Best slide grease for the tuba

[tubanews]

I know there are some magical combinations for slide grease out there. In school I remember using a combination of lanolin and then dousing it with valve oil (I think the valve oil was red but I dont remember the name of it). I do have one tricky slide I have to work with that nothing seems to work on. (Its probably misaligned) The last time I dealt with this I think I went with the Shilke slide grease.

Any suggestions?

[bloke]

I don’t blame you a bit for asking the question, and understand what you’re trying to work around…
...but also think of asking a mechanic what is the best grease to put in a bent rear differential of a truck.

[tbonesullivan]

So, is the slide too stiff I would assume? Do you have to bend it inward/outward to get it to go back in when you remove it?

[LeMark]

Can you insert on leg of the slide at a time into each individual outer slides? That will isolate if the problem is a dent or a misalignment

[tubanews]

Can you insert on leg of the slide at a time into each individual outer slides? That will isolate if the problem is a dent or a misalignment

I suspect misalignment because I have to sort of see-saw it from side to side to get it to move. Which I have to be careful of because it so stiff I dont want to break off a solder joint.

It does seem to respond to slide lubrication just not for very long. Also I am interested in peoples slide grease tricks. I know there are some out there.

[matt g]

I used to use the old Selmer brand slide/cork grease (red goo) and Al Cass. I’d put a thin layer of the slide grease on and then work the slide, one leg at a time, with the Al Cass.

Now I use Hetman’s slide oil and it gives a very similar feel.

ETA: this is the Selmer goo...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Grease-Tuning ... /107488446

[tubanews]

I used to use the old Selmer brand slide/cork grease (red goo) and Al Cass. I’d put a thin layer of the slide grease on and then work the slide, one leg at a time, with the Al Cass.

I think that was the concoction I was thinking of.... I believe I used this on the first valve slide specifically so that it would slide as freely as possible. I cant remember if this mix was recommended by a bone player or not...

[bloke]

Does Schilke still make that lanolin concoction in that old percolator ?

[tubanews]

Does Schilke still make that lanolin concoction in that old percolator ?

This?

shilke_grease.jpeg (42.66 KiB) Viewed 2005 times

[bloke]

maybe...' wonder if the formula and "cooker" are still the same...(??)

[marccromme]

I used to use the old Selmer brand slide/cork grease (red goo) and Al Cass. I’d put a thin layer of the slide grease on and then work the slide, one leg at a time, with the Al Cass.

ETA: this is the Selmer goo...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Grease-Tuning ... /107488446

This!

[JESimmons]

I’m still working on the container of anhydrous lanolin I bought from a drug store in Athens, Georgia in 1967.

[Yorkboy]

*

[Stauff]

Conn Selmer did away with the Selmer brand and re-marketed the slide grease under the Bach name, still 2942B part number. Still red, still tacky.
https://buddyrogers.com/bach-tuning-slide-grease/

[Three Valves]

Red stuff for slides.

Blue stuff for valves.