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As a kid I had a lesson teacher who recommended using Cod Liver Oil to grease the valve slides. Which is what I have been using for the last 30 years. In all the posts that I've ever seen on here nobody has ever mentioned this for valve slides.

From what I've seen it lasts a long time (still using the bottle I bought in HS), is not harmful if ingested, goes on easily, goes on clear and is readily available at grocery/pharmacy stores.

Is there any downside that I'm not aware of?

Also as a cyclist I really have found Phil Wood's grease to be superb and wondering if other than not being the greatest thing to injest if this might not also be suitable. Anybody ever try this?

tofu wrote:... Phil Wood's grease ... Anybody ever try this?

A vintage bit o' OLD TubeNet, five years -- and another world -- ago (a month before 9/11).
http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/aug2001 ... 64441.html
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Joe Baker, who has no knowledge of this product, but (inexplicably) remembered it having been discussed.

My teacher in high school told me to use olive oil for the slides, then I found out that you can cook with it!!!

Joe Baker wrote:

tofu wrote:... Phil Wood's grease ... Anybody ever try this?

A vintage bit o' OLD TubeNet, five years -- and another world -- ago (a month before 9/11).
http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/aug2001 ... 64441.html
__________________________________
Joe Baker, who has no knowledge of this product, but (inexplicably) remembered it having been discussed.

Hey thanks - Chuck G in that post mentioned STP - hadn't thought about that one and now going to the garage to try it.

tofu wrote:As a kid I had a lesson teacher who recommended using Cod Liver Oil to grease the valve slides. Which is what I have been using for the last 30 years. In all the posts that I've ever seen on here nobody has ever mentioned this for valve slides.

I have never tried using it to grease the slides. I have, however, taken a tablespoon of cod liver oil with my porridge every morning as far as I can remember.

When I was younger, I really got desperate and tried using Crisco shortening. It dries out quickly and it's tricky to get the slide off after a couple of weeks.

Cod Liver Oil? Maybe the same thing. I know it's animal, not vegetable, but I could still see it drying out.

I belive that Cod Liver Oil can go rancid. I don't know if it would affect lubrication all that much, but I'd hate to have to play an instrument lubricated with it.

If you're on a "natural" kick, try the old standby. Melt some anhydrous lanolin (a double boiler works, but you could also probably use a microwave oven). Add mineral oil until the mixture is thin enough for you. Non toxic, although I wouldn't spread it on toast for dinner. More or less the formula for several commercial preparations.

sbring wrote:Sorry, I have to correct myself. Getting old and muddled. The mixture of STP and lanolin was for paddle shafts and such things. For valve slides he suggested half lanolin, half vaseline. That is what I have used for 25 years now. Sven

I'm not a big fan of using lanolin for the same reason Chuck G suggested the cod liver oil could go rancid. Being organic, can't lanolin do the same thing?

I don't know about the lanolin/Vaseline mixture... but I never recommend using Vaseline on slides as it tends to turn the slide tubes black and it eventually dries out. ... making for some really nasty, stuck slides.

To me, the synthetics appear to be the way to go. I use 'Super-Lube' (thanks for the tip, Lee Stofer)... and have never had an instrument come back because the slide was stuck... even after sitting in the case for several years.

Vaseline: cheap, good, don't need much, one jar will last as long as you will. I also didn't pickup my cornet for (mumble) and it's slides weren't stuck, either.