Comments on: How to Clean a Trombone

on 2/28/2006 When the slide sounds scratchy, it usually means that the outer tubes are probably getting dirty. Here is a very useful tip that I often use. Use this method only for the outer slides.

1. Buy a slide cleaning rod from any music store, or borrow someone else's

2. Get a roll of cheesecloth, or an old (but clean) cotton T-shirt.

3. Wrap the shirt or cheesecloth around the slide cleaning rod (the length of the material should be about 6 inches wide and 6 inches longer than the cleaning rod).
Make sure that the cloth isn't too tightly wrapped or too loosely wrapped, because then it won't clean properly. Wrap it so that it fits snugly into the outer slide.

4. Get a can of penetrating oil such as: WD-40, TKX, or Dura Lube. Any other oil like these ones are OK. Now spray the oil on the cloth that's on the cleaning rod (it should be soaked, but not dripping wet).

5. Insert the cleaning rod into the slide. Be sure to always work on the tube you are holding, not the other. Push and pull the cleaning rod up and down the outer slide tubes for about a minute. If the cloth comes out green, brown, or black, respray the cloth with the oil and repeat step 5. If you've done it 2-3 times already, and it's still green, brown or black, then just consider it done.

6. Once you have done that, go to your bathtub or sink and run warm (not hot) water from the tap. Flush the inside of the tubes with the water until it comes out clean.

7. Dry the outside of the slide and reassemble the handslide. I recommend that you re lubricate the slide now rather than later.

8. Reassemble your trombone and away you go!

on 1/26/2006 The best slide lubricant that I have come across is Slide-O-Mix. It is a silicon based lubricant that comes in two parts and is available at most music stores.

First put a drop from the small bottle on the stockings of the slide (the very ends of the silver inside parts), and reattach the slide to coat the inside with it.

Then, put a generous amount of fluid from the large bottle on the slide and make sure it gets all around the inside. If you get any on the outside, be sure to wipe it off before it dries or else it will take your lacquer with it. Different bottles vary in consistency, but I have found that the thicker the Slide-O-Mix is, the better it works.

Finally, use a spray bottle to add a fine mist of water to make your slide near perfect.
*Warning*: Hold on tight to your slide! Using a slide that moves freely when you are not used to it can cause your slide to fly off into another section of the ensemble.

Other lesser methods of slide lubrication include using a slide cream or slide oil, but I would stay away from the oil because it builds up and needs to be cleaned out.

on 11/22/2005 1. Take your trombone apart, including the slide.

2. Put slide or valve oil on the silver part of the slide.

3. Put the slide back together and keep sliding it in and out until it slides smoothly.

on 11/22/2005 Use lemon-scented Pledge furniture polish on the slide. Buy the liquid form, not the aerosol as the aerosol will corrode the slide over time. This is better than any slide oil or slide cream you can buy. It's cheaper and will give you a much faster slide.