Things You'll Need:
- Flat sheet of brass or sheet metal
- Hammer
- Wooden block
- Brass solder
- Mandrel
- Lathe
- 15/32-inch tubing with .014-inch wall
- Bucket of sand
- Propane torch
- Paper towel
- Motor oil
- Metal funnel
- Sauce pan
- Pliers
- Lead-free silver plumbing solder, about 1 ½ lbs.
- Rounded wooden form
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Step 1
Cut the flat sheet of brass to form the bell. It should be thin on one end and flare out on the other end, like a flattened out funnel or martini glass shape.
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Step 2
Fold the piece in half, creating a rudimentary pipe with a seam. Solder the seam with a brass solder to close the gap.
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Step 3
Hammer the soldered parts so they're the same thickness as the brass.
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Step 4
Fit the flared end over a mandrel and hammer it out to create the bell shape.
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Step 5
Spin the bell on a lathe so it takes the exact shape of the mandrel.
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Step 1
Construct a tube from the sheet metal in a similar fashion to the way you created the bell, or use the 15/32-inch tubing to make the rest of the trumpet.
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Step 2
Plant the tubing in the bucket of sand just enough to stabilize it. Coat the inside of the tube with motor oil, using a paper towel as an applicator.
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Step 3
Melt the lead-free plumbing solder in the sauce pan. Place the funnel in the top of the tube and use the pliers to hold the tube steady. Pour the liquid solder into the tube. This will soften the tube so you can bend it to form the bows.
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Step 4
Use the wooden form to bend the tubing into the bow shape you desire.
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Step 5
Melt the solder and let it drain out of the tube using the propane torch.
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Step 6
Secure the bell to the tube.
