Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Rubber Mallet
- Slide Grease or Vaseline
- Paper Towel, or other non-abrasive cloth or paper product
- Cloth Towel
Step1
The first step to lubricating the tuning slides is to pull them out individually and set them aside in an orderly fashion. If the slides aren’t lubricated on a regular basis you might need the hammer and cloth towel. You wrap the towel around the slide, this way you don’t dent the instrument, and tap on it lightly with the mallet. This should knock the slide loose and make it so you can pull it out. Also when pulling out the valve’s tuning slides make sure you press the valve down, this release the air pressure and makes it easier to pull out the slide.
Step2
After having all the tuning slides pulled out wipe them down with paper towels, or what ever product you chose to use. Doing this gets rid of all the spit and old grease. Be sure to wipe your hands on something after doing this to get rid of any spit or grease that you may or may not have gotten on them.
Step3
The next step in this important process is to open the grease or vaseline. For each slide get a little bit of the grease on your finger and rub it on the slide thoroughly and evenly.
Step4
The next step in the process is to put the slides back in. The reason you needed to put the slides down in an orderly fashion is so you know the order that they go back in. If you did this then you’ll have no problem. If this step was ignored you’ll be able to figure it out but it’ll take a bit longer.
Step5
Once you have the slide inserted back into its spot move it up and down so the grease is also spread evenly on the inside of the hole you inserted it into.
Step6
Finally take a piece of paper towel, or whatever you choose, and wipe off whatever excess grease may or may not seep out of the crack between the slide and tube that it was inserted to.
Novice 
