N87A Trombone Slide Dent Tool

             Tenor position parallel                               Bass Position parallel
        
                In Tenor position

     For Tbone slides these are the Greatest Things Since Sliced Bread.

     This tool is a complete departure from previous methods of trombone slide dent removal.  We used to use an N52 or N53 mandrel fitted into the slide and an N12 ring to burnish the slide. With the ring mounted in a vise, lubricated with petroleum jelly or bar soap, you dragged the slide through on an angle and scrubbed the dents out.
     Of course, this scratched the finish even with the soap or petroleum jelly used.  But, the larger problem was that IT BENT THE SLIDE.  Now, you really had something to fix.  We then advanced to using the 'old N87' which had two rollers to angle the slide thru, thus rolling out the dents and leaving less damage to the finish and maybe not bending the slide quite as much.
     This new N87A is based on an idea from Dr. Mike Webb who had used some much modified old N87 parts with some long tubular metal rods, a piece of threaded rod and some acorn nuts.  Gary used this tool in Iowa at a gettogether and Mike later sent it to him to use and measure.  Curtis drew it up, and then Gary showed Cliff how well it worked.
     After observing the tool in action Cliff sat down and did a complete makeover, including a stabilizer wing, an indexing system and coated aluminum handles so that the tool is safer, more manageable, easier to use and still affordable.  The key is to use 'little' pressure, just like the dent machine, only enough force to roll the kink or dent out.  Just roller out the dent or kink, don't try to thin the brass.  The tool should be easy to move, not hard or you are using too much pressure even with the short handles.  Dents roll out in just seconds!  I have seen Repairmen try this at shows. 
     After road testing this tool several months more modifications were made until it became the tool above.  Below is one of many an earlier proto-type version. 
                                   
                               These levers provided WAY TOO MUCH power!
     After using this great tool for the last year or so, I can tell you this;  I do about 50 - 60 slides at NAMM in about 4 days, in addition to other get togethers.  I drop the slide over the corner of the vise anvil and put in about a 1/4" deep kink about 5/8" long, straight or at a slight angle to the tube, jamb in an N53 of the proper size, use the pliers for about 5 - 10 seconds and usually I'm done.  The slide WORKS!  Remember, the slide gets bent when the dent is put in.  Only about 1 of 10 times do I have to do any "straightening".  It is best to start from the edge of the kink and work toward the middle from both sides, maybe this helps it go back straight, I don't know.  But, others are having the same "luck" if that's what it is.  If you looked at this web site in the last year you can see at least two changes, but there were SIX.  You will still have to use the proper sized N52 or N53 mandrel inside for support, and of course you can't do where the venturri is on the inside slide, because it's hollow in there.  These pliers also work for rounding out an ovaled slide, you know one that has been stepped on.  YOUR NEED THESE PLIERS!  Ask around.  
IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO GET NEW N52/N53 MANDRELS WHEN USING THESE PLIERS, or bends from your old mandrels will most likely transfer to the tubes creating more straightening.
            

 This tool works GREAT; Great tool, great price.  $149.50+s/h

     Still have an old N87?   See the "Services & Updates" page.

Hi Gary!
     Thanks for your help getting set up.  Your equipment is working just fine.
The trombone slide pliers tool I purchased a couple of weeks ago is AWESOME!
Paid for itself in one afternoon!  - Dan Schultz

Dear Gary:
     I have to admit that I was frightened by the possibility of using the new N87A "nutcracker" dent removal tool.  Being a very "old dog," the prospect of learning a new trick was daunting.
     It happened that there was an old 4B outer tube ready for the discard bin, so I gave it a little whack with the bar that comes with the level stone...a nice ugly crease dent, but not too deep.
     Insert the correct size mandrel and see what happens.  A few seconds and there is no sign of the dent.  It is completely gone with no visible mark on the outside.  Pull the mandrel and insert the N11 and snug it up.  Move the N11 gently back and forth where the dent was... Not a trace of the dent on the inside of the tube either.  It had to be a fluke.  It can't be this easy?  Three practice dents later, I tried it on a customer slide and had the same results.
     Now with two weeks of use, I am finding that it is possible to round out outer tubes that have been "flattened" in previous dent repairs.  Inner tube repair is a no- brainer now.  They just go away.
     Now if we could just find a way to shrink the "egged" areas where someone expanded the tubes in removing bell dents.
     The important thing is to say "THANKS" for taking the time to email me about the tool.
John Upchurch
The Slide Dr.

Dear Gary,
     I just repaired 2 solid, King 2B outer tubes that had been "teched" to death.  After a few minutes with the tools, a new inside tube was inserted and voile', it works just like it is supposed to work...no friction.
     Out-of-round is a thing of the past. You should hear the positive comments from players who send in trashed slides and get back ones that work better than when new.  I always let them know that the source of their glee is really Cliff Ferree, who created the tools of the trade that make it possible for us to do this.
     A somewhat long way to say:  gracias, arregato, merci' and thanks a million.
John Upchurch
The Slide Dr.

 From "the TechniCom"-    A great tool for the tube is a double roller type such as the Ferree's N87A.  It can put quite a bit of pressure to reshape a tube that has been work-hardened.  Gary FerRee showed me this tool at last year’s NAMM show, and it is a knockout: a hand-held device that can control the pressure to the tube and iron out the dent while the slide is on the mandrel . It seems to make the dent disappear, allowing you to continually check the slide action on the mandrel and can be used on the entire tube. He will even convert your existing N87 for a fraction (about half) of the price of the new tool.      Vern Tregger   (a few corrections were made to correct the time tenses)

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              Last modified: March 14, 2008