Lawson Valve Oil Formula, by Walter Lawson

​

Disclaimer: The following was was written by the late Walter Lawson and may or may not be a current recommendation of Lawson Brass Instruments, Inc.
-----------
In order to prolong the life and protect your instrument from wear and corrosion caused by salts and acids introduced into the horn while being played, Lawson Brass Instruments, Inc. recommends the use of the following lubricants:

1. SLIDE GREASE (Apply weekly)- Automotive wheel bearing grease or Universal Joint grease.
Remove slides, wipe inner tubes with a new paper towel, spread a thin coat of grease over the surface of the inner tubes, insert and move slides in and out. When the slide is returned to its receiver tubes after emptying water, it should be pushed all the way in, then drawn for tuning. This prevents corrosion buildup at the bottom of the slide receiver tubes and also stuck slides.

2. HINGE LUBRICANT (Apply weekly)- Automotive heavy weight motor oil - 45 or 50 or preferably No. 90 gear oil. Apply a drop of hinge lubricant to all springs, including water key springs and all hinge tubes and valve lever articulated joints. A drop on the end of a toothpick will act as a good applicator.

3. VALVE SHAFT AND ROTOR LUBRICANT (Apply weekly or more frequently)- No. 5 Light Machine Oil
This lubricant will coat the inner parts of the instrument and help slow down corrosion. The valve slides should be removed and several drops of oil poured down the tubes into the valves. By turning the horn and working the valves, the oil will be spread throughout the inside of the instrument. Valve rotor shafts should then be oiled under the valve caps (a drop on the end of the shaft) and in the crack between the lower bearing and the stop arm hub. Valve slides should be pumped in and out without removing them or depressing the valves, to vacuum the oil into the valve bearings. This does not injure the valves.

4. ROTOR OIL (Apply daily)- One part No. 5 oil, 8 parts kerosene or light trumpet piston valve oil
A well fitted rotary valve will be rather sluggish with only valve shaft rotor and bearing oil on it. Rotor oil (No. 5 and kerosene mix) will, when applied down through the slide tube receiver, speed up the valve action.

COMMENTS:
All of these lubricants will be thinned or dissolved by the next thinner one below it. Copper alloys are not harmed by these oils and the instrument can easily be cleaned by using a proper degreasing agent. Lawson Brass Instruments does not recommend synthetic lubricants. Perhaps 20 years from now there will be enough data attesting to their properties. For now, we are not dealing here with a lot of piston travel and high temperatures, just something that will keep things clean, leave no residue and put a protective film on the bearings and inside the horn and allow the valves to move easily and quickly. Don't expect the oil to solve the problem of valves that have not been fitted properly. That is - snug bearings and free rotors with no casing distortion. If they are properly made and fitted they will work well. Our test for a good valve action is to spin the rotor assembled in the valve casing when it is bone dry. If it spins freely and fast, it will work even better with valve oil on it. Of course, it has to be reasonably airtight also. But which is better, to have the valve really tight and stick so that 2,000 people in the audience know it, or perhaps have it leak a little and you are the only one that knows it? Valve rotors that are slightly loose can be compensated for by changing the taper in the mouthpipe to correct for the wider band width of the notes that is caused by leaking valves. Up to a point, that is.
​
SOURCES:

DURALENE NO. 5 WHITE OIL (note: now called Duralene No. 4133 White Oil. Thanks to Howard Sanner for providing the information.)

• 5 Gallons= $86.05 ea

• This product can be diluted with 8 parts of 1-K kerosene to make an excellent lubricant for musical instrument valves.

The United Oil Company, Inc. Phone: 410-342-1200
4405 East Baltimore St. Fax: 410-327-7695
Baltimore, MD 21224-1799
www.duralene.com