off the deposits but discolored the piece. No big deal, but it did have that effect. I didn't leave it in very long either.

maybe I shouldn't have used the 50-year-old Balsamic:?

As ever Steve Howard has a useful article on this at http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Testing/Cleaning_mouthpieces.htm

Dr G said:

I hope you don't drink that stuff!

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It's my coffee, I'm afraid to admit.

This information is excellent. That green is exactly the color that my Excalibur turned. Interesting to know that I can get a pro to remove it!

(I mean of course the information in the Howard link.)

Swampcabbage said:

I've had luck with soaking it in diet coke.

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Would diet Pepsi work?

Silver polish after the calcium is gone.

bruce bailey said:

Silver polish after the calcium is gone.

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Silver polish on the Excalibur will restore the original finish?

hakukani said:

Would diet Pepsi work?

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Dr. Pepper works best.

Reedsplinter said:

Dr. Pepper works best.

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I think I used Diet Pepsi on one once. That seemed to work. Never tried the Pepper though.

Reedsplinter said:

Silver polish on the Excalibur will restore the original finish?

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It won't do much for the discoloration, but a little Hagarty's does put some shine back. I do the cola thing, then a child's toothbrush with the polish inside and a soft cloth with the polish outside.

Maybe try olive oil. I've tried that once and I think it worked. Don't remember very well though.

The polish won't bring the color back but it will shine it up like new. On the outside shell, you can do a little wet sanding with #1500-2000 emery paper to get the surface smoother and possibly find some black down under.

Thanks. I probably won't do anything to the piece; it still plays great (#1 backup tenor piece, after my RPC; or maybe #.75 after my Link) and I have no plans to try to sell it, so if it's green, hey, it's a fashion statement.

However, I have definitely learned some valuable lessons from this thread; thanks!