gregc

Is it me, or is the cost of many (not all) valve oils getting way out of hand. I mean, $4/oz for any kind of oil seems outrageous to me. The finest 15000 mi synthetic motor oil, with all the anti-wear packages, etc, sells for less than $10/32oz.
I'm asking, WTF??????
.......and all along I thought the Arabs were bad!
gregc

TrentAustin

Paying for valve oil sure beats paying for a valve job, right? Last time I checked it was cheaper to oil the valves than get them replaced.

-Trent

PS: Your last line is fairly offensive, imo.

bandman

I found a Hetman supplier on Ebay. I have enough valve oil to last 3 years, all for under $10 including shipping.

trumpetmike

How true - a good valve oil might be more expensive than the oil you put in an engine, but it is still a lot cheaper than you wold have to pay the repair guy who fixes it when the valves needed rebuilding.

You might also want to think about the amount that manufacturers are producing. Very few valve oil makers are producing the amount of oil that the engine oil makers are producing, especially when you think about the very top end valve oil producers (Hetmann, Binak, Zaja, Snake Oil, Eclipse etc) - it is a very specialised market, where the consumers don't actually use that much (please compare the amount you put in an engine each year to the amount you put on your valves - unless you flood your valves on a daily basis, I imagine that the engine comes out a great deal ahead). The producers are only making a relatively small amount, meaning that costs are going to be relatively high.

If you don't like paying for decent valve oil, you can always go back to spit - many old-school brass banders still swear that this is the best thing for your valves. But do remember - if it all goes wrong and your valves need a major overhaul - don't go crying about it to us.


Let me add my voice to Trent's on this one - is there any chance of leaving offensive remarks out of posts?

Robert Rowe

You could make your own, as I do. I have about 50 horns, mostly vintage, including Martin Committees. It is incredibly frugal (and very effective). I have plenty around -- in jars, even ... easier to just dip the entire valve-piston.

Cost? ... about 10 (ten) cents per ounce.

Robert Rowe

uatrmpt

Tuscaloosa Music, my local group of henchmen, are charging right at $6 for Al Cass (Along with $50 for a Bach mouthpiece and $39 for a Sabine chromatic tuner). Needless to say, I'm not buying anything there anymore.

mrfabulous963

I HIGHLY suggest the use of MusiChem Oils, They are not bad on the pocket book and are GREAT oils!

I have used either their RED or HYBRID formula for about 2 years, and will never switch to anything else.

check out their product line-up and Suggested prices here


http://www.musichem.com/products/store_price_list.htm


I know that all of their oils are availible at Dillon Music
Here: http://www.dillonmusic.com/general_a...ubricants.html[/url]

ebtromba

the PC police strike again.

But back on the topic, valve oil is not overpriced, because of the reasons given above.

Sol

Lamp oil works fine. It only costs a couple of bucks for a quart. Mr. Vacchiano used to use it, so I guess if it was good enough for him....

JackD

Haha, oh dear. No.

And seriously, given the amount you spend on buying a trumpet (or trumpets!), mutes, and music - $4 for some oil that'll last ages is hardly the most painful part of trumpet playing!!