lamp oil?

Jeff · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:43 am Post subject: lamp oil?

Has anyone here ever tried using lamp oil (very thin) rather than valve oil packaged specifically for trumpeters?

I tried it on the advice of a couple of players, and my valves work better than ever.

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:56 am Post subject:

Many have tried and like it. Since many valve oils are kerosene based anyway, Ultra Pure Lamp Oil works just fine. It does not have some of the additives of some commercial oils, which may or not matter to you. Bought in bulk, it is much cheaper! - Don (still using my BiNak)
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dcjacobson · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Oct 2002 Posts: 130

Where you live you should be OK. Here, I have a large bottle of this oil out in the garage for use in my two oil lamps. When winter comes the oil turns to jelly. It's the paraffin that does that.

If you live in a colder climate, and travel with the horn in the trunk of your car, you shouldn't use it.

Good luck,
Don

Jeff · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:36 am Post subject:

MilesD · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject:

Why would you want to use lamp oil? For a big bottle of Al Cass is a mere $5 a bottle and lasts months

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Mouthpiece: Holton Heim

maeissin · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:15 am Post subject:

Mark_Heuer · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:05 am Post subject:

I've used Ultra Pure Lamp Oil on many of my trumpets. It's cheap and effective.

Baroque Trumpeter · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 am Post subject:

maeissin · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:45 am Post subject:

128 ozs -- $17

http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/37-183-lamp-oil/lamplight-ultra-pure-lamp-oil-660771.aspx
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1972 Yamaha 734
1950s Olds Ambassador Cornet
1930s Pan American Baritone
1930s Pan American Mellophone
Jean Baptise Soprano Trombone

Jeff · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:41 am Post subject:

MilesD · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject:

MilesD · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject:

Mr. Stomvi · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Apr 2002 Posts: 1062

I have used it on all my horns (Stomvi Master series) for the last 4 years and have had no problems. Very fast , doesn't last too long (about the same as Al Cass) but is super cheap (about $ 2.50 per quart). Odorless and colorless also.

Seth Moore
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"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."

Billy Wilder

thedevilisbad · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:01 pm Post subject:

isn't paraffin flameable? Don't set your horn near any hot lamps

Actually I use a mixture of Lamp Oil and 2 squirts of WD-40 (I know, I know) and its faster than anything I've ever used (maybe a little to fast). I like to use BiNak for my older horns (Olds Ambassadors) and I haven't oiled them in about 1/2 a year now! That stuuf is a great investment (only 1 drop per valve).

There are so many choices in oil. Try a whole bunch of type to find your favorite. Just make sure to wash your horn really good before you switch oils.
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Do or do not, there is no try.

David Koch Custom 1958 Olds Ambassador
1951 Conn 80A
A lot of other crap.

chopissimo · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:54 am Post subject:

Jeff · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:00 am Post subject:

woo · Veteran Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 128

Mix some Ultra Pure Lamp oil 50/50 with your favorite cheap oil and it will last longer and perform better than most valve oils out there. Works great, is cheap and lasts.

Baroque Trumpeter · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:18 am Post subject:

Do any of you think lamp oil would also be good for rotary valves?
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lmaraya · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 618

I just bought some lamp oil to experiment, not the Ultra Pure brand, but one made by A&E Oils, just plainly called LAMP OIL, but now I am worried because it says is made of Class III-A Combustible Liquid, would this oil be dangerous to smell? could it be carcinogenic?

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6187

You could put a bottle of lamp oil into fridge first, let the heavy paraffins crystallize out, filter (or just decant) the liquid. Move the liquid, in another container, to a freezer and repeat filtering out the precipitate. You should end with fairly heavy-paraffin-free oil.

Depending on what is in the lamp oil it could be carcinogenic. If it has condensed aromatic compounds, definitely yes. If it fluoresces under UV light, I would not use it. If it does not ... there are many carcinogenic compounds that do not fluoresce. All in all - use the regular trumpet oils.

Note, that the composition of regular trumpet oils is also not published ... except rather vague MSDS data. One would have to go to a lab specializing in oils and run the oil through GC-MS and HPLC-MS to be completely sure what is in. Alisyn has some C=C bonds as it turns color to yellow once exposed to brass, moisture and air. I avoid getting it on hands.