How To Remove Stuck Valve Tuning Slides

This is a "How to" video about pulling the small valve tuning slides on trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, and baritone (do not try this on tubas). Although this repair appears to be a little violent, it is safe and should not hurt your instrument if it is done correctly. However, do not try it if you are not comfortable doing it. Also, it is always good to practice on a junk instrument first if possible.
Here is the link to "How To Make A Tuning Slide Pulling Tool With A Drum Stick" :
• How To Make A Tuning S...
Here is the link to "Stuck Trumpet Valve: How to Use Ground Casing Mandrels"
• Stuck Trumpet Valve: H...
Here is the link to several videos that I have in the play list,
"How To Repair Stuck Tuning Slides"
• How To Repair Stuck Tu...
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TIP JAR - paypal.me/brassandwoodwindsho...

[@bengtthulin1535]

Thank you for showing things the way they really are!! It would have been so easy for you just to show a "polished" version where you had already released the slide before filming. Showing us how things went wrong at first is brave of you, and that should make any customer trust you!

[@ryebread1159]

I just noticed that almost all the parts of my trumpet are stuck

[@vroomoon]

Thanks for the screwdriver tip! I just freed a first valve slide that had been stuck for at least 100 years!

[@JustClaude13]

I'm going to make a pair of wooden pry-bars for my cornet.

[@solomonelisha3543]

Dunno if anyone gives a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm you can watch pretty much all the new movies on instaflixxer. Have been watching with my brother for the last weeks :)

[@frankorlando3794]

@Solomon Elisha yup, have been watching on InstaFlixxer for since november myself :)

[@kriztiannuevita1]

Thanks!! I freed a stuck slide from my flugelhorn, and now I can finally play it in tune

[@abstrathmeyer]

Great video! In our shop, we use an industrial penetrating oil called Kroil. It has a corrosion busting formula that really helps loosen a corroded slide. Apply to the ferrule slit, hit the tubes with a torch to create thermal expansion, tap sides of tubes with light mallet to open microscopic cracks in the corrosion, wait a day while the oil seeps into the cracks, repeat as needed. Same process as taking a rusty muffler off a car. Usually takes about a week to loosen up and much less brute force needed!

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Thank you for the information. I will have to check out the Kroil and try to do a video on the technique you described. Where is your shop located?

[@abstrathmeyer]

We are in metro-west Boston, in the town of Littleton. We sell, rent and service primarily student horns. (There's a really great professional brass shop only 15 minutes away in the next town, Osmun Music in Acton, MA. We send all our "impossible" repairs over there!) Another useful tool for freeing slides are the ferrule pliers from Ferree's. These pliers have circular jaws with a knife edge and a micrometer diameter adjustment, perfect for getting into the slit at the ferrule but not crushing the tubing. Then you tap on the pliers to exert sliding force directly on the ferrule. Avoids bending the braces or breaking them off. Only downside is the pliers can dig into the brass ferrule a little, but that's easy to burnish away.

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I have heard of Osmun Music. Some of my customers go there. I have the tuning slide pliers and I use them some times, but I usually prefer other methods if possible. If you ever get out to Burnt Hills, NY, stop in and say hi.

[@LookSharpFeelSharpBeSharp]

Wow, I give you great credit for demonstrating with such a difficult slide!! Thanks for such a great video!!

[@kenstephens2248]

Watched your video, got a seriously stuck tuning slide unstuck with some penetrating oil, heat, and patience. Thank you so much.

[@tristanschaper281]

Amazing video! I did something similar with a screwdriver up against the inside of the bend, and then used a hammer with gentle taps. I think the solid vibration/mechanical taps work well. And heat with penetrating oil, too. I'm learning a lot!

[@ticklemesenpai447]

Thank you for this video, this technique worked really well for clearing the third tuning slide, didn't really work out for the 2nd, but honestly I don't care that much about that yet, I'm just starting to learn and got an old trumpet that needed some serious cleaning, got it fully functioning and cleaned the 2nd valve slide with a custom tool. mine was very stuck so I had to use a torch and penetrating oil but it was eventually free with the pull method, did hurt the laquer a bit but the thing had bare patches and cosmetic dents all over so no real harm done.

[@farquell5782]

Thank you for the screwdriver trick! I just used it today on a piccolo trumpet 4th valve slide!

[@dollycase9665]

Worked like a charm on the second pull! Thanks!

[@JustClaude13]

I made levers out of 1/2 inch oak, sprayed some penetrating oil, then used a het gun to draw the oil into the joint. After some time spent tapping with a rawhide mallet to break the crust, I pried the valve slides of fairly easily. Thanks for the tip. The only thing left is the main tuning slide, and I suspect that's going in to the shop.

[@MrStarbor]

great explanation!!! That's why when I used your method I did not prevent slide from flying on the floor .but the worst thing that happened was two valve casings were kinda damaged so i had to use another approach

[@nef003]

Wow; this was a wonderful tutorial. Never seen such a stuck valve. Wow. I was cringing the whole time. 😬

[@LaurasLastDitch]

Nice video, Art! That was a little scary looking! I thought you were going to pull the vise off the workbench.

[@deltaray3]

I could swear I've had some slides stuck so hard that it would have broke the vise first.

[@jimritter9120]

Dear Mr. Arthur, Can you advise of the type of wick to use for clean and buffing the slides? It comes in cotton and fiberglass. Thank you in advance for your answer. Jim

[@bigshell478]

Thank you so much for your videos, I got the valve slides unstuck on a used baritone I just purchased.

[@beaujangles02]

Thanks for the video, sorted out my stuck slide

[@spaceheater1]

Thanks for the great info! What kind of torch are you using there? It looks very handy. Does using a penetrating oil like Liquid Wrench hurt a finished brass instrument any? I sometimes use that or the corrosion cracker. (My needle applicator for the corrosion cracker is pretty stopped up, and I may have to use some acetone to get it unclogged. Any thoughts on a good way to unclog the needle?)

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

The torch is called a Micro Torch. I do not think penetrating oil hurts the finish, but I would wipe it off when you are done. You could use a small diameter needle spring to get the tube unstuck.

[@SB_HAEX2000]

Thanks for the help! I used some thin paper although probably not ideal. Did it on my 2nd valve for my baritone, held the part for the valve then pulled out the tuning slide. Gotta watch your videos more often for instrument help.

[@Euphonium_boi]

Well, how’s it going

[@SB_HAEX2000]

​@@Euphonium_boigood honestly. I haven't played in 2 years though...but worked out for the time. Wbu?

[@Euphonium_boi]

@@SB_HAEX2000 really great actually! what made you stop playing if you doing minds me asking?

[@SB_HAEX2000]

@@Euphonium_boi noice noice, I ended up just not being completely committed to learning and practicing with my euphonium/baritone that I played throughout my school years. I'd rather be completely focused than half committed, so I stopped. Maybe in the future I'll pick up an instrument again, but we shall see

[@Euphonium_boi]

@@SB_HAEX2000 that’s fair. Glad to hear it worked out in school tho!

[@voratheharbinger2384]

You know ill just take it to a shop

[@justsomeguywithoutalife230]

Me: pull My table: YEET

[@endurocatfish]

Any variations on this technique on a French horn due to their design?

[@aidanmoore3153]

Guy: Put it right through the slide that is stuck Me: Ok, yeah Guy: Then you just chuck it in the vice grip Me: Well that went from 0 to 100 real quick! All jokes aside, this is a pretty good tutorial

[@dioluthier]

nice video.

[@jamesroberts3642]

Will heat ruing any 24kt gold plating?

[@nate-404]

Thank you! Heat and oil with a pull got the 1st valve unstuck. Now to conquer the 2nd...

[@adriangeorge6931]

Nate Oehring how did u do the 2nd

[@jrbuckner01]

I would think that that flame Would ruin the lacquer

[@sinisterniik]

Can you use the wicking method in the beginning of this video on a main tuning slide?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

No, the slide will likely get bent because it is too wide. Here is the link to the playlist "How To Repair Stuck Tuning Slides" kzbin.info/aero/PLtJyi3RgtJ2t9PfcfrdGEuqV7o-N9GXzm

[@myrthorton4218]

Question. What do you use as a lubricant on the slides of the trumpets? Curious, very curious...

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I use SuperSlick slide grease that comes in the little plastic containers with the screw on lid.

[@myrthorton4218]

The Brass and Woodwind Shop thanks for the info.

[@abstrathmeyer]

In our shop we use lanolin - comes in a plastic squeeze tube in the nursing-mothers section of your local drug store. Lanolin has a great feel on a tuning slide - stiff enough to stay put but very smooth when moving. If the player is actually going to use the 1st and 3rd valve slides while playing, you can apply a little valve oil afterwards to get the action as easy as they want.

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

I just had to laugh at around 3:11- I broke the wick. That would be me.

[@georgethompson715]

Thankyou :D

[@davemiller7633]

Art for President 2024😁😁

[@garrettc.44]

Jesus you are a lifesaver

[@justsomeguywithoutalife230]

“Give a little pull” Me: *pulling with all my might* Me: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE *crack* Me: :0

[@rodrigroudon1872]

How do you get the top valve cap unstuck because I’m forced to put in my valve oil from the bottom

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Here is the link to a video that may help: How To Remove Stuck Valve Caps kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGTOqn6ZbNeqjac

[@rumba7]

I have been using tubular webbing to pull slides. It comes in 1 inch and 1/2 inch widths. It is extremely strong, but still soft and flexible. It can be purchased from sporting goods stores that carry rock climbing equipment.

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

That is a great idea. I will need to try that.

[@MrEh5]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop tubular webbing doesn't stretch like wick. You can get a thinner type called tie off webbing used by aid climbers.

[@JoelHansell]

Isn’t tubular webbing usually nylon? I’m not sure it’s going to work with heat… What’s your experience?

[@gabrielleao1675]

My Sousaphone's valves are REALLY stucked, no one take it out for years, every time I try to remove it knead and it's impossible, what can I do?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

I will try to do a video about how to fix this soon.

[@gabrielleao1675]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop thank you for answer me, good night friend

[@VODGAME]

I tried the WD40 and the hair dryer. Now I'm going to try it but I'm afraid it will damage the solders (3rd slide stuck) please help what can ı do?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Rarely does the solder joint break, but they do on occasion. Usually, if you are not comfortable doing a repair, you should not try it. If you can find a junk instrument with the same problem, practice on that one first. It will build confidence and you will get a better feel for how the brass acts and feels. If you do not want to risk it, just take it to a repair shop. I hope this helps. Art

[@dilly738]

My baritone is so stuck :/

[@jazztrumpet-8246]

I have a Constellation 38B 2nd valve slide is extremely stuck. Tried your method, WD-40, and nothing

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

If you have tried everything and it still does not come out, the slides may need to be unsoldered. But before you do that, try putting the casing mandrel in the casing when you pull on it. This gives you a lot more power without as much danger of damaging it.

[@luisbotelho2199]

❤👍🇧🇷

[@CarlosSanchez-rf7kq]

Could you try one on French Horn?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

You may be able to, but you would need to be very careful because French Horns are a lot more fragile. Also, if the stuck slide is one of the ones that the bell is in the way of, it is better to use one of the other methods of removing it. If you do try it, hold the horn by the rotor section.

[@CarlosSanchez-rf7kq]

The Brass and Woodwind Shop Oh so it is possible to use the other methods!

[@garangan2797]

Of all the baritone players in our band, all the instruments can open all the slides, but only my baritone can't😭😢

[@bun-bun5623]

i cant trust myself to do this also thats a euphonium

[@jeanboisleduc5255]

I would have started with penetrating oil the day before im ready to work on it. But thats me..

[@AkashSalunke4084]

Mouse Dena Yeah

[@sadscaredorca7250]

Alexa play how to break your instrument

[@robertarzola]

Anyone else cringe with every pull?

[@urmom2540]

Bruh who watches this