Valve Felts

[iiipopes]

No. It may clatter awhile, and may feel stuffy, but no damage so long as something is there to damp the clatter.

[XtremeEuph]

Alright thanks alot once again guys, my apologies to BobEuph for taking over his thread

[iiipopes]

Exactly! And while you're at it, if you play BBb tuba, make sure to get them off a flute with an "offset G" so that it will fix the tendency of that note to be sharp without having to pull.
!

[DonnieMac]

Here's the misalignment condition of the 4 pistons on a Hirs HB 10 from the factory. #! .059"; #2 .096"; #3 .095"; #4 .066" all on the upstroke. Downstroke, #! .069"; #2 .023"; #3 .039";#4 .060". It didn't play so bad with those misalignments and it probably does play better with the vlaves now set to zero. In the from the factory condition this F tuba was use to debut the John Williams concerto in Chicago by Fritz K. So go figure.

[tubamirum]

Too thick or too thin causes in the same thing- out of alignment.

[iiipopes]

And with the fact that traditional felts and corks compress over time, traditionally you padded them until they were just a little short of alignment on both ends of the stroke, knowing that they would compress to alignment, and when they compressed further, causing overshoot, at that point you replaced them and went through the cycle again. Some people's first impressions of Schilke trumpets were negative because he overfelted from the factory so they would seat in.

[windshieldbug]

If you're going to all this trouble, worn valve guides cause the same thing - misalignment. Doesn't matter if the washers are right or not!

[XtremeEuph]

Got the cork, he actually sent 3 corks and 3 felts just so he didnt screw up again. ..... Its amazing how I got a much more full sound from a little pad.

[EuphDad]

Why fool around with something that may or may not work?
Why not go directly to the source? The telephone number for
DEG is 1-800-558-9416. They're were really great about sending me some valve guides for a 2900 when I couldn't locate them elsewhere. They're certainly worth a shot to see if they have what you need in stock, or perhaps they could suggest where to look?

[BopEuph]

Thanks for the tips. Sorry I disappeared, but the email notification for the thread went to my junk folder, which has never happened. I just forgot I sent the message. Gail Robertson told me the same thing, but I thought that couldn't be done, because a friend went that route and said that he was told he had to buy a whole box of the felts, and it was something like $100. The shop he went to get his horn repaired at told him that. I'll be calling DEG as soon as they open; maybe I can get the felts soon.

Here's a question: Do the felts come without the dye? It really is a pain to have to clean that stuff off the valves when giving the horn a bath.

Nick

[Rick F]

Here's a question: Do the felts come without the dye? It really is a pain to have to clean that stuff off the valves when giving the horn a bath.

Not sure to be honest. The last set of felts I had installed were white.

But, I never get my felts wet when giving the horn a bath. I take out the valves and wash them in the sink separately... either being careful not to get the felts wet - or take the valve stems off and remove the felts and corks before submersing the valves (being careful of course not to mix up the order or from which valve the felts belonged).

[tubatooter1940]

I don't mind some valve oil on my felts but no water if I can help it.
I live where mildew was invented.

[tubatooter1940]

I don't mind some valve oil on my felts but no water if I can help it.
I live where mildew was invented.

[fpoon]

Someone out there is putting neoprene on tuba valves. My 1261 has neoprene rubber where you'd normally have felts on the pistons on all four valves, and it seems to make a big difference in the feel. For the better.

[pulseczar]

The felts, whether underneath the button or on the valve cap, still do same thing; regulate the ports. It's just a design thing.