Posted by Chuck(G) on June 13, 2001 at 10:36:02:
In Reply to: Heavy Rotary Valve Caps posted by Tubaman with a Plan on June 12, 2001 at 17:07:12:
Seems to me that the most straightforward way of doing this would be to buy a short length of 1.75" brass round stock (onlinemetals sells it for $28 per foot), find a friend with a metal-cutting bandsaw and whack off a few chunks. Bore a small recess in the middle of each to accomodate the bearing protrusion, sweat-solder the brass to each cap. Buff and lacquer and you're done. Probably less than an hour's work. Seems to me that any repair shop or amateur tuba hacker could do this.
You could also cut a coin slot in the top of each to aid in cap removal. Miraphone caps would need a through-hole bored to get at the adjusting screw.