Moisture

Corrosion on brass and nickel silver or rust on iron and steel is the result of a chemical reaction called oxidation. This chemical reaction does not take place except in the presence of moisture. This fact should make quite clear the importance of keeping instruments dry. Wood instruments must be kept dry to prevent checking and cracking. When the wood is cured, excess moisture is taken out. Absorption of moisture followed by evaporation of moisture disturbs the grain structure and causes the wood to split. Woodwind instruments have pads to cover the holes in the body of the instrument to make the different tones. Pads are made of felt and if they absorb moisture they can become bloated and not cover the tone holes properly.

Body Acids

Perspiration from the hands contains certain acids which attack metal. Among these are butyric, lactic, and traces of hydrochloric. Some perspiration is alkaline but is just as harmful as acid. In some persons the perspiration is such that holes are eaten right through plating and brass wherever the hands are accustomed to touch the instrument. Keep your instrument free from perspiration. Use a leather valve protector or a cloth or some other device to keep perspiration from your instrument and wipe off all perspiration after using it. When using a leather valve protector you should remove it after use the constant moisture and salt will eventually eat away at the metal.

Saliva from the mouth also contains acids which attack metal. Carbonic acid is present at all times in saliva and other acids are formed in the mouth, depending on food eaten and hygienic conditions of the mouth. Soft solder is especially subject to the effects of saliva acids. Water key nipples which are soft soldered will be eaten out entirely. Although most of the saxophones no longer use soldered sockets, saxophone tone hole sockets which are soft soldered will become loose and leak. That is why the inside of instruments must be cleaned often and thoroughly.

Salts

Not only in saliva but in natural well or spring water there are certain salts that dry as a white substance on the pistons and slides and act as abrasives, causing the action to be retarded and wearing away the precious coating of nickel and chromium. These salts are chiefly magnesium and calcium carbonates and sulphates but there are also appreciable amounts of chlorides of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. In certain parts of the country these salts are present in the water in greater quantities than in other parts. Water which is said to be “hard” — that is, does not make a good soap lather — has a high content of these salts. Those who prefer water to oil for new piston and rotary valves would do well in such localities to use distilled water. After using the instrument, be sure all saliva and water are wiped off pistons and slides. Oil is preferred because it won’t dry out like water.

Foreign Matter Impairs Acoustical Performance

A surprising amount of food, candy, and other stuff accumulates in a wind instrument if it is not systematically cleaned out. It is often referred to by professional musicians as “hamburger” or “lungs,” but whatever you call it, it is filth that you should get rid of and keep rid of. Not only is it unhealthful, but it impairs the acoustical performance. It collects especially in crooks, and is usually the cause of instruments becoming “blown out of tune.” If one of these accumulations occurs at a “node” in the wave of a certain tone, this tone sounds sharp. If an accumulation occurs where an “antinode” falls, the tone is flat.

Reed instruments also suffer in acoustical performance from accumulation of foreign matter. Tone holes are often partially closed by dirt, especially the small register holes. Clarinets with “bad Bb” or that “don’t respond in the second register” all too often have the little metal tube register hole nearly plugged shut with dirt and oil, caused by swabbing the inside bore.

Foreign Matter Impairs Mechanical Action

Corrosion, as well as salts and other foreign matter, accumulates on piston valves. Valves with such accumulation will not work. It may not seem like much, but valves are fitted tightly and a little dirt between the piston and the casing is like a speck of dirt in your eye.

Here is the story, as shown by a typical case of ”faulty” valves. When the instrument came in, the clearance between the piston and the casing of each valve was checked while they were dirty — before cleaning. Clearance was also checked after the valves were cleaned. The clearance for the three valves before and after is shown below:

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Clearance dirty .0012″ .0011″ .0013″
Clearance clean .0016″ .0015″ .0016″

The clearance while dirty was 12, 11, and 13 ten-thousandths of an inch, or a little more than the thickness of a cigarette paper! When cleaned, the valves had a clearance of 16, 15, and 16 ten-thousandths of an inch, or a little more than the thickness of a cigarette paper plus one-half the thickness of another cigarette paper. Since .0012″ (12 ten-thousandths of an inch) is the very minimum clearance for clean valves, you can imagine how the first and second valves worked — especially the second. Cleaning took .0004″ (4 ten-thousandths of an inch) off the first two valves and .0003″ off the third. This is only l/8th to I/10th of the diameter of a hair, but it was enough to transform good working valves into valves which wouldn’t work at all. Modern tight-fitting valves have to be kept clean to get out of them the light, fast action which the manufacturer builds into them.

Corrosion and dirt also affect the action of other working parts, such as valve slides, hinges, pivot screws, cams, needle and flat springs. The only way to preserve and keep your instrument in tip-top working condition is to keep it “clean as a pin” and properly oiled and lubricated.

Schedule regular maintenance of your instrument to keep is in its best playing shape and to extend its life.