TromboneChat

Don't forget to clean the bell section, including the tuning slides!
These before and after pics need no explanation, other than it was from a horn I bought used awhile back, sight unseen. The tuning slide was stuck; when I finally got it free...uggg!

Did you take it in for cleaning, or did you scrub it and use some vinegar? I'm always amazed at how much mineral stuff builds up in the main tuning slide, which is so far away from any spit contamination.

tbonesullivan wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 9:54 am I'm always amazed at how much mineral stuff builds up in the main tuning slide, which is so far away from any spit contamination.

You've still got aerosol droplets of spit traveling through the instrument, so some of that's going to be deposited throughout the length of the instrument. There's also a certain amount of moisture that's going to condense on the inside surfaces of the instrument, particularly when you're playing in a cooler environment.

FYI: from what I can tell, the typical dew point of human breath is just under 48°F (9°C). Obviously, there's a lot factors that will influence that, and I would imagine that the air that goes through a brass instrument is significantly moister that normal exhaled air, which would raise the dew point.

(You know, it's weird. I worked with dew point devices for years and never through to check my own dew point)

I cleaned it myself, including the bell section tubing, (minus the rotor, which was cleaned seperately). Vinegar, cleaning snake, then detergent and water, then a rinse.
Repeated these steps several times over the course of several days.

Mamaposaune wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2024 6:39 pm Don't forget to clean the bell section, including the tuning slides!
These before and after pics need no explanation, other than it was from a horn I bought used awhile back, sight unseen. The tuning slide was stuck; when I finally got it free...uggg!

I think my tuning slides are pretty clean - have never noticed any build-up.
I attribute this to two habits:

• I brush my teeth after eating / before playing. So ... no food particles to be deposited inside the trombone.

• As part of my (near-daily) cleaning protocol, I use my trusty HWP Brass-Saver (soft pull-through brush with a long plastic lead ribbon) to clean and dry the bell-section as well as my inner and outer slides. The Brass-Saver easily passes through the entire bell section, including the valve (rotor or axial) if present. I can't say enough for this product and its benefits.

Posaunus wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2024 1:11 pm
I think my tuning slides are pretty clean - have never noticed any build-up.
I attribute this to two habits:

• I brush my teeth after eating / before playing. So ... no food particles to be deposited inside the trombone.

• As part of my (near-daily) cleaning protocol, I use my trusty HWP Brass-Saver (soft pull-through brush with a long plastic lead ribbon) to clean and dry the bell-section as well as my inner and outer slides. The Brass-Saver easily passes through the entire bell section, including the valve (rotor or axial) if present. I can't say enough for this product and its benefits.

Plus one on the brass saver! Horn always goes away clean and dry.

What about the green stuff inside?? What's the best way to clean that? Just used vinegar/baking soda/dawn. No go.

The tuning slides need to soak in the vinegar for a few hours. I prop them up in a bucket and fill since I'm not sure if the vinegar will affect the lacquer.

Our platform has it's own HVAC system, with the thermostat set in the mid 60s. After extended play time, I have had drops coming out the bell of my trumpet and my trombone. Note that I don’t acclimate to heat very well, even in the cool conditions my shirt is often soaked by the end of the music portion of the service, so I’m probably putting some hot air thru the horn. 55 degrees is tee shirt weather for me.