How To Oil Your Valves

In this video I will show you how to oil your valves to make sure they always go up and down smoothly without sticking.

To oil your valves one your trumpet or cornet you will need some specialist valve oil. Other oils may smell badly or might be to thick which might make your valves worse. You should oil your valves every week.

Step 1

It's a good idea to do one valve at a time until you really get the hang of it. Watch the video to famliarise your self with the trumpet.

Step 2

Unscrew the top valve cap and pull the valve up about half way so you can see the just see the holes. There is no need to completely remove the valve. Apply a few drops of valve oil to the wider area of the valve. You don't need to oil the springs.

Step 3

This is the tricky bit as you have to make sure the valve goes back in correctly. Each valve has a number (1,2,3), the 3rd valve is the one nearest the bell, make sure each valve is in the correct casing. Push the valve back down into the casing and then turn the valve until it clicks into position. In about 95% of trumpets the valve will click in position when the number is facing the mouthpiece. Before you screw the valve cap back up blow through the trumpet to check the valve has aligned. If it hasn't aligned and the trumpet is blocked rotate the valve again until it clicks and blow through again (some valves can click in back to front).

Step 4

Now tighten the valve cap back being careful not to cross thread it. Now repeat with the other valves.

Remember!

Never clean the valves with anything abrasive as this can scratch them.

Don't oil the valves through the bottom caps as this isn't very effective and it can wash grime through the valves. Only do this in an emergency.

Only use valve oil as others can be too thick or thin and can smell.