Instruments like guitar sometimes need the strings wiping down but tubas and other brass instruments build up a lot of condensation and need a chance to dry out. One of the challenges, certainly with my tuba, is that the valves and slides aren’t labelled so you have to be careful how they are placed for drying. Get them in the wrong places and they won’t fit… or they will seem to fit but the air won’t go through and the instrument won’t play.

My next 3D printing, which is almost ready for its first test, is a stand to hold a valve, slide, spring and end cap. The idea is that I will have four and each will have an embossed number. It should make the whole process a bit easier and neater.

Firstly though, I need to print my draft design and see both whether it fits and if there might be some further refinements to work well in actual 3D space as opposed to just looking okay on the screen.