Generous or Stingy?

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
User avatar
Tubajug
Posts: 839
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:27 am
Location: Nebraska
Has thanked: 248 times
Been thanked: 258 times

Generous or Stingy?

Post by Tubajug »

When it comes to valve oil on pistons, are you generous or stingy?

I've heard one tech tell people that one drop of valve oil is enough.

I prefer to coat mine pretty generously. My thinking is that if there is more oil covering the valve surface, there will be a better barrier against wear.

What say ye?


Jordan
Rudolph Meinl "Bayreuth"
King 2341 with Holton Monster Eb Bell
King/Conn Eb Frankentuba
Pan AmeriConn BBb Helicon
Yamaha YBB-103

"No one else is placed exactly as we are in our opportune human orbits."
Top
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 5772
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Has thanked: 1775 times
Been thanked: 1914 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by arpthark »

Generous!

What is too much oil going to do (besides potentially get on your pants)? I see no downside. :tuba:
Top
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5610
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 374 times
Been thanked: 1135 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by bort2.0 »

Generous.

Because I don't feel like doing it again too soon. :laugh:
Top
User avatar
the elephant
Posts: 4780
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:39 am
Location: 32°50'57.0"N 90°24'34.9"W
Has thanked: 2996 times
Been thanked: 2367 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by the elephant »

I use so much that I have to put paper towels down when I oil my valves. I'd use Pig Mats if I had any…

Image
These users thanked the author the elephant for the post:
shovelingtom (Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:23 am)
Image
Top
prodigal
Posts: 638
Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 2:22 pm
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 185 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by prodigal »

I flood my rotors down the leadpipe, so why not!
1960 186CC
B&S 5099/PT-15
Cerveny 653
A bunch of string instruments
Top
User avatar
Tubajug
Posts: 839
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:27 am
Location: Nebraska
Has thanked: 248 times
Been thanked: 258 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by Tubajug »

the elephant wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:04 pm I use so much that I have to put paper towels down when I oil my valves. I'd use Pig Mats if I had any…

Image
Nice! We use these at the air museum where I volunteer in the restoration hangar. We tape them to the floor under the leaky engines. :teeth:
Jordan
Rudolph Meinl "Bayreuth"
King 2341 with Holton Monster Eb Bell
King/Conn Eb Frankentuba
Pan AmeriConn BBb Helicon
Yamaha YBB-103

"No one else is placed exactly as we are in our opportune human orbits."
Top
User avatar
LeMark
Site Admin
Posts: 3117
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Arlington TX
Has thanked: 95 times
Been thanked: 973 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by LeMark »

I tell my students to "wet it, don't drown it"
Yep, I'm Mark
Top
catgrowlB
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2023 8:46 pm
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 124 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by catgrowlB »

Stingy, I suppose... :smilie2:
You only have to pull out each piston not even halfway to put a couple drops of oil on them, twirl, then push back in and screw the cap back on. I put the bottle nozzle right on each valve to lubricate with a couple drops.
I'm also brush-snaking with valve oil the mouthpipe much more frequently.
Top
gocsick
Posts: 1016
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:12 am
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 493 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by gocsick »

I've gone full Bloke... A good soaking of lamp oil ever time I play... for both pistons and rotors. For older piston instruments with with valves I use a mixture of 1/3 mineral oil and 2/3 lamp oil.... that matches the viscosity of Yamaha Vintage or Berp Bio Oil heavy.
As amateur as they come...I know just enough to be dangerous.

Meinl-Weston 20
Holton Medium Eb 3+1
Holton Collegiate Sousas in Eb and BBb
Conn 20J
and whole bunch of other "Stuff"
Top
User avatar
Mary Ann
Posts: 4167
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:24 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 915 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by Mary Ann »

I'm not a piston person but have done enough to decide that it's both. My Sterling euph has excellent pistons and Allisyn does not need a lot nor to be applied often.
When I had a 2280, I had blue juice and I swear I had to put it on liberally every half hour. The pistons would stick (and suck) horribly otherwise. I wonder if I had had Allisyn then how it would have worked out.
Top
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 24364
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 5225 times
Been thanked: 5887 times

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by bloke »

I spit on pistons every two months or so.

Just like my tuba teacher (trombone player) told me back in 1966, rotors don't need oil.

:eyes:
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
the elephant (Sat Jan 31, 2026 1:36 pm)
Top
shovelingtom
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2021 6:20 pm
Location: Yellowstone National Park, WY
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 41 times
Contact:
Contact shovelingtom

Re: Generous or Stingy?

Post by shovelingtom »

the elephant wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 4:04 pm I use so much that I have to put paper towels down when I oil my valves. I'd use Pig Mats if I had any…
This is a great idea! it helps that I have them.
These users thanked the author shovelingtom for the post:
the elephant (Sat Jan 31, 2026 1:36 pm)
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Music Chatter”