Cleaning valve casings in between oilings?

jazztone

Hi All,

Any suggestions as for the best way to clean the valve casings out in between valve oilings? I'm interested if there is a simple way to get an old clean cloth in there to clean out, or should I use some sort of swab? I clean them regularly when I give the horn a bath, but would like an effective method while on the road when I put a new coat of valve oil on - I would like to remove any residue from the casings.

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Chris
_________________
2006 Getzen 3001MV
1976 LA Benge 5X
Bach Stradivarius Flugelhorn
1958 Olds Ambassador Cornet

bassmannate · Regular Member Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 24

You really shouldn't need to swab the casings out unless they're just really dirty or you're changing oil types such as from a petroleum based oil to a synthetic.

The oil itself it designed to clean the valves if you're putting enough on. It should rinse any debris off the piston and down into the valve caps.

The traditional method involves a cleaning rod that looks much like a flute rod. You use a soft, lint free cloth in the eye of this and wrap it around the rod to keep the rod from contacting the casing.

HW (makers of the pad savers you may have seen wood wind players use) makes some brass saver swabs. I haven't seen these but I hear they're really good. They come in a set. See here: http://www.padsaver.com/trumpet.html

forrest · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

I use the HW brass saver swab, with lighter fluid (naptha).

Wipe the valves down at the same time with naptha. Let dry, reoil and reassemble. I do this once a week.

razeontherock · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Naptha doesn't hurt lacquer, silver or gold?

Brad361 · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

I've played for YEARS, on Schilke, Bach, Yamaha, etc. and have never found that nesessary. As someone mentioned, the valve oil does a lot of the cleaning, which is why you see all that junk in the bottom caps. I think the less you run anything through the casings, the less the chance of scratching or nicking them.

forrest · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

mffan · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:10 am Post subject:

Swabbing a twist of kitchen paper towel works also and doesn't harm the walls of the casings.
_________________
Dave Rafferty Devillier Stencil (German) Besson 609
1960's B & H Embassy Trumpet, Besson 2-20,
Barrington trumpet.

www.kalamazooconcertband.org