Cleaning valves

[Roger]

I'm revisiting the Wright's silver cream discussion that pops up from time to time. I've used it on my slides, but haven't heard anyone talk about using on valves. Is it ok to occasionally use on valves for thorough cleaning or should I stick with the Dawn detergent and water?

[davewerden]

I would not use it on valves. As far as I can tell it's gentle enough, but this line in the description worries me:

PROTECT - Leave behind a protective coating which prevents tarnish

If your pistons are nickel plated or are made of stainless steel (as opposed to monel), then I would consider using Flitz, which I describe in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFfZ5TIlizw

It's pretty gentle and cleans the valves nicely:

Flitz Polish

[daruby]

While I have used Wrights Silver Cream to polish off the plaque build-up on valves, I always wash the valve throughly with soap and water afterwards. If in doubt, don't use it!

Doug

[Roger]

Thanks, when in doubt, leave it out. Good advice

[bbocaner]

pistons - soak in distilled vinegar for about 20 minutes and then scrub with a brush with nylon bristles. Rinse well with clean water. They typically don't need polishing, they've been honed and lapped at the factory. Polish is going to get in there and you're going to go several cleaning cycles to get it all out. You just need to get any mineral deposits off.

[davewerden]

pistons - soak in distilled vinegar for about 20 minutes and then scrub with a brush with nylon bristles. Rinse well with clean water. They typically don't need polishing, they've been honed and lapped at the factory. Polish is going to get in there and you're going to go several cleaning cycles to get it all out. You just need to get any mineral deposits off.

Barry, we use vinegar (white) for a lot of cleaning chores around the house. But I worried that it might not be good for the brass that is in all the piston's caucades. Not so? Thanks.

[euphisto]

I've tried a number of cleaners, including vinegar. However, I've had the best results with a valve cleaner that Jerry Pollard makes. It's excellent. Here's a link: https://www.prestovalves.com/product...aner-and-brush

He also has a product to remove calcium deposits on the valves.

Robert Pendergast, DM

[ghmerrill]

The problem with any chemical that will attack the mineral deposits (typically calcium) is that it will also attack the brass -- in particular by leeching the zinc out of it, leaving holes in the "matrix". Leaving your valve exposed to acetic acid (vinegar) will definitely do this. I know because I came very close to causing some damage to one of my instruments in this way.

On the other hand, a common and recommended way of cleaning rotary valves of deposits is to dip them in muriatic (hydrochloric acid) for a few seconds. There's a good Youtube demo of this.

The key lies in how strong the acid is and how long the exposure is. Barry's recommendation of about 20 minutes for concentrated ascetic acid seems about right. Do not do something like letting valves soak in acid over night. Bad idea.

[carbogast]

And remove the finger buttons if they have mother of pearl or abalone inserts!

[bbocaner]

Barry, we use vinegar (white) for a lot of cleaning chores around the house. But I worried that it might not be good for the brass that is in all the piston's caucades. Not so? Thanks.

It can absolutely damage the brass if they are in there too long, but vinegar is a much weaker acid than the stuff techs use to achieve the same goal. As long as you keep an eye on it and don't do it too often it's safe. One thing to be aware of is you should make sure you take the stem and valve guides off. Depending on what they are made of they could have a more severe reaction.

Soap isn't the greatest idea because it leaves a soap film on there. You'll need some sort of degreaser to remove that.

[bbocaner]

I've tried a number of cleaners, including vinegar. However, I've had the best results with a valve cleaner that Jerry Pollard makes. It's excellent. Here's a link: https://www.prestovalves.com/product...aner-and-brush

I've met Jerry a few times and he knows his stuff. I'll bet that's pretty good.

[euphisto]

I've met Jerry a few times and he knows his stuff. I'll bet that's pretty good.

Barry,

Jerry's products are fantastic. I can't recommend them highly enough and he's a great guy. I just received an order from him and took some photos.

Robert Pendergast, DM

[Dieter Debusschere]

Roger,

There are no instrument repair shops where I live, so once a year I clean my valves and valve casings using normal toothpaste as mild polishing/lapping paste. I use a regular soft toothbrush to apply and scrub carefully the casings and body of the pistons, and rinse all parts thoroughly with water after cleaning. Especially the notch in the valve casing where the plastic valve guide fits into seems to collect dirt over time, making the valve to stick. However, I do dismantle the valves completely to do this, which is fairly easy on my Besson 765. I maintained the valves of my horn for more than 20 years now this way, and they still play like new.

Hope this helps?

Dieter

[mbrooke]

Roger,

There are no instrument repair shops where I live, so once a year I clean my valves and valve casings using normal toothpaste as mild polishing/lapping paste. I use a regular soft toothbrush to apply and scrub carefully the casings and body of the pistons, and rinse all parts thoroughly with water after cleaning. Especially the notch in the valve casing where the plastic valve guide fits into seems to collect dirt over time, making the valve to stick. However, I do dismantle the valves completely to do this, which is fairly easy on my Besson 765. I maintained the valves of my horn for more than 20 years now this way, and they still play like new.

Hope this helps?

Dieter

I would be careful. The abrasiveness of toothpastes varies greatly. For example: https://scheumanndental.com/abrasive...n-toothpastes/

If you want to scrub the vales and casing, baking soda is probably best. This used to be the go to for coin collectors.

Mike

[Dieter Debusschere]

I was certainly not aware of this. Thanks for the information Mike!