To slide or not to slide?

[Tubajug]

Greetings,

I got started on my third valve circuit yesterday and was able to get the top crook paralleled, soldered and the outer tubes braced. Looking at the bottom crook, I'm trying to decide whether or not to put a tuning slide there. I should have plenty of pull on the upper slide, and there will be a spit valve on the lower crook, so emptying water won't be an issue. The only thing I can think of would be aesthetic, so that you see ferrules on the bottom like you do on the first valve.

What say ye? To slide or not to slide?

Here it is last night with the lower crook and tubing just dry fitted. The only thing soldered at this point is the top crook and the brace between the outer tubes.

[roweenie]

As Wade aptly said, it's your horn and ultimately your decision.

However, if it were my horn, I would say "yes" to a lower crook.

It will take a bit of patience to get it right (top and bottom both parallel, etc.) but in my OCD mind, it's worth the trouble. It can be done!

[Tubajug]

Thanks for your thoughts folks. I had the water key down there because that's where it was on the 12J I took the valves from, but I'll definitely do the blow test you mentioned just to see if it's necessary.

I think I'm leaning towards a slide down there just for the sake of ease in water dumping, cleaning, etc. And it matches the look of the 1st slide. Keep the thoughts coming if you have any more! Thanks!

[tclements]

Down facing tubes should always slide. Water will collect there and in most instances, the condensation release lever does not function as expected. It's faster to pull the slide and dump. My 2¢ worth ...

[iiipopes]

The entire point of all of these posts having to do with the water issue and whether or not it is a good idea to have down-slides removable (which it is)(and from experience in high school): avoiding the "King Spin" to get the water out.

[Tubajug]

Looks like I'm going to go for the slide!

I had planned on it (installing a slide) originally, but just got to thinking about the possibility of not messing with it, thus asking your opinions. Thanks folks. Watch for an update!