Valve Oil      Slide Grease       Trombone Slide Lubricants

Valve Oils
Petroleum vs. Synthetic

What's the difference? Is one better than the other?

The basic difference between the two is that Petroleum oil is made up of molecules of varying sizes.

When using a Petroleum based oil, the smaller molecules tend to evaporate quicker, leaving only the larger molecules. Some say that the larger molecules which remain, give the valves a more sluggish feel. This also may lead to using the traditional petroleum oil more frequently.

Synthetic oil is made of molecules of similar size. A lot of players say synthetic oil provides a more slippery feel when playing. They also find that they are lubricating less frequently with the synthetic oil.

 

Petroleum
Superslick
Al Cass/FAST
Blue Juice*

Synthetic
Yamaha
Hetman/ J. Meinelschmidt
Ultra Pure

 

Benefits:
•Good for beginners

•Cheaper


*Blue Juice has an added detergent to clean the valves as you use it

Benefits:
•Don’t have to apply as often

•No “oily” smell

•Several varieties depending on valve action

Drawbacks:
•More expensive

•Should get instrument ultrasonically cleaned before switching (the oils don’t mix well)

Blue Juice
Yamaha Light
Hetman/ JM Light (1)
Al Cass / FAST
Hetman/ JM Light rotor (11)
5 Starr
Hetman/JM  (2)
Yamaha Regular
Superslick Valve
5 Starr Red Zone
Ultra Pure
Hetman/ JM Classic (3)
Yamaha Vintage
Superslick Slide Oil
Hetman/ JM Bearing (13.5)
Hetman/ JM Ball Joint (15)

Slide Grease

What's the difference? Is one better than the other?

While valve oil is designed to make your valves move faster, slide grease is designed to keep your slide in a particular spot for tuning purposes. In order to keep your instrument functioning, slide grease should be applied about once per week, if you're playing regularly. *Trombone slides use DIFFERENT products. See below for more information. Do not apply slide grease to a trombone handslide. 


To apply slide grease to your instrument, remove one slide at a time. Begin by thoroughly wiping them down with a paper towel to remove existing grease. Apply a small amount of grease to the tip of each inner slide. Insert one slide in and rotate it so the grease gets distributed evenly down the slide. Repeat with each slide.

Types of Slide Grease

Chapstick Style
Most trumpet care kits come with the chapstick style of slide grease. Typically they are petroleum based. It is effective and cheap, although you may find that you need to apply more often. Do not apply to lips. 

Tub Style
There is a greater variety of materials in the tub-style of slide grease, with options including Petroleum, Lanolin, and Synthetic materials. This is typically the messiest to use since you apply it with your fingertips or a small brush.

Gel Style
The gel style (such as the red-colored Bach grease) is widely used by repair shops and professionals alike. The small tip allows for precision application, and a single bottle will last a very long time. 

Trombone Slides Lubricants

Unlike the slides on a valved instrument, trombone handslides need to move effortlessly and smooth. 

Slide Oil
The most basic slide lubricant for trombone is slide oil. This gets applied to the entire slide regularly, several times a week. 

Slide Cream
This feels like a thick lotion and applies directly to the entire slide to coat it. The cream will last 2-3 weeks with moderate use. You need a spray bottle with water and mist the slide regularly, every time you play. Historically products like Ponds Cold Cream have been used as a slide cream.

All-In-One or Combination Gels
Preferred by most professionals, Slide-o-mix, Ultrapure, or Yamaha Slide Lube are a gel consistency that are all-inclusive and don't require water to mist it down.
Slide-o-mix comes in both an all-in-one (called "Rapid Comfort") or two-part. The two-part has a thick gel that is applied to the very ends of the inner slide and blended up onto the slide with the thinner gel.