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Learson Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2022 Posts: 18
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:15 pm Post subject: Valve oil recommendations |
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I recently picked up a new to me horn. I'm using the store brand valve oil that came with it. My first valve is a bit sticky. I'm wondering if you folks can recommend a higher quality oil that will alleviate this problem.
Thanks |
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Jerry Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2002 Posts: 2163 Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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Ultra Pure
Monster
Hetman
Schilke
Yamaha |
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JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3310 Location: Endwell NY USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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If the valve sticks after immediately being oiled, then there might be some type of small 'mechanical' burr / dent / bend that is forcing metal-on-metal rubbing.
If the valve works OK for a while after oiling but then starts to stick, it means the oil is not making a good film / slick on all the metal surfaces - some spots are dry.
You'll get MANY suggestions about oil choices ...
What I suggest is to first get some plain drug store MINERAL OIL - clear, unscented, no additives. Clean the valve pistons and inside the valves casings.
Put a few drop of the Mineral Oil on each piston and smear it around with a finger tip, then insert the piston in the casing. The valve should work but be very sluggish - no sticking. THEN add a drop or two of your regular valve oil to each piston until the valve action is OK. Basically what is being done is tuning the viscosity of the oil to the lubrication needs of the valves.
google -- site:trumpetherald.com valve oil recommend
will get LOTS of suggestions _________________ Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'. |
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Learson Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2022 Posts: 18
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome guys. Thanks for the replies. |
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Goby Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Posts: 652
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Monster Oil Eco-Pro is the best valve oil I have ever used. It lasts longer than Hetman, feels smooth, has no odor, and has even saved a few vintage horns of mine that were plagued by sticking valves. |
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mike ansberry Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 1607 Location: Clarksville, Tn
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Dr. Valve recommended that I use 5Star valve oil. I used to use it years (decades) ago but I thought they were out of business. Turns out I was wrong about that. _________________ Music is a fire in your belly, fighting to get out. You'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt. |
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tyler.slamkowski Veteran Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2017 Posts: 104 Location: Muskegon, MI
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Goby wrote: | Monster Oil Eco-Pro is the best valve oil I have ever used. It lasts longer than Hetman, feels smooth, has no odor, and has even saved a few vintage horns of mine that were plagued by sticking valves. |
I’m glad you are having a good experience! It was pretty poor for me. I used it on a Yamaha and the valves become so slow I couldn’t play the horn. |
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Andy Cooper Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1833 Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Valve oil recommendations |
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Learson wrote: | I recently picked up a new to me horn. I'm using the store brand valve oil that came with it. My first valve is a bit sticky. I'm wondering if you folks can recommend a higher quality oil that will alleviate this problem.
Thanks |
So a "used" trumpet with a sticky first valve?
That's different from a brand new trumpet with a sticky valve.
1. Clean your valves and clean the valve casing carefully with a cleaning rod, old t-shirt material or cheese cloth and Simple Green.
2. Pick a good quality regular weight oil - Ultra Pure or any of the above mentioned oils.
If the valve still sticks after playing for an hour or so, repeat the cleaning process and oil the valves with Denis Wick valve oil (contains Teflon).
So far, I have been able to salvage all "occasionally sticking" valves with Denis Wick. (Unless they have been dented.) I think the Teflon builds up over time so you will need to do a good cleaning every couple of months with Simple Green. In between, Dawn dishwashing detergent is fine.
Oh - if you have a Bach, Benge, or Schilke - Curry lightweight valve buttons help too. Not because they are lighter but because they are wider. |
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Goby Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Posts: 652
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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tyler.slamkowski wrote: | Goby wrote: | Monster Oil Eco-Pro is the best valve oil I have ever used. It lasts longer than Hetman, feels smooth, has no odor, and has even saved a few vintage horns of mine that were plagued by sticking valves. |
I’m glad you are having a good experience! It was pretty poor for me. I used it on a Yamaha and the valves become so slow I couldn’t play the horn. |
Did you clean your trumpet prior to switching oils? I always give my trumpet a bath with some dish soap or use a paper towel to wipe down the piston, valve casing, and slides before applying a new valve oil. |
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SilverSpunk Regular Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2022 Posts: 91
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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For the pistons, whenever I'm doing the full periodic cleaning, I take a beer cup (taller than normal) and then fill the cup with hot water and dishwasher soap and fill it up just enough so that the water level does not go past the piston area so that it touches the felts/pads. After 10-30 minutes I then use hot water to carefully rinse out the pistons without getting the felts/pads wet. |
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giakara Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 3832 Location: Greece
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Latromba
Regards _________________ Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs |
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tyler.slamkowski Veteran Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2017 Posts: 104 Location: Muskegon, MI
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:06 am Post subject: |
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Goby wrote: | tyler.slamkowski wrote: | Goby wrote: | Monster Oil Eco-Pro is the best valve oil I have ever used. It lasts longer than Hetman, feels smooth, has no odor, and has even saved a few vintage horns of mine that were plagued by sticking valves. |
I’m glad you are having a good experience! It was pretty poor for me. I used it on a Yamaha and the valves become so slow I couldn’t play the horn. |
Did you clean your trumpet prior to switching oils? I always give my trumpet a bath with some dish soap or use a paper towel to wipe down the piston, valve casing, and slides before applying a new valve oil. |
Yes, I cleaned it thoroughly. Just didn’t work for me. |
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Monster Oil Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Posts: 512 Location: New London, CT
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:38 am Post subject: |
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tyler.slamkowski wrote: | Goby wrote: | Monster Oil Eco-Pro is the best valve oil I have ever used. It lasts longer than Hetman, feels smooth, has no odor, and has even saved a few vintage horns of mine that were plagued by sticking valves. |
I’m glad you are having a good experience! It was pretty poor for me. I used it on a Yamaha and the valves become so slow I couldn’t play the horn. |
Sent you a pm Tyler - I think a mistake may have been made in shipping... we'll be sure to make it right. _________________ www.MonsterOil.net
www.Facebook.com/MonsterOilLLC
www.YouTube.com/BrassChats
www.BrassChats.com |
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shofarguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 7013 Location: AZ
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:46 am Post subject: |
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It's a bit funny to see certain valve oils hailed by one poster and then criticized by another. There's even one endorsement for an oil that gave me compound headaches. It doesn't really matter which one it is.
The point of this post is to describe the process I've used for determining whether a sticky valve problem is oil related or mechanically driven.
I had a similar problem develop in my 1976 Benge, back in 2008 or so. I was coming back to trumpet after about 25 years. My horn had sat in its case without much use for that time. Eventually, I cleaned it really well and got going with my comeback. The valves worked okay, then really well and finally began to give me fits! I tried various oils that had their strengths and weaknesses. I liked Blue Juice and grapefruit scented Zaja best. Eventually, not even of those worked on my sticky first valve.
I decided to try a synthetic. I was given a bottle of a certain brand. At first it seemed to clear up the sticking problem, but shortly after got very gunky and slow. Adding more oil just made things worse after a few minutes of playing, so I cleaned the horn really well and went back to Zaja. It didn't work. The valves just got slower and more sticky.
I asked Zig Kanstul if white vinegar would hurt the valves. I told him I wanted to try to remove whatever had built up on the pistons. He gave me the go-ahead. I soaked each piston in vinegar for 30 minutes and swabbed the casings several times with it. That brought my valves back to where they were prior to using the synthetic oil.
Eventually, I brought the horn to Zig and he showed me how the pistons were loose in their casings. He rebuilt all the valves and refitted the slides, which had become too loose, as well. After that. my horn had the best mechanics of any instrument I've ever held in my hands to this day.
By that time, I was using Flip Oakes brand valve oil, which he supplies to his customers. It is the best oil I've used and only has one challenge that I've come across so far. It evaporates quite quickly in the heat of the Arizona summers. I might have to oil my horn twice a day with heavy playing during those months. _________________ Brian A. Douglas
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper
There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds. |
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chef8489 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2011 Posts: 858 Location: Johnson City Tn
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:30 am Post subject: |
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Im an ultra pure guy for all my horns. Been using it for past 10 years. Prior to that I was using zaja blue. _________________ Current horns
2023 Bach 19072G/43 pipe with 1st trigger
1966 H.N. White King Silver Flair
1965 H.N. White King Super 20 Sllversonic Symphony 1st trigger |
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Learson Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2022 Posts: 18
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone for the tips. I have some valve oil on the way. I will be sure to clean the trumpet before applying it. |
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