Winter instrument storage

[Chadtuba]

I realize the irony asking this question when it is over 90 degrees here in North Dakota right now, but I'm trying to think ahead as it might take me that long to rearrange. This is the first year ever that I do not have access to a band room, office, or student locker bay to store my instruments in. The job hunt after my masters graduation has not been kind so it looks like I'm going to sub and pick up a part time job elsewhere to help pay the bills. As a result, we live in a smallish apartment with a toddler and her growing collection of stuff from all the grandparents

If I were to leave my horns (Eb tuba, euphonium, bass trombone, tenor trombone, and 2 sousaphones) in the garage for the winter, would they be alright or am I asking for trouble? I think we have a plan to get the concert horns inside, but I'm not so sure I can make room for the sousaphones.

As always, help, jokes, non-topical nonsense, and anything else you might have to contribute is always welcomed and appreciated

[DaTweeka]

I'm tempted to tell you to pull the pistons and springs out so you don't have to worry about stuck valves when you pull them out later, but I get the feeling that, however unlikely, that may encourage warping of the valves or casings.

But, if you run out of wood, you can do everyone a favor and burn the trombones.

Really, though, I'd be concerned about bowing and shifting metal.

[Chadtuba]

Thanks DaTweeka. Anybody else with opinions or experience of storing instruments in an unheated garage in the frigid north?

[TheHatTuba]

Don't some people pay to have their horns frozen?

[opus37]

Your enemy is water. Make sure the horn is dry. Make sure the slides are well greased. Frankly, I've had good luck with vaseline for long term storage. Most folks will cringe at using that stuff, but you want the slides not to stick. Use what you are comfortable with. A good oiling and cleaning will help before storage. Keep the horn dry and keep vermin away from the horn. They have a bad habit of nesting in the strangest places.

[Big Francis]

As a not-so-responsible youth, I would leave my 2145 in the trunk of my car for a few days in winter in MN. It would take about 10 minutes to thaw and I would have to shake the frozen condensation out when I played it the next time. The horn survived two winters of this with no damage. I don't know if this is the norm or I lucked out....repeatedly.

[swillafew]

My trombone slide tech admonished me for storing the valve trombone with the valve slides greased (Selmer). They were all stuck, and he said "store things dry" to prevent all the sticking.

[hup_d_dup]

My trombone slide tech admonished me for storing the valve trombone with the valve slides greased (Selmer). They were all stuck, and he said "store things dry" to prevent all the sticking.

Never heard this before. I don't think many people on this list will test this method. I certainly won't.

Hup

[BopEuph]

My trombone slide tech admonished me for storing the valve trombone with the valve slides greased (Selmer). They were all stuck, and he said "store things dry" to prevent all the sticking.

Never heard this before. I don't think many people on this list will test this method. I certainly won't.

Hup

Every repairman has told me that. I always oil my valves when playing, and sometimes I take a long break unexpectedly when I get a string of gigs on another instrument. The consensus is that, when the valve oil dries up, it leaves behind the impurities which act like glue. If you expect to go a while without playing, it's better to wipe down the valves and store it dry.

Not sure about slides, though. I've never had a problem like that with sticking slides, unless I neglect to grease them for a while.

As for the temperature, I leave brass instruments in a hot car in Florida with no issues. I would mention how I do the same thing overnight in the winter if I come home from a late night gig, but I'm sure I'd just get laughed about how we complain about the cold weather here.

[hup_d_dup]

I was referring to the valve slides, not the valves (the message I was responding to also was referring to slides, not valves). Grease will last much longer than oil.

Hup

[hup_d_dup]

Actually, now that I think about it, grease may not be a bad idea for the valves. Gun owners grease their guns for storage ... they don't like metal-to-metal contact. They have special grease for that purpose. The grease has to be cleaned off before resuming normal operation.

Could be a good idea for brass instrument long-term storage, although I don't know if it would be necessary just for one winter, as the OP stated.

Hup

[Chadtuba]

Well we have come up with a plan to get the concert horns inside and out of the way, but so far no luck with the sousaphones. I'm going to check with my father-in-law to see if he has a back corner is his heated "toy" barn maybe sitting in between a couple of the corvettes.

In the meantime, I've had my first experience as a sub, taking a high school P.E. class this past Friday. I've also received an invite to join the local community band this season. Unfortunately, it for trombone, but at least I'll be playing.

[pgym]

I've also received an invite to join the local community band this season. Unfortunately, it for trombone, but at least I'll be playing.

Take you souzy and tell them it's Jin Bao's new contrabass valve trombone.