The slide is kinda scratchy in a way?

N0ahh · by **N0ahh** » 2024-05-07 11:25 p.m.

Hi, so what do I do if the beginning of my slide (1-3rd position) is kinda hard to move? It’s a new trombone I got this month. I wash the slide and put ALOT of slide grease on it. This didn’t happen to my first trombone so I have no idea what’s wrong.

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2024-05-08 1:15 a.m.

What model is it and where did you get it?

First thing I'd try is a good cleaning of the outer slide with a cleaning rod and cheesecloth.

Second thing I'd do is to check the slide tubes for warp or misalignment. Sight down the tubes and look for bends. Then place one outer tube on the inner and see if the other pair of tubes are parallel. Do this for both combinations.

If you find misalignment or if both things don't work, see a tech or contact the seller for a replacement.

Note that some Chinese instruments are not easy to repair and some repairmen won't touch them.

SteveFoote · by **SteveFoote** » 2024-05-08 10:03 a.m.

If it is really new as in you bought it from a music store and you are the first owner, don't mess with it. Take it back and let them determine what is wrong and make the needed adjustments so that it works correctly.

Stores should not release an instrument that is not properly aligned.

andesl10 · by **andesl10** » 2024-05-16 2:56 p.m.

What kind of slide grease are you using? How did the slide move when it was cleaned and not greased? If it's tuning slide grease, it wouldn't work well. Generally for slide creams, I think less is more.

u_220FifthSstreet · by **u_220FifthSstreet** » 2024-07-06 8:49 p.m.

Just a thought. Clean the slide inside and out, then get a bar of LAVA soap, wet it just enough to feel pasty in your hands, then coat the slide with the soap paste. Now work the slide about a hundred times...it will feel VERY scratchy and sluggish. Now rinse thoroughly and apply a good slide cream (I use Pond's Cold cream, but then I am old school. ) What I am describing is a lapping technique I have used on valves and slides. This will remove any little irregularities in the slide surface....don't overdo it on the cold cream; just enough to make a light coat and then apply water and work it in. Wipe off any excess and use water liberally. Of course, I am assuming that our tube are properly aligned with the outer slide and that there is no bowing or noticible dents.

atopper333 · by **atopper333** » 2024-07-06 11:59 p.m.

[quote="SteveFoote"]If it is really new as in you bought it from a music store and you are the first owner, don't mess with it. Take it back and let them determine what is wrong and make the needed adjustments so that it works correctly.

Stores should not release an instrument that is not properly aligned.[/quote]

This, most definitely.

brassmedic · by **brassmedic** » 2024-07-07 5:26 a.m.

[quote="220FifthSstreet"]Just a thought. Clean the slide inside and out, then get a bar of LAVA soap, wet it just enough to feel pasty in your hands, then coat the slide with the soap paste. Now work the slide about a hundred times...it will feel VERY scratchy and sluggish. Now rinse thoroughly and apply a good slide cream (I use Pond's Cold cream, but then I am old school. ) What I am describing is a lapping technique I have used on valves and slides. This will remove any little irregularities in the slide surface....don't overdo it on the cold cream; just enough to make a light coat and then apply water and work it in. Wipe off any excess and use water liberally. Of course, I am assuming that our tube are properly aligned with the outer slide and that there is no bowing or noticible dents.[/quote]
Nope. Do not try to DIY "lap" a slide on your own. Take it to a tech or return it to the seller to be fixed.

MStarke · by **MStarke** » 2024-07-07 7:04 a.m.

Do not put "ALOT of slide grease" on it. Especially actual slide cream (e g trombotine) will make it very very slow if applied too much. You will need much less of it than you might think.

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2024-07-07 8:57 a.m.

[quote="220FifthSstreet"]Just a thought. Clean the slide inside and out, then get a bar of LAVA soap, wet it just enough to feel pasty in your hands, then coat the slide with the soap paste. Now work the slide about a hundred times...it will feel VERY scratchy and sluggish. Now rinse thoroughly and apply a good slide cream (I use Pond's Cold cream, but then I am old school. ) What I am describing is a lapping technique I have used on valves and slides. This will remove any little irregularities in the slide surface....don't overdo it on the cold cream; just enough to make a light coat and then apply water and work it in. Wipe off any excess and use water liberally. Of course, I am assuming that our tube are properly aligned with the outer slide and that there is no bowing or noticible dents.[/quote]
Wish we could flag posts for inappropriate content.

I would never do this to a slide and I would probably physically intervene if I saw somebody try this. Even if you wanted to “lap” or “hone” the slide, this is the WRONG way to do it and likely to irreparably harm the components.

To the OP, tell us more about the horn and what you are doing… if “a lot” of slide grease means more than a pea sized amount, that is way too much for most slides.

Cheers,

Andy

Emmanem · by **Emmanem** » 2024-07-07 1:40 p.m.

Most likely the geometry is wrong on the instrument. One of my trombones is the same way because one of the bars on the slide is too long. You don't feel it in the farther out positions due to the metal having more give out there. Best thing to do is to take it back. There is no easy fixes for it.

Slidehamilton · by **Slidehamilton** » 2024-07-15 3:35 p.m.

Often new trombone slide tubes are bent, and need to be straightened, as well as aligned. It's unfortunate that companies do this.

Quick Links

Instruments

Marketplace

The slide is kinda scratchy in a way?