# How to polish a bugle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714 "2019-09-05T00:27:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714/21 "2019-09-05T19:31:35Z")

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> [@I.Dunno](#):
>
> I scanned the title too fast without my glasses. I thought it said “how to polish a beagle.”

I read it as “How to polish a budgie.” 😃

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**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714/22 "2019-09-05T19:44:07Z")

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And we need a new thread for bugles? Just a couple of lines up was a thread on how to ‘protect and clean’ your computer. I haven’t read that, but surely the process is the same?

(I’ll get my coat and go…)

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714/23 "2019-09-05T20:00:17Z")

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It’s FINE, more than fine as it is. It has a nice patina. That’s something only age can bring.

You don’t want to do more than dust this thing occasionally. If you play it you’ll want to run lukewarm water through it every so often. You might want to use cotton gloves when you handle it.

Very nice! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Jenny  
your humble TubaDiva  
Brass Player.

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**Author:** ![eastcheap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@eastcheap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastcheap)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714/24 "2019-09-05T21:00:05Z")

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> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> It’s FINE, more than fine as it is.

I’d say borderline incredible if it really does date from the '40s or earlier. That old nitrocellulose lacquer doesn’t tend to age well.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-polish-a-bugle/839714/25 "2019-09-06T00:05:52Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> I read it as “How to polish a budgie.” 😃

I have a budgie so tips on polishing that would also be appreciated.

> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> It’s FINE, more than fine as it is. It has a nice patina. That’s something only age can bring.
> 
> You don’t want to do more than dust this thing occasionally. If you play it you’ll want to run lukewarm water through it every so often. You might want to use cotton gloves when you handle it.

Thanks for the tips. I have gotten a few notes out of it but I will not be playing it. I am going to figure out how to display it somehow, without marring it in any way.

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