| Re: Valve Guard?
Tennis,
Nickel doesn't tarnish, so the valve guard wouldn't cause an oxidation issue on a nickel plated finish. I have used a valve guard on and off over the years, and haven't had issues, but I also do not have acidic skin that reacts badly with the finish on horns. Some people have very acidic hands that can damage the finish on their horns, in some cases very quickly. A valve guard can help prevent some of that, but you need to regularly take off the guard and clean the horn's valve block. If it's a silver horn, apply a good silver polish...one like Tarnishield or one of the others that also helps prevent tarnishing. For Lacquer or Nickel, clean the valve block and use a polishing cloth appropriate to the finish. If you don't do that, the oils from your skin along with dirt and valve oil can get underneath and damage the finish as well as make the back of the valve guard quite nasty.
Greg |