TromboneChat

Curious, as I’m taking more care of my instruments, myself, rather than sending out. Lack of techs within three hours will make you try to learn.
So, looking for soft bumpers for shires rotors and rotors. I’ve been told o-rings and I’ve been told to use red rubber, in 11/64 and 17/64. Any recommendations on materials that are soft and quiet? I’m headed to a couple of hardware stores and to my local music and arts repair center tomorrow, but value any input.

Best

Jeff

Send me your address (via pm or email. matthew"at"customtrombones"dot"com) and I will send you some lengths of the 3 durometers of material that I use.

That’s very nice of you MW! I’ll send you en email promptly. Let me know what I owe you and I’ll PayPal you.

Jeff

For several reasons, I wouldn't use o-rings (or sewing machine belts, or ...). You also may discover that using softer material is not what you want -- it makes the bumpers bouncy in addition to wearing more quickly. The stuff Matthew Walker is sending you should fix you up.

I've always found Jeff Funderburk's rotary valve videos on Youtube to be especially helpful (though in the one on bumper replacement he uses cork rather than rubber -- matter of taste mostly):



There are some simple tricks that can avoid a lot of frustration.

Good stuff!

ghmerrill wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:53 pm For several reasons, I wouldn't use o-rings (or sewing machine belts, or ...). You also may discover that using softer material is not what you want -- it makes the bumpers bouncy in addition to wearing more quickly. The stuff Matthew Walker is sending you should fix you up.

I've always found Jeff Funderburk's rotary valve videos on Youtube to be especially helpful (though in the one on bumper replacement he uses cork rather than rubber -- matter of taste mostly):



There are some simple tricks that can avoid a lot of frustration.

Cork tends to wear out REALLY quickly.

Didn't Osmun used to have some material they would do on your bumpers that supposedly lasted forever and ever after they installed it?

harrisonreed wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:16 am Didn't Osmun used to have some material they would do on your bumpers that supposedly lasted forever and ever after they installed it?

Yes. Ive got it on my bass. Seems great! Been on there for 6 or 7 years now. Not my daily horn so I can’t say anything about the longevity.

I have about 3' each of 1/4" and 3/16" black rubber cord that I got some years ago. I think it's from Votaw (could be J.L. Smith or somewhere else ). Votaw says "Our cord has been specially designed and fabricated with an exact durometer (hardness) for rotary valve instruments offering the proper amount of resistance to the rotor stop." -- so it's gotta be great. In fact, the stuff seems to last a LONG time (hence the 6' I have left), but then I don't hammer my valves as much as pro players (or serious amateurs) do. I think I've changed it twice on my bass trombone since I got that. But it also lasted a long time on my Cerveny rotary valve tuba when I had that as well.

I also have (from Votaw) some "stop plate bumper" of the (black rubber) sort that has one extended flat side (Votaw tags it specifically for Jupiter instruments in one size, and Holton instruments in another). I can't imagine why I have it. And then I've got 3' of (J.L Smith) silicone cord bumper material that I thought was gonna be great. It was an interesting experience for maybe a week, but not great.