Cleaning A Trombone Slide | Chad Arnow

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Chad Arnow
Trombone * Bass Trombone * Euphonium

Cleaning A Trombone Slide

A trombone cant function without a slide in good condition. Follow the steps below to clean your slide and keep it moving easily. Characteristics of a properly-working slide: The inner slide tubes are shiny. A dull surface usually means there is a buildup of old (or too much) slide lubricant and/or gunk. It is completely (or at least mostly) silent. Nickel outer slides will often make a little noise no matter what you do. Brass outer slides should be silent when clean, lubricated, and properly maintained. It should move easily under gravitys influence. If the slide is difficult to move, doesnt move on its own with the slide lock off, or cant easily make small, fine adjustments, it needs help. Supplies youll need:

Supplies Needed for Cleaning a Slide

1. Yamaha Slide Oil (you can substitute Slide-O-Mix if you prefer; I feel the Yamaha Slide Oil is superior) 2. Superslick Trombone Spray Bottle (any small, clean spraybottle filled with water will do) 3. Trombone Slide Snake 4. Brass Saver Trombone Brush Set 5. Trombone Cleaning Rod (Most instruments come with this. If you dont have one, you should be able to buy one at most local music stores.) 6. Cheesecloth or strips of old, clean, soft white cotton T-shirt. Getting prepared: Always work in an environment free of obstacles and distractions. Access to a sink will be necessary for some steps. Have all your supplies handy. Remove the mouthpiece and bell and store them safely out of the way. Cleaning the Outer Slide: Begin with the outer slide. Remove the inner slide and set it safely out of the way.

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27/03/2013

Cleaning A Trombone Slide | Chad Arnow

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Step 1

Step 1 - Flushing the slide out with water

Run water (cold or lukewarm never hot) through the outer slide to flush out loose debris. Turn upside-down to drain out the remaining water. Step 2

Threading the Brass Saver through the slide 1

Threading the Brass Saver through the slide 2

Use the Brass Saver slide brush (the longer of the two brushes) to clean the inside of the outer slide. Drop the ball into one outer slide tube and continue to feed it in until it comes out the end of the other tube (first image). Pull the ball to run the brush through the entire outer slide (second image). Alternative: use the Slide Snake to clean out the outer slide. The Slide Snake is shorter than the Brass Saver brush, so youll need to run it in as far as possible from the top of each slide tube. Flush the outer slide out with water to remove anything the snake loosened.

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Cleaning A Trombone Slide | Chad Arnow

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Step 3 Clean each outer slide tube with the cleaning rod and cheesecloth.

Cleaning rod and cheesecloth 1

Cleaning rod and cheesecloth 2

A. Take a strip of cheesecloth and thread it through the eye at the end of the cleaning rod. Wind the cheesecloth over and around the eye so the metal is completely covered. Wind the rest of the cheesecloth around the length of the cleaning rod so no metal is exposed.

Cleaning an outer slide tube

B. Holding the slide tube firmly, use the cloth-covered cleaning rod to swab out the inside. The cloth will pick up anything the Brass Saver brush and water left behind. Repeat for the other tube. Cleaning the Inner Slide: Step 1

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27/03/2013

Cleaning A Trombone Slide | Chad Arnow

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Cleaning the inner slide with a snake

Insert one brush end of the Slide Snake into the top of an inner slide tube. Feed the snake all the way through and pull it out the other end. Repeat on the other tube. Note: Never use the cloth and cleaning rod on the side of the inner slide where your mouthpiece goes. Doing so can damage the thin brass leadpipe inside that tube. Always use the snake for this. Step 2

Wiping the inner slide with cheesecloth

Wipe off the outer slide tubes with cheesecloth. If stubborn buildup remains, wet the cheesecloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe them again. Be careful not to get the alcohol on lacquered surfaces; keep it on the inner slide tubes only. Lubricate the Slide: Lubricate the slide with Yamaha Slide Oil according to the directions on the bottle. Dont use too much or the action will be sluggish. In between applications of the lubricant, spray with water from the Spray Bottle to keep it moving smoothly.

http://chadarnow.com/?page_id=191

27/03/2013

Cleaning A Trombone Slide | Chad Arnow

Pgina 5 de 5

http://chadarnow.com/?page_id=191

27/03/2013