How to Wash/Bath Your Trumpet
Basic Version
Disassembly
Step 1: Undo Top Caps and Remove Pistons (Valves)
The pistons are the only part that we won't be putting in the water to wash as there is the chance of losing small parts and getting the valve felts wet that we want to avoid,
Check valve casing for valve numbers.
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Check valve pistons for numbers.
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Remove the Tuning Slides and Bottom Valve Caps
There are 4 tuning slides to remove.
1st, 2nd & 3rd valve slide and your main tuning slide.
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There are 3 bottom caps to remove.
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Your trumpet should look like this once completely disassembled.
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Step 2: Pre-Clean
Wipe off old valve oil from pistons. For the basic clean this is all we are going to do with the valves. Put these aside for reassembly.
1st Valve Piston
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2nd Valve Piston
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3rd Valve Piston
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Wipe off old tuning slide grease from slides with a dry and/or wet rag.
Main Tuning Slide
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 1st Tuning Slide
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2nd Tuning Slide
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3rd Tuning Slide
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Step 3: Place your instrument gently in a bath or tub for washing
There are 2 brushes you need for cleaning out your trumpet while in the bath.
A valve cleaning brush and a trumpet snake or flexible brush.
The mouthpiece cleaning brush can be used at anytime - we recommend once a week.
A valve cleaning brush and a trumpet snake or flexible brush.
The mouthpiece cleaning brush can be used at anytime - we recommend once a week.
Mouthpiece Brush
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Valve Casing Brush
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Flexible Brush - aka Trumpet Snake
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Trumpet Snake - clean all tubing with this brush. Where ever it fits use it, including all tuning slides not pictured here.
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Valve Casing Brush
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Step 4: Drying
Dry off all parts and body of instrument
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Step 5: Assembly
Check Valves for numbering and casing for the corresponding numbers
Valve Numbers 1, 2, 3.
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Valve casing numbers 1 & 3. The 2nd valve casing is usually not numbered.
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Check the valve guide (white nylon part) for its lug and check inside valve casing for the locking groove.
Different brands have different valve guide locking methods usually 1 larger deeper groove is the one to look for.
Different brands have different valve guide locking methods usually 1 larger deeper groove is the one to look for.
Valve Guide Lug
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Valve Guide Locking Groove
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Oiling the valves
Oiling 1st Valve
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Oiling 2nd Valve
Screw Top Caps Down on all 3 valves.
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Oiling 3rd Valve
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Greasing the Slides
Apply a thin smear of tuning slide grease to the both sides of the slide tubing where it is raw brass (un-lacquered) about 1 cm or a finger width of grease. The tuning slide grease will be spread/smear along the slide on assembly.
Tuning Slide Grease.
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Grease both top & bottom slide tubes.
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Grease both top & bottom slide tubes.
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Some of the slides may have the raw part on the slide or on the body of the trumpet. Apply grease to the appropriate part.
Greasing tuning slide part of tuning slide connection.
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Greasing body part of the tuning slide connection.
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Don't forget to grease both sides.
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Greasing top and bottom slide connections.
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Screw on the Bottom Caps
1st Bottom Cap
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2nd Bottom Cap
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3rd Bottom Cap
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Polish and wipe down your instrument.
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