TubeNet

Hallo Tubenet,
I'm looking for a certain rotary valve bumper material.
This is as much information as I know about it.

It's black, harder and a bit noisier than other types, but virtually no bounce. It also seems to last longer than the others. Alan Baer gave some to my old teacher a while back, and I havent been able to find a decent replacement. I wrote Alan some time ago, but didnt get a reply (no problem, I know he's busy;)

Please, no vacuum cleaner belts..too soft and bouncy, and same goes for the clear sillicon type.
Yes I've used cork, but it doesnt last very long and doesnt hold the valve alignment as well.

Does anyone know the source of this kind of rotary valve bumper material or at least something with these properties? Is it an O-ring or...?

Thanks!
2165

Go to McMaster-Carr online and look for O-ring material. There should be several different durometer listed.
mike

Matt at Dillon's uses a harder black bumper material with virtually no bounce.Very nice stuff. Contact him.

I get my bumper material from J.L. Smith Company in Charlotte, N.C. They have found the optimal durometer (elasticity or hardness) to be reasonably quiet and not bounce, either. J.L. Smith may specialize in woodwind items, but their brass items are first-class, too.

I replace bumpers on a lot of rotary instruments, as I detest the clear, jello-like stuff and the white, marshmallow-like stuff, which bounces and does not last.

Alan was using 1/4" Buna Cord that he would get from Canal Street Rubber in lower Manhattan. It's about $30.00 a roll for 50 feet of the stuff and I believe they stock the 70 durometer stuff. I use it on all my horns. Go here to find it:

http://www.canalrubber.com/full-round-cord.html" target="_blank

All the best.

Roger

kingconn wrote:Go to McMaster-Carr online and look for O-ring material. There should be several different durometer listed.
mike

+1 for McMaster-Carr. You want the "Buna N" O-Ring Stock. It can be ordered in various thicknesses and you can get minimum 3-foot lengths of each.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=5fgmks

HTH

-J

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the help!
cheers
2165

RE: the "Buna N" O-Ring Cord Stock, I'm assuming the 50 durometer would be best overall, or would 50 for the return and 70 for the downstroke be better?

Eric "currently using an O-ring purchased at the hardware store, but not liking the curve of the material" L.