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?
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Cleaning valves
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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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFfZ5TIlizw
It's pretty gentle and cleans the valves nicely:
Flitz PolishDave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
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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!
DougAdams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
Concord Band
Winchendon Winds
Townsend Military Band
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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
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Originally posted by bbocaner View Postpistons - 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.Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
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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
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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.Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)
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And remove the finger buttons if they have mother of pearl or abalone inserts!
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Originally posted by davewerden View PostBarry, 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.
Soap isn't the greatest idea because it leaves a soap film on there. You'll need some sort of degreaser to remove that.--
Barry
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Originally posted by euphisto View PostI'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--
Barry
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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
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Originally posted by Dieter Debusschere View PostRoger,
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
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
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