BlowDry Brass problems

[kehaulani]

Watching an ACB video where Trent couldn't endorse [ed.]BlowDry Brass enough. The only time I had a product I blew through the horn, it kept getting stuck and was a real PITA to get out.

Has anyone had the same experience and, for those of you who use Spitballs, any problems?
? Thanks.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[trpthrld]

Where did it get stuck? Gotta make sure your valves are all the way up or down before blowing.

Been using Spit Balls for over 50 years, never had a problem.

The one hint I give everyone is push the spit ball down the receiver a few inches. A pen, pencil, mpc cleaning brush takes care of that quite nicely. It creates some space for pressure to build up to help propel it thru the horn.

Not to insult, but make sure you're putting some effort into your blow. It takes more than a gentle puff.

I'd suggest using a Herco snake to push it through any stuck areas.
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=146827&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER--

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

[kehaulani]

I always make sure I'm putting some effort into my blow, Tim.

My Bad!
Sorry for wasting anyone's time. I mean BlowDry Brass.

_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[trpthrld]

Another hint is do not blow through a mouthpiece - blow directly through the receiver.

I know that might seem obvious and elementary, but I've seen guys do just that.
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=146827&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER--

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

[cheiden]

[trpthrld]

[Troy Sargent]

I use it daily including on piccolo with no problems.

The material of Blow Dry Brass is soft / compressible enough to easily pass through the horn (as long as it is fully soaked) and I can't recall any time that one ever got stuck half way.

I personally don't push it deeper into the leadpipe. As long as you get a seal at the receiver it seems to be fine.
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www.tsargentmusic.com

[Notlem]

Been using it since early January, never been stuck, but chopped one in half by moving a valve.

I think the move to through the horn works based on it being expanded, so if it’s too dry and small, I assume it will get stuck in smaller section as it can’t guide through and air could get past it where it matters.

To preface, I do try to empty my main tube via the primary water valve and use the dump slide on my third valve.

On the first (valves down) run I squeeze out as much alcohol that pressing between two fingers will do. Normally after the fist run, it is completely full of water and when I squeeze is like that again, a ton of water comes out.

Then its a judgement call if I need to slightly dip it in the alcohol again to expand it again. And repeat with a two finger squish to get the excess out. The second run is still vale’s down.

Seems no matter what, a third run requires a dip and squish for vales open, same for the fourth one, which is also valves open, which I sometimes do.

On each run starting on the second or third it seems to be way less expanded as it flies out, I assume it’s the alcohol lining the tube and evaporating and each run there is less moisture for it to absorb.

Gotta say that I do not remember a brown marks on the ports in my valve runs until I forgot to use it and left it wet for 4-5 days. The ones that showed up are tiny. I saw a Monette video where Dave said those stain are from the stuff in our salava. I have never had my valves look like this for this long.

The caveat is that I’m having to use daily valve oil, i think it dries this out a bit.


Not sure if that helped to compare notes, but have always appreciated the advice you have bestowed on me!

-marc

[zaferis]

Blow Dry or Spit Balls.. not an issue if you first insert them and push them passed the receiver (with a mouthpiece brush, the mouthpiece cleaner that comes with Blow Dry, or a pencil).
Second, the valves must either be all the way up or all the way down.
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Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Croquethed]

I just started using it. ACB packed it in with the X-13.

As long as you keep your valves all the way up or all the way down through the entire blow, no problem.

[cbtj51]

Had to add my 2 cents! I have been very happy at the ease and success of using BlowDry Brass at the end of every day on the horns played. No problems, great results with the added benefit of a consistent playing platform. Everyday since 2016! Well worth the (literally) 2 minute effort and negligible expense.

Mike
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'71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces

[kehaulani]

Thanks a lot, guys.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[stuartissimo]

Tried both spitballs and blowdrybrass. Had some issue with the former, but the blowdry brass pellets pretty much never get stuck. I've noticed that the grade of alcohol used to soak them in makes a difference (it's also mentioned on the BlowDryBrass website iirc). Using 90%+ alcohol makes them very flubby (almost snotlike at 99%), while the 70% makes them a bit more rigid (though supposedly the absorb less moisture). So you could try a different alcohol solution and see if that fixes your problem.
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[Wondra]

I use the method mentioned above - push the Blowdry plug past the receiver with a pencil, hold all three valves down, and securely hold any slides that don't have a stop on them (otherwise it's easy to launch a slide across the room!).

However, a different story with my Couesnon - given the smaller pipe diameter, I need A LOT of pressure to get the plug through the horn. I no longer have Spitballs, though given that those plugs are smaller they may work better with smaller diameter pipes. Can anyone confirm this?
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Dave Wondra

Don't make me get the flying monkeys...