When I overhaul a set of timps, there is a lot of work involved over a period of days or even weeks. My approach is to fix everything properly; I am after all a professional and that is what I am being paid to do. However not everyone is as conscientious, and in the end, you get what you pay for. So when I work on timpani, I am fixing problems associated with wear and tear, and the dogs dinner that the previous person made of the job. The posts on timpani pick out examples of problems I encounter, rather than me writing, and you reading the same thing every time I do a set of timpani (which is why I have coloured this bit blue).

Very frequently I get jobs in to do that have obviously been repaired by someone else in the past.  We all have different standards, budget constraints, levels of knowledge, skill and methods.  All that I accept, and it is useful for me in order to evaluate what I do.  However sometimes I almost laugh in disbelief at what I am seeing.

I can see why they have done this – the base casting has practically worn away, but ignoring the facts that it won’t work, and it has been done really badly, it looks bloody awful.

Removing all of that mess in itself is a job.  What it reveals is the state of the castings prior to the last repair.  To me it looks like no preparation was done at all.

So all the sharp edges need to be filed smooth, and some of the bits that look solid, are in fact like tin foil.  What I need to do the job properly is solid metal.

Now at least when the repair is done there will be clean lines and it will look good as well as actually doing the job.  All it takes is a little bit more effort and time, and respect for other peoples property.

These will now go out to be aluminium welded, so the post will continue.