I have a quite low budget and wish to buy a one type of oil for my Thayer valve.

I already have Trombotine and use it to maintain my slide and tuning slide. I don't know, what to choose, but I've read a S.E. Shires Maintenance Guide, and there is written, that it's better to use Hetman Light Rotor Oil and Hetman Light Bearing and Linkage Oil.

Tell me, can I buy one of this oils and use it both for the Valve and Linkages? Because I want to save my budget, but if it will damage my instrument and my axial valve will have some troubles, I of course, buy both the oils.

And, maybe, there are some other variants of oil? Thanks :good:

[quote="qweasdzxc701"]

Tell me, can I buy one of this oils and use it both for the Valve and Linkages? Because I want to save my budget, but if it will damage my instrument and my axial valve will have some troubles, I of course, buy both the oils.[/quote]

No, they are very different weights. (Bearing/linkage oil is much too heavy for the valve core and will make it very slow. Valve oil won't damage the linkages but it is too thin to be good at lubricating them properly.) And get some specific tuning slide grease - this is less important, but it will last longer and work better than Trombotine for that purpose.

Stick to the instructions. These products are expensive, but they last a long time, and maintaining your instrument properly is always much cheaper than repairing it <span class="emoji" title=":wink:">😉</span>

I use Ultra-Pure standard valve oil on the core-

[url]<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-p ... ml-2-fl-oz">https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-page/ultra-pure-professional-valve-oil-upo-valve-59ml-2-fl-oz</LINK_TEXT>

light bearing oil (blue bottle) on the bearings-

[url]<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-p ... o-lbo-20ml">https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-page/ultra-pure-light-bearing-oil-upo-lbo-20ml</LINK_TEXT>

and the red bottle on linkages, ball bearings and such-

[url]<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-p ... o-llk-20ml">https://www.ultrapureoils.com/product-page/ultra-pure-linkage-lever-key-oil-upo-llk-20ml</LINK_TEXT>

I used Hetman for a long time, but I was getting less performance for less time. Plus, you can buy Ultra-Pure straight from the maker, no middlemen.

If availability is an issue, consider using Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or Anhydrous lanolin on the tuning slide. Caution: the Vaseline turns green indicating it is leaching out some copper from the brass but I used it for years without any apparent problems. Anhydrous lanolin is available in most drug stores often sold in tubes intended for lactating mothers.

As to spindle oil, you can substitute sewing machine oil or even household oil (3 in 1). Both are intended for spindles. Don't use it inside the core -- it will slow the valve WAY too much.

Thanks so much, you help me a lot