TubeNet

Hey guys I've got a quick question for all of you with experience with Hetman lubricants, Well here it goes,

-I am currently using up my stockpiled collection of Conn (non synthetic) valve oil and I'm curious is it ok if I use Hetman #8 slide grease while using non synthetic valve oil? will this cause any problems?, I'm currently using the red Selmer slide grease but would like to switch to synthetic hetman.

-Secondly I'm curious about eventualy switching to the Hetman valve oil also but I'm not sure exactly how your supposed to use the synthetic valve oil compared to the regular oil. currently I oil the pistons every day and drench as much oil as I can get on the piston surface, but i've heard various stories about hetman only needing ocassional oilings and when applied using just a few drops?, I may or may not swithch to the synthetic valve oil because In the past I hetman #2 and everything in my horn turned green so I have a little bit of concern!

Thanks for any input guys!

I also switched from Hetman's light valve oil to Yamaha's synthetic light valve oil for the same reason as Snorlax mentions. I still use Hetman's heavy slide grease (#7), and have no trouble with cross contamination.

It's true that you don't need as much synthetic valve oil compared to the regular oil, but Hetman synthetic and Yamaha synthetic are not fussy like the Alisyn or BiNak oil where you can over do it. The synthetic oil lasts longer due to low evaporation rate. I usually oil my valves about once per week or maybe every 4 days.

I would not suggest mixing any other valve oil with Hetman's products. The stuff is terrific, but sensitive to outside contaminants. I have found that any other lubricants, or even having a horn that needs to be cleaned, will create a pretty messy situation. For the people who have had it get sticky and sludgy (is that a word?), for some reason rinsing your horn out with Listerine (the brown stuff) seems to fight against it pretty well. It does make your horn smell like bourbon for a couple of hours, but it works, at least in my experience.

snorlax wrote:FWIW, I have quit using Hetman's oil because it leaves a green gunk behind that gets in the leadpipe and (mostly) in the valve ports.
I didn't particularly mix oils, and I am usually quite careful about brushing before playing.

I had the same problem with Hetman's #1. Now using Blue Juice, no more green crap in the valve ports!

The best thing to do is have your horn professionally cleaned before switching to a synthetic. It did that and have not had a problem.

My horn smelled like bourbon the other night and I never used Listerine!!

Oh wait... now I remember

I use Hetman's and oil liberally every day. Perhaps I could get away with less, but it's cheaper than a valve job, so I don't bother skimping.
Hetman's didn't mix well with my lanolin-based slide greases, so I switched to synthetic slide grease, which seems to require more frequent application, but doesn't gunk up.

I had no idea the green crap in my valves was from Hetman's - never made that connection. I thought it was me all this time. Thanks for the tip!

I use Hetmans #3 for my Holton Eb tubas cuz it's thicker and works better than other oils for old leaky valves. BUT there are bits of film that I have to wipe every now and then off the pistons. I use other oils on my rotary contrabass tubas.

Your concerns are well-founded, especially after the other prior posts. I echo: please consider something else instead. Too much gunk left behind.

Thanks for all the reply's guys. I went ahead and purchased a tube of it from woodwind and brasswind I' curious to see what happens now I mainly want it just for the main tuning slide tuning slide I'm really hoping that it dosen't green up on me this time! once I get the grease and try if for a few weeks i'll let you all know how it turns out.

lol mabye it's just me but I can't oil my valves once a week I kind of enjoy the piece of mind knowing that the valve is coated every day and besides theres so much dirt and gunk that gets in them it probably rinses it off and helps keep them clean. I also bought a 16oz bottle of Roche Thomas not sure if it's any good but variety's the spice of life!

later i'll keep you all posted on my findings.

ZACH336 wrote:I also bought a 16oz bottle of Roche Thomas not sure if it's any good but variety's the spice of life!
Later i'll keep you all posted on my findings.

I've used Roche Thomas for most of my playing decades. For me, it is a superior valve oil: reasonable price, lasts a long time, doesn't "dilute down" easily, doesn't gunk up. If you must go with a Hetman's grease and a conventional valve oil, the Roche Thomas should have as little an interaction as you'll get.