I just read a post by Lee Stofer over on TubeNet who spoke to Joe Hetman recently about the shortage of Hetman valve oil and slide grease. I know I waited three months for my order of Hetman-7 slide grease. There were some rumors going around that Joe Hetman had retired, but he did not. Here's what Lee Stofer wrote:
Lee Stofer also addressed concerns about white or green build up when using Hetman valve oils. He wrote:"I had a conversation with Joe Hetman last week - he certainly is not retired, but busier than ever!
There has been a problem sourcing bottles, so he is switching to new bottles, and it will take some time to get them in and fill orders. He thanked me for my patience, and said he will fill my most recent order as soon as he can."
"Concerning serious green or white buildup within the valves, I have seen that happen for roughly 2% of my customers, and is likely associated with body chemistry, diet, or both. None of us want nasty-looking gunk in our horns, and if you have a better experience with some other lubrication, so be it. In my shop, I clean instruments to a very high standard, thoroughly dry them, then use the appropriate Hetman lubricants so that they leave the shop in top playing condition.
When an instrument comes back to the shop with buildup in it, most often it has been played a lot, for a year or more, and hasn't been cleaned once in that time. That said, the green or white buildup in that case easily washes off, and is not eating into the brass, telling me that the instrument has been well-protected by the Hetman, and only needs to be
cleaned more often. When a tuba or euphonium has been cleaned and serviced with Hetman lubricants, regular cleaning with brushes, Dawn dishwashing detergent, and a thorough rinsing is all that is necessary to keep it clean and fresh for a
long time.
I was at the dentist's office this morning, and saw a sign in the bathroom - "Only floss the teeth that you want to keep." Apply that thought about maintenance to your horn. Only clean your instrument regularly if you want to keep playing it."