Valve oil for freezing weather

[SplatterTone]

It just tastes like crap.

Good thing we didn't step in it.

[iiipopes]

And unlike a lot of some of the other "home remedies," or motor oil, anti-freeze or such, in small amounts pure kerosene is not poisonous.

[tubatooter1940]

And unlike a lot of some of the other "home remedies," or motor oil, anti-freeze or such, in small amounts pure kerosene is not poisonous.

But it stinks to high heaven.
We rarely freeze here on the Guf Coast but I am ready to whip up a batch of home made valve oil. I lucked up on some ultra-pure lamp oil at Walmart and am considering adding some household oil (3-in-1?) to thicken it a bit because my 1940 King recorder tuba must have some valve wear.
I wonder what the proportions should be?
What oil is best to thicken the lamp oil and not stink it up too bad?

[iiipopes]

With my first valve starting to show its wear, but not ready for a replate, I put a few drops of pure pharmacy grade mineral oil in my Roche-Thomas to thicken it up enough to keep the intonation from cracking, but not so much it slowed the valves down.

It's trial and error: add a few drops, see how it goes. Add a few more drops, etc. At the point it starts slowing down the valves, back off and add a little more base and call it good.

I recommend you start with a clean valve oil bottle that you can use just for the purpose, start with filling it with your base half full, then add your few drops of mineral oil, and let your combination set for a day after you mix it and shake it up to make sure you will have no separation, precipitate, gum, or other reaction, etc. from your mix.

And if all else fails, clean your horn out thoroughly and start over with a new bottle of Hetman Classic.

http://www.hetman.com/products.html