Slide oil

[Malarz]

Any recommendations on where to purchase Suzuki Slide Oil in the US? Is there an alternative to Suzuki?

thanks.

Ken

[GregH]

Any recommendations on where to purchase Suzuki Slide Oil in the US? Is there an alternative to Suzuki?

thanks.

Ken

Alternative: I've used this food-grade silicone oil before with no problems. I sprayed some into a plastic saucer and then applied it sparingly to the slide before reassembly. I think it lasts longer than a similar light application of Vaseline, which is more prone to attract bits of whatever. Maybe.

Note that this link is for a case of 12! One spray can has lasted me for the last 40 years, saving it for stuff in the kitchen and musical instruments.

[Malarz]

Thanks for your help.

[Mike Green]

Has anyone tried instrument key oil?

[SlimHeilpern]

Many years ago, someone (might have been on this forum) recommended Astroglide (which is marketed as a "personal lubricant") as the perfect slide oil and I purchased a 2.5 oz bottle of it. I'm about half way through the bottle now (didn't ever need it on CX12s, which I played mostly over the years) and I'm very happy with it for my non CX12 harmonicas. I use only a tiny bit and it seems to work well.

- Slim

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, especially since its water soluble, a little bit of water works well as a refresh and it acts like a freshly AstroGlided slide.

[Laina]

Organic coconut oil used very sparingly?

[BeauKim]

Has anyone tried instrument key oil?

I know you're asking about instrument key oil, but I figured trumpet valve oil might be included in your question.  I played trumpet for a number of years and can say that several makes valve oil really smell strongly and don't taste very good.  I think it would be too thin as that stuff really gets everywhere.  There are thicker grades of valve oil for old brass instruments or thin slide greases that could be an option, but most do smell somewhat and probably don't taste great.  Also, it might not be so good for you when ingesting it. 

I've been fine with a very fine layer of vaseline for my slides.  I'd try some fo these other non-toxic suggestions listed by other people here. 

[Doug]

Any recommendations on where to purchase Suzuki Slide Oil in the US? Is there an alternative to Suzuki?

thanks.

Ken

Suzuki slide oil doesn’t appear to be available in the US. Why not order some on eBay from Japan? I was given a sample from a fellow SlideMeister and to my surprise l really like it.

[Mike Green]

Has anyone tried instrument key oil?

I know you're asking about instrument key oil, but I figured trumpet valve oil might be included in your question.  I played trumpet for a number of years and can say that several makes valve oil really smell strongly and don't taste very good.  I think it would be too thin as that stuff really gets everywhere.  There are thicker grades of valve oil for old brass instruments or thin slide greases that could be an option, but most do smell somewhat and probably don't taste great.  Also, it might not be so good for you when ingesting it. 

I've been fine with a very fine layer of vaseline for my slides.  I'd try some fo these other non-toxic suggestions listed by other people here.

Thanks for your response since I have key oil for some of my instruments. I always thought Vaseline was petroleum based. Doesn’t it smell as well?

[elaect]

I normally use olive oil if needed...

[smojoe]

Suzuki slide oil IS available in the U.S. I live in a 'nothing' area (in the swamp..downhill..both ways..lolol) as far as music stores go, and we have it. Another alternative is Yamaha slide oil. I have tasted both and they seem to be the same....mineral oil.

smo-joe (btw, I'm using Bernina ultra fine sewing machine oil right now..swiped from the wife..)

[Doug]

Suzuki slide oil IS available in the U.S. I live in a 'nothing' area (in the swamp..downhill..both ways..lolol) as far as music stores go, and we have it. Another alternative is Yamaha slide oil. I have tasted both and they seem to be the same....mineral oil.

smo-joe (btw, I'm using Bernina ultra fine sewing machine oil right now..swiped from the wife..)

Huh, after searching the Web, I did find one place, musicianswebstore.com, in Canada that sells Suzuki slide oil to the US, but no one in the US. Maybe you can help the original poster by giving him the name and contact info for your local music store.

[michael s]

how about water...

regards,

Michael O S

[dougharps]

Perhaps your favorite 90 proof spirit in a dropper bottle?


Doug S.

PS - Just not on February 30 or 31!

[Chromello]

New harmonica.com has Suzuki slide oil listed.

[Gnarly He Man]

Danny!

[saxony]

I heard that Hetman light bearing and linkage #13 works very well.  You can get it on Amazon and EBay and possibly at some music stores. Has anyone tried it?

[SlideMeister]

New harmonica.com has Suzuki slide oil listed.

I just may hafta pick some up at the party in sixteen days.
Tick-tick-tick!

[ejacob4]

Recently did my cx-12s with Vaseline, a Brendan power thing. Depending on whether or nor an instrument has been refined, it supposedly, and I think so in my 12s, gets you a bit more airtight. Very thin. Wax on, wax off kinda thing.

Best regards,
Ed

[Doug]

I’ve been using Suzuki slide oil that was generously given to me by Neil Adler. Thanks Neil! I like it a lot. I put a drop on my fingers and then apply a very thin coat. I clean my chromatics about every 2-3 weeks and I play around an hour a day, more or less. When I take the slide off for cleaning, the accumulation and of slide oil and saliva makes the slide black. It’s not a big deal, and I’ve never noticed a sluggish slide. Maybe I’ll try cleaning the slide more often...or not use the oil. I like the smoothness from the oil, but I’m fine without it too. It’s nice, but not a game changer. Just sayin’.

[smojoe]

You don't have to keep taking the mouthpieces off. Take a shallow tray that will hold a chromo HOLES DOWN in only enough water to come up to the seam where the mouthpiece touches the over-bridger piece (called a u-channel). In cases where the slide is imbedded IN the mouthpiece, perhaps ONE MM more. Work the slide back and forth a dozen times, wash out the saliva, and pat the chromo into a tea towel with holes DOWN.

In between times you can use an eye dropper bottle of oil and touch the slide every few holes depositing a TEEEEENSIE bit at a time. This will last till the next tray wash. I have dozens of small plastic bottles around here. They are from the wife's eye drops, my drops when I had eye surgery, and also from the test chemicals for swimming pools. I take them to the conventions and give them away.

s.j.

[ejacob4]

the accumulation and of slide oil and saliva makes the slide black.

Why black?

Best regards,
Ed

[ejacob4]

Just remembered. There was a guy on this forum long ago who used to run a very thin stream of water, little more than a drip, holding  the harp mouthpiece down, and working the slide.

Best regards,
Ed

[SlideMeister]

Gotta feeling that was me.
Still do BTW

[ejacob4]

I did and do use it. A little bit of care get a huge dividend.

Thanks,
Ed

[SlideMeister]

Drip-drip-drip! Works great between regular cleanings. In an emergency, blowin' a little spit in the button end works too, but the drip, is a somewhat classier remedy for that pesky, ole' "SSS" (sticky slide syndrome)

[Doug]

the accumulation and of slide oil and saliva makes the slide black.

Why black?

I probably should have said more. It looks like dirty oil. It washes off just fine. I suppose it could be the friction of the metal mixing with the oil. This may be one of the slides that I got too aggressive with and scratched off some of the coating when I first learned about deburring a slide. I’m just guessing.

[Laina]

The thin of warm water/actuate slide after each play tip works well for me, also SmoJoe's method of shallow water tray - all great advice thanks.  I find microfibre cloths useful for removing residue and  -  think it was Scotty's tip - special none-fleecing Qtips around the holes
When removing the slide for further cleaning I've been trying a small dab of organic coconut oil along the slide. Seems to keep it nice and smooth with no issues so far. A little goes a long way.

[SlideMeister]

Hmmmm! Never tried cocoanut oil in the slide. It IS great stuff. I love anything with cocoanut. (I just hate spelling the word ) We use it for lotsa things, but never thought of it for my harumka. Next tear-down, I think I'll give it a shot.

Thanx kiddo!
Age