N87A Trombone Slide Dent Tool
Tenor position
parallel Bass Position
parallel
In Tenor position
In Bass 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
~Unsolicited testimonials~
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's 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)
Ferree's Tools-"the most copied tools in the world"
