B15M

How often do you oil your valves?

My trumpets never seem to need oil so I oil them every now and then.
Before every rehearsal or concert and here and there when I practice.

The oil isn't supposed to evaporate.

Do you need to oil every day? every time you play?

MJ

I find about once or twice a week. I'm using UltraPure.

Tootsall

I apply oil when I feel like it; the horn never seems to actually NEED oil. Normally I oil the valves every rehearsal/practice though.

Zaja Blue.

Richard Oliver

Daily before practice.

Richard

tom turner

To extend the life of the horn's valves by years before they start leaking . . .

Valves should be WIPED DOWN (to remove deposits) each time you get it out, with clean, LINT-FREE cotton cheesecloth. Cut the cheesecloth into little squares (1 1/2" x 1" is great) and keep a stack of clean squares in little baggies inside your case until needed. Discard the cheesecloth after use.

Doing so, you'll be extremely amazed at the crud that comes off on the cheesecloth.

Then, re-oil the valves well before using! Also, give the horn a good, cleansing bath about once a month that includes scrubbing the inside valve casings with a nylon valve cleaning brush, followed by running a clean, lint-free cotton rag through each casing, followed by liberal re-oiling as above.

You'll NEVER have a valve problem, and your horn will play and respond as new for many years to come.

T.

rowuk

Valve oiling is more important than one may believe.
The oil is applied to the valves and should protect them. We are blowing moisture and other small particles into the horn and that stuff mixes with the oil and changes its properties. If moisture gets to the metal, then the oil will float on top, thus leaving the valve unprotected.
Normal petroleum based oil has a useful life of about 17-20 hours. Then the petroleum part has evaporated - why do my valves still feel ok, you may ask? There are other things like paraffin in the oil and the moisture of your breath that keeps the valves going.
Synthetic oils are a different situation. They do not normally evaporate during their useful life. Unfortunately, the moisture and small particles still collect on the viscous oil and represent a potential danger.
The safe thing is to brush your teeth before playing - always. This limits the amount of particles entering the horn. If you are playing alot, every couple of days you should take the valves out of the casing, wipe them and the casing clean and bone dry (oil floats on top of water remember?) reoil and you are good to go. If you don't, your valves will not die overnite, they will wear more quickly however.
Waiting until the valves get slow is not a very good thing to do. I cringe when people say that they oil once a week!

FreshBrewed

Before every rehearsal and before I know I will not be able to play for a few days.

bandman

I oil my valves when I feel they need it. I use Hetman Synthetic and it lasts longer than any other oil I've used in the past.

mlockman

I oil my valves once a day. Prevents ware down the road..

lonelyangel

At least once a day, usually as I am preparing to practice and then again before warming up at work. Better safe than sorry. I tend to clean out the horn, including the valves about once a fortnight - the mouthpiece more often.

Noel.