Slide Lubrication--professional

[pulseczar]

well if they were slick post repairshop, maybe you should ask the repairshop what they use.


If the shop is too shady to reveal what they used, Hetmans is always a reliable answer for all our lubrication needs.

[eupher61]

I sure wouldn't be using 3 in 1 at all. It doesn't play well with valves, and where does oil from slides end up?

[Rick F]

I think it was Bloke who suggested 'Super Lube'. I got some and it worked TOO well as my second slide would fall out sometimes.



It comes in different sized containers. The tube (pictured above) is what I ordered - and it will probably last me a couple of years. But it's also available in a larger tub. See this link below for more info:

Super Lube Synthetic Grease

[The Jackson]

I use car oil treatment for slides. It's not the best thing for when you have to actively pull slides while playing, but it will last for quite a while and you barely have to use any. I use some Advanced Auto Parts brand treatment that was not expensive at all.

[Thomas Maurice Booth]

I like to use the red selmer stuff and a little bit of Spacefiller (a clear bottle with green writing). The slides then move very freely, but no so much that the fall out or don't stay in place.

TMB

[RadDad2005]

Back in the day I studied with a tubist that used axle grease on his slides. I bought a pound in 1978 for $1.49 and am still using the same pound today. All my brass players use it on their slides. It's cheap, you need very little, so a supply lasts a long time, the slides move easily, but not too easy ( at times new horns have slides that literally fall out of the horn. That isn't good, esp. in the hands of young kids, Clang!!!) and it doesn't dry out. Cleaning is important because it can get gritty over time, but you have to clean them no matter what you use.
I've hand the same horn for 30 years, and nary a problem with this.

[sloan]

You have "Ball and roller bearings" on your tuba?

[MartyNeilan]

Finally, I have and use a computer and - yes - use it to get on the internet *EVEN THOUGH* I have no interest in pornography or gambling.

There's dorn and Gambling on the Internet????

[tubatom91]

I recently cleaned a friend at school's tuba for her. I noticed that all the slides were dry and thought I might have something around that'll work. I soon realized that all my regular brand name tuning slide grease was at school so I improvised. I found my old oil can that I found in my Grandmother's garage attic (she used to paint them). Well the old thing still has oil in it! So I used an unknown oil on sombody else's tuba. Well it worked great. It was a fairly thick oil, almost like yellowish motoroil. Those slides were some of the smoothest ones I have done. FWIW the tuba is a Yamaha 321 so the slides are U shaped pointing upwards and have no real threat of migration of the thick stuff into the pistons.

[sailn2ba]

I haven't seen any opinions on the Hetman slide lubricants.

[tubaguy9]

(Google that term in quotes: "guppy lube" to see what I am talking about.)

I did...all it came up with is this thread on TubeNet, Trumpet Herald on lube for a tuning slide, and a dorn ad. So, is that what this guppy lube is?

[tubaguy9]

(Google that term in quotes: "guppy lube" to see what I am talking about.)

I did...all it came up with is this thread on TubeNet, Trumpet Herald on lube for a tuning slide, and a dorn ad. So, is that what this guppy lube is?

It is a lanolin-based thing that you mix yourself. Allied used to sell (and maybe still does) big tubs of lanolin with Guppy Lube instructions. I do not know where mine is right now or I would post the recipe. Chuck G knows what it is. PM him. Meanwhile, if I locate the Allied instructions I will post them here.

Just had to give you a hard time about the search...

[Dan Schultz]

I've used 'Super Lube' on just about every horn I've touched over the last five years. I've never had a complaint or a horn come back with a stuck slide.

http://www.super-lube.com

[Tom]

Knowing was "guppy lube" is, I believe this is a viable over-the-counter alternative:

[Tubaryan12]

grease of satan.JPG

so this explains why after a few days my 3rd and 4th valves get slow as molasses only a few days after hosing the horn out with hot water and re-oiling the valves. Thank you for the tip. Looks like I need to find something else.

[Rick Denney]

Everyone has their secret formula.

Grease is just oil with an emulsifier (read: soap) to make it thick.

I have used literally everything listed here, even including Phil grease (and, with eight bikes, I have plenty on hand, though for the bikes, I prefer Campagnolo grease, which I've also used on the tubas).

I still prefer a mix of lanolin-based slide grease and oil. It's more oil on the slides I move during play, and more lanolin on the slides I want to stay where I put them.

The Hetman slide grease is lanolin-based, by the way. It uses the lanolin as a soap to emulsify their standard synthetic oil, just like traditional anhydrous lanolin contains sheep-skin oil, or whatever.

And I use Hetman slide oil on my first-valve slide, and it works well. I don't want that slide as loose as Wade does--I want the slide to stay in the horn if I stand the instrument on its bell.

Yes, it's more expensive. But I bought it at the Army conference (I was there anyway), and finding the cheaper alternatives around here might cost more than the difference in gasoline.

I have never had a problem with Hetman anything interacting poorly with petroleum-based lubricants, or with it migrating from one spot to the next any worse than anything else.

I have a tube of super-lube, and if I'm remembering it right, it seems like a lithium-based grease with a teflon additive. That Campagnolo bicycle grease is also lithium-based, and it works. For valves moved during play, however, I had to thin it with Sturmey-Archer gear oil (because I would NEVER mix bicycle-based grease with anything but bicycle-based oil, heh, heh).

Rick "whose valves and slides move as well as they did after servicing" Denney

[Tom]

Knowing was "guppy lube" is, I believe this is a viable over-the-counter alternative:

Lanolin is only one of the two ingredients in Guppy Lube. The Schilke is just lanolin. They are different especially in cold climates.

Guppy lube is (IIRC) anhydrous lanolin and mineral oil.

I do believe you are correct. I know that Guppy Lube isn't straight lanolin, but couldn't remember the other ingredient, in which case Schilke's lanolin isn't a substitute.

[Tubainsauga]

Anyone use this stuff?
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... 04K52.aspx

[tubaguy9]

Okay, so I am doing some housekeeping tonight and located my Guppy Lube. (Eight years old and works great!) Here are the instructions as they appear on a taped-on label on the lanolin jar.

Paper note attached to jar of lanolin by Allied:

*A7204 LANOLIN*

The maker of “Guppy Lube” is no longer making this product. We have replaced this with pure lanolin. To reduce 8oz. of lanolin follow this easy procedure:

+ Remove cap and inner seal
+ Place container in microwave for 2 minutes on high (lanolin will liquefy)
+ Add 5 tablespoons (2.5 oz.) of mineral oil and stir
+ Let sit overnight or put in refrigerator to solidify.

If you wish a thicker mixture add less oil. If you wish a thinner mixture (for trumpet 3rd slides) double or triple the amount of oil. You can heat and re-heat lanolin many times.

***************************

Label on jar of lanolin:

Majestic Mountain Sage
Logan UT 84321
(435) 755.0863

ANHYDROUS LANOLIN
For use in soaps, lotions,
and other cosmetics.
Store at room temperature.
Keep out of reach of children.
NET WT 8 OZ

[from side of label]
Lot: 3012203L3-3T30-44

I hope this adequately documents the recipe for Guppy Lube so that it is now searchable in our archives.

Another use for Mineral Oil...I guess it is a need for all repair guys...

[sloan]

Better recipe:

a) purchase 8oz Anhydrous Lanolin (a lifetime supply)
b) apply to slide
c) add drops of oil until happy