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Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 9:37 pm
by pompatus
For those of you playing Instrument Innovations rotor valves, what lubricant are you using on them?
Are you finding they need less frequent maintenance, as a result of the bearings?
How are they holding up after a few years?
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 9:39 pm
by Burgerbob
Ultra Pure is my go to.
They always have great action (in my findings), but will start to leak without lube, which is how I know when to lube again.
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:54 am
by hornbuilder
Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:15 am
by BGuttman
hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:54 am
Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Actually, bone dry is better than moist with condensate (from blowing). The moisture on the bare metal allows acids in the air to dissolve and start attacking the metal. Note that air is full of acids. The most common is carbon dioxide which reacts with water to create carbonic acid, but in some areas there is sulfur dioxide that dissolves in the moisture to create sulfurous acid, and nitrogen oxides (particularly nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in water to create nitric acid).
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:38 am
by hornbuilder
BGuttman wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 7:15 am
hornbuilder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:54 am
Lubrication does not only help with action. It also helps with preservation. If there is oil on the metal surface, air and water have less chance of inducing oxidation. Fancy valves oxidize just like plain Jane valves if they're dry.
Actually, bone dry is better than moist with condensate (from blowing). The moisture on the bare metal allows acids in the air to dissolve and start attacking the metal. Note that air is full of acids. The most common is carbon dioxide which reacts with water to create carbonic acid, but in some areas there is sulfur dioxide that dissolves in the moisture to create sulfurous acid, and nitrogen oxides (particularly nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in water to create nitric acid).
Emphasizing the point that lubrication with oil is important. How long does a Bone Dry instrument stay dry inside when you start playing it? As soon as you blow into a dry horn, you are introducing moisture, and thus inducing oxidation.
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:01 am
by BGuttman
I'm not disagreeing with you. It's just if you leave the horn dry in a closet it's less of an issue than if you play it.
Fact remains, if you can get a film of oil (or silicone) on the bare metal parts, it slows oxidation much better -- whether the horn is played or not.
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:13 pm
by greenbean
If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!...
Just thinking out loud...
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:07 am
by afugate
greenbean wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:13 pm
If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!...
Just thinking out loud...
My technique and intonation are at their best when I'm stop playing!
--Andy in OKC
Re: Lubricating Olsen Rotors?
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:18 am
by Bonearzt
afugate wrote: ↑Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:07 am
greenbean wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:13 pm
If we just stop playing... a whole bunch of problems go away!...
Just thinking out loud...
My technique and intonation are at their best when I'm stop playing!
--Andy in OKC
Ha!! I thought I was the only one!!!