Thanks!
Actually, I soaked a tuning slide in salt water + aluminium foil just as a quick check; if there was any varnish, it has long since gone away; the tarnish was mostly gone after only about 15 minutes. I'm considering doing a longer soak (or borrowing a tank at a local plater - I know a guy!)
I'm a little nervous about taking it to any of the local music shops; they all specialize in HS band instruments, and I'm worried it would end up being sent to some place that won't know to take care of it.
[–] o0shad0o ago
I hope that's electrolytically depositing the brass back on the metal; otherwise you'll wind up making the walls of the instrument a bit thinner.
If you don't varnish the instrument, there are treated cloths that will help prevent it from reforming that you might consider storing it in.