What valve oil do you use? Is there a special reason?

bandman322

What valve oil do you use? Why did you choose that brand? What has your experience been with other oils?
_________________
C - Harrelson 750 Modified Bach Strad
Picc - Schilke P5-4
Flugel - Kanstul ZKF1525
Bb - Bach Strad 180ML-37

"To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie

jdanmcnally · New Member Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 1

Bills Best

Soontir2432 · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:06 pm Post subject:

I'm using Blue Juice now and I plan on trying out Hetman's Classic oil soon.
_________________
Cyaround, Jason

CalicchioMan · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:

Zaja Blue
_________________
Scott Wiltfang
Calicchio s1s/3M (Dave Trigg Model)
Calicchio 1sZ/2
Couesnon Flugelhorn
Flex JM VR Mouthpiece

tommy t. · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:45 pm Post subject:

BiNaK Pro.

On horns that are used everyday, it takes one drop per valve per week.

On horns that are used once a month, the valves work smooth right out of the case.

On my Yamaha Flugel with the problem valves, all the problems went away.

Hot weather and cold weather make no difference to valve performance.

Nanette is one of the nicest flute players ever to help a trumpet player.

_Kanstul-Krazy · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

Zaja Blue

It last a LONG time between oiling.
_________________
Lon A. Heim
Kanstul Model 1600 WB
Kanstul Model 925 w/ Copper Bell

HoltonMFhorn · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:58 pm Post subject:

I use Holton because that iw what came with my MF-308. I am almost out and want to try either Blue Juice, Zaja, or pro oil hybrid. Out of these three which would be the best to go with?
_________________
Phaeton-2030
Monette B6

"If you practice an hour a day,you'll be like everyone else who practices an hour a day.If you want to be great , you be the one doing five hours a day" -Wynton Marsalis

WaxHaX0rS · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 524

My Bach Strad has some troublesome valves, the first two are ok, occasionally I feel resistance, but the third one usually has the most resistance (due to the fact that I scratched it up when it got stuck on a burr or some debris in the casing one time). Finally it got to a point where it would stick all the time, I was using Al Cass and I tried some Bach valve oil to no avail. Got some Blue Juice..... problem solved. (the sticking was resolved, although there is still a bit of resistance).

ken_fung · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject:

Tech Oil
Ultra Pure

music matters · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:58 pm Post subject:

I tried to vote twice but it wouldn't let me!

I use Al Cass on my Schilke and Besson Cornet (the cornet valves stick if I use my Zaja Blue)

I use Zaja Blue on my yamaha trumpet (the valves stick on this if I use Al Cass!)

So I use Al Cass and Zaja Blue. Those with yamaha instruments may want to try out the Zaja Blue - it lasts ages and solved my valve problem. I have never tried it on my Schilke as I belive they designed Schilkes with Al Cass in mind and apart from needing to oil regularly (I find Al Cass doesn't last that long) they work fine.
MM

hunsicker · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:59 pm Post subject:

Used pro-oil red for a long time. Switched to space-filler II for several years after an overhaul. Then got the horn gold-plated on the next overhaul. After that, the valves were slightly sticky with space-filler. (There was a now thin layer of gold plating inside the valve casings.) Switched to pro-oil hybrid. Worked great, so I stayed with that, for that horn.

Earlier I tried blue juice once but had what I considered a bad experience: its cleansing action tended to wash residue into the valves. So after that I've avoided any oil that tries to do double duty as a horn cleaner or anything else besides being a lubricant.

mototrmpt · Veteran Member Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 186

I'm currently changing my horns over to Pro Oil Hybrid. I've used Pro oil (Blue) for the last 20 years (I had a 16 oz bottle). As long as I oiled my valves just before each time I played, the oil worked great. If I let my horn sit for a few days, the valves would get sticky.

I then switched over to Pro Oil Hybrid. I first noticed that I could go a good week without the valves showing any signs of getting sticky or slowing down. I recently let my horn sit for 3 weeks without playing it (Vacation and other personal issues). When I picked it up, I expected to find some slow or sticky valves. To my surprise, the valves were all still fast and smooth. They didn't need oil for another few days of practice. I'm sold on Pro Oil Hybrid.

Slidebone · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject:

Zaja Oils/Lubes
Blue
Zaja Lube
Hetman
Blue Juice
Five Star
LUSUP
Al Cass

All available at SlideBone.com

trpt.hick · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

I've used Al Cass for many years. Recently, several of my students raved about Hetman #2. It is AMAZING. Really fast. Best of all, you only need to oil the valves about once a month, regardless of how much you use the horn.

I have a couple horns with "problem" valves because the monel keep staining. Al Cass seemed to work "OK" on them for maybe a day. The Hetman makes them perfect for weeks!

Dave Hickman

trumpetmike · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:32 pm Post subject:

Until ITG Denver I was a fan of Al Cass, then I discovered Zaja Blue - simply outstanding.

Then, about three weeks ago, I was given a sample of a new valve oil (not yet available) from a local producer. It wipes even Zaja Blue away! Fast and it lasts.
As soon as it is available to the general public I will be posting a full review - I am not getting paid for this, I just like to spread the word about new stuff that makes our job easier.

vivace · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

i dunno, al cass is just what I have always used. Works good for me. i am tempted to try this binak I hear all about.
_________________
"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song." - Louis Armstrong

nieuwguyski · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject:

I use Binak 495, the original thick stuff, on my Schilke trumpet, Conn 80A cornet, and every other horn I have that sits around for a while between playings. Binak Pro has always sounded intriguing to me, but I took Nanette up on a special offer to TPIN members years ago, and have enough of the original formula sitting around I'd be willing it to my descendents, if I were to have any. The Binak 495 solved a valve-sticking problem I was having with the Schilke (nope -- it doesn't have Yamalloy valves), and works great on the rebuilt Conn cornet valves. Using Al Cass, the cornet valves were starting to get stained by the cylinders -- the dark, brassy deposits that lots of players misidentify as wear. I switched to Binak and the valves cleaned right up, and work great.

I also used the Binak on my Calicchio flugelhorn until recently, when a really good local player played some licks on it. He liked the horn a lot, but hated the valve action. I cleaned the valves up, oiled them with some Al Cass I had lying around, and discovered that those stainless steel valves *really* like Cass.
_________________
J. Notso Nieuwguyski

Bb: New York Trumpet Company Magnum/Bob Reeves 43WS692s
Flugel: Hollywood Calicchio Copper/Bach 3FL
C: Schilke CX5/Bach 2.5C
Picc: Getzen 940S Eterna/Giardinelli MF3

MarkHeuer · Veteran Member Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 221

Zaja Pro is for valves with close tolerances. My Xeno has that, so it's works real well. I started using it based on Wayne Tanabe's suggestion.

_FELIX C · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 4:56 am Post subject:

My mix from 2 oils. Its relative ecomomic and durable. Oiling the valves evry 3-4 days of use
_________________
God's Peace be with all you!!!!!!!!
Kanstul Chicago 1001
GR65M
Benge 3X+
Benge 3 Flugelhorn
Schilke 14F4
I use my Personal Blend of Valve Oil

_PhilPicc · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:11 am Post subject:

I use Zaja Blue. I was using Al Cass but when I got one of my horns back from Brass Bow after a PVA my valves we considerably faster. I asked them what they used and they said Zaja Blue but they were out. When I sent two more horns in for PVAs I had them send two bottles of Zaja Blue back with the horns. That was two years ago, I still have some left in the first bottle and that is with playing all three horns almost every day.
_________________
Philip Satterthwaite

We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again."
- Sir Thomas Beecham to a musician during a rehearsal