H

oms require periodic maintenance

to remain in top condition. Even
high-quality instruments deteriorate
over time if their owners do not treat them
with care. While only qualified repair profes-
sionals should handle difficult procedures,
such as removing dents, chemical and ultra-
sonic cleaning, and adjusting and repairing
rotary valves, educators and horn students
can save both time and money by following
correct horn maintenance techniques.
This guide includes step-by-step des-
criptions for a variety of fundamental main-
tenance techniques along with photographs
for the more complicated procedures. Easier
techniques are presented first followed by
more difficult ones.
Type of Maintenance
Oil Valves
Frequency
Every 1 'to 3 days
Equipment
For optimal performance on horn, I sug-
gest using a thin, light oil, which should be
applied directly on the valves, and a medi-
um-weight oil for the bearings. As a rule you
should avoid mixing synthetic and petrole-
um-based oils, unless the products' labels
state in writing that they are compatible
with each other.
Description
There are two types of techniques for oil-
ing rotary valves, and they differ simply
because of the variations in size and shape of
valve oil bottles. Some bottles come
equipped with a needle while others have a
less-precise dropper or spout.
Inexpensive refillable plastic bottles with
needles can also be purchased on the internet,
giving players the freedom to use the oil they
prefer regardless of the original container.
Oil Bottles With a Needle
1. Remove the first valve slide and empty
any condensation. Next rotate the horn so the
bell and the slide tube point directly up.
2. Insert the needle into the slide tube and
squeeze a few drops of light-weight oil directly
32 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / SEPTEMBER 2009
By James Boldin
onto the valve. Avoid letting the needle
come in contact with the sides of the tube
or the valve face. Repeat this step for the
other side of the tube if desired.
3. Replace the slide and push it in com-
pletely. Finally, rotate the horn and depress
the valve so that the oil is distributed even-
ly inside the valve casing.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each valve. An
alternate way to use a bottle with a needle
is to remove all of the slides and add oil to
all the valves simultaneously. Once the
horn is oiled, return the slides to their or-
iginal positions.
5. Lay the horn flat and unscrew the first
valve cap. Apply a few drops of the medi-
um-weight oil to the center of the bearing
plate and a drop onto the threads.
Keeping the threads lightly oiled will pre-
vent the caps from becoming stuck if you
store the horn for a long period of time.
James Boldin, pictured on facing page, is an
assistant professor in the School of Visual and
Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana
Monroe where he teaches applied horn and
music history. He received degrees from
Appalachian State University and the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Photos in
this article by Kristen Boldin.
6. Screw the cap back on and flip the
horn over. Using the needle, apply a few
drops of oil where the rotor shaft comes out
of the valve casing.
On most horns there is a small gap between
the stop arm and the rotor shaft.
7. Repeat steps 5-6 for each valve.
Oil Bottles Without a Needle
1. Remove the first valve slide and empty
any condensation. Next squeeze a few drops
of the lightweight oil into the slide itself.
2. Rotate the horn so that the bell and
slide tube are facing directly down.
3. Replace the slide and push it in com-
pletely. (See following page.)
SEPTEMBER 2009 / THE INSTRUMENTALIST 33
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Boldin says that good horn maintenance starts with keeping the mouthpiece and lead pipe clean.
down the lead pipe and through the
horn at theend of each playing day. The
idea is to create a thin coating of oil
inside the horn, protecting it from cor-
rosion. Medium or even a heavier-
weight oil can also be used on valve
springsaswell asmechanical levers.
Whetherusing abottlewith orwith-
out aneedle, both methods prevent the
oil from carrying slide grease and any
other material into the valve. Many
players experience sluggish valves after
applying oil becauseof slidegreasegum-
ming upthevalveaction.
If applied regularly and correctly,
valveoil will prolong the life of ahorn
and keepit in good working condition
for long periods of time. However, if
regular oiling does not result in
improved valveoperation, it isprobably
timeforathorough cleaning and possi-
bly repair of the valvesthemselves.
Type of Maintenance
Cleaning theLead Pipe
Frequency
Every 1 to3 weeks
Equipment
I recommend using aplastic coated
snake with brushes on either end to
keepthe insideof the horn from being
scratched.
Description
This simple procedure is vital for
keeping a horn in good condition. If
left alone, debris will accumulate in
the lead pipe only to be blown into
more difficult-to-clean places in the
4. Rotate the horn and depress the
valve so that the oil is distributed
evenly inside the valve casing.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each valve.
6. Next follow steps 5-7 from the
method forusing abottlewith aneedle.
Additional Tips
Many repairprofessionalsrecommend
blowing afew drops of light- weight oil
horn, such as the valves, causing even
more problems. Hornists should com-
bine this step with good dental habits,
such as brushing the teeth after meals.
Type of Maintenance
Clean and Grease Slides
Frequency
Every 1 to 3 weeks
Recommended Equipment
1 like Schilke, Hetman, or Roche-
Thomas slide grease. For loose slides
look for a slide grease with a thicker
consistency.
Description
1. Remove all slides, then wipe them
clean and dry with a paper towel or
soft cloth.
2. Apply a small amount of grease to
the end of the slide using a finger or
the corner of a cloth. You can always
add more if necessary.
3. Replace the slide and push it in
completely.
As you replace the slide, the grease
will be evenly distributed.
4. Wipe away excess grease.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each slide.
Additional
I suggest periodically removing the
excess corrosion that accumulates on
slides using a mild metal polish. You
should consult the manuf acturer' s
instructions for using the polish. After
removing the corrosion, clean the slide
thoroughly with warm water and mild
dish soap to remove all traces of the
polish.
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Follow steps 2 -5 to c'omplete this
procedure. Always grease horn slides
and push them in completely during
the summer months or for long periods
when you are away f rom the instru-
ment to prevent them f rom f reezing.
Type of Maintenance
Restringing Valves
Frequency
Yearly
Recommended Equipment
Numerous brands of string are avail-
able f rom music supply warehouses and
sporting goods stores for restringing
valves. Although most professionals
have their own preferences, I recom-
mend choosing a braided dacron f ish-
ing line of not less than 50-pound test.
This type of line can be purchased in
spools of several hundred yards, giving
players indeed, entire sections -
string for many years.
It's best to avoid overly thick string
because using it can result in sluggish
valves, and string that is too thin may
wear out prematurely. Advanced play-
ers should experiment with strings of
dif f erent weights and thicknesses to
find the optimum choice for a particu-
lar horn. The only other necessary
equipment for restringing valves is a
good set of flathead screwdrivers in
varying sizes.
time so that the other valves can be
used as a guide.
Description
Along with oiling the horn correct-
ly, regularly restringing rotary valves
will keep the instrument in excellent
playing condition. I suggest replacing
strings every year, regardless of their
condition, because you will avoid the
frustration of breaking a string just
before a big performance. Serious horn
students should learn this procedure
and practice it several times to become
comf ortable with it.
1. Loosen the screws on both the
stop arm and valve lever with the cor-
rect size screwdrivers. It is unnecessary
to remove them completely, just
enough to remove the old or broken
string.
I recommend that beginners remove
the string only f rom one valve at a
2 . Cut a 6-to-8 inch length of re-
placement string from the spool, and
tie a f irm knot approximately 2 inches
f rom one end. You may need to tie sev-
eral knots on top of each other because
it is important for this knot to be large
enough to not pull through the hole in
the middle of the valve lever. Pull the
knots tight, so they do not slip.
3. If the string tends to fray, use a
lighter or lit candle to slightly melt the
end opposite of the knot. Wipe off the
melted end with a paper towel or cloth
to create a pointed tip that will thread
easily through the holes in the valve
lever. Manufacturers are constructing
some of the newer types of string f rom
material that resists f raying, so this
step may not be necessary.
4. Thread. the string through the
hole in the middle of the valve lever,
making sure the knot is large enough
to stay in place.
5. Following the diagram, wrap the
string around the stop arm on the side
f urthest f rom the middle valve lever
hole, and make a f igure eight around
the stop arm screw.
Tighten the stop arm screw, but only
enough to keep the string f rom slipping.
36 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / SEPTEMBER 2 009
6. Bring the string around the other
side of the stop arm and under itself.
Thread the end through the hole in
the end of the valve lever.
7. Keeping the string snug, loop the
end around the screw in the end of the
valve lever. Pass the end of the string
underneath itself, as if tying another
knot.
Tighten the screw in the end of the
valve lever and cut off the excess string.
Leave at least an inch or so at the end to
use in adjusting the string tension later.
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38 THE INSTRUMENTALIST/SEPTEMBER 200"
To read James Boldin's
suggestions for bathing
the horn and his ideas
on professional cleaning
visit us on the web:
theinstrumentalist.com
8. Repeat steps 1-7 for additional
valves.
9. Loosen the stop arm screw and
adjust the valve lever to the height you
desire. Retighten the stop arm screw to
keep the lever in place. All of the
levers can be set at the same height by
using the edge of a table to keep the
levers in place while loosening and
retightening the stop arm screws.
10. Check the tension on each
string.
The strings should move easily, but not
be so loose that they fall slack against
the stop arm when the valve is
depressed. Adjust the tension by loos-
ening the valve lever screw and
pulling the string tighter or allowing it
to loosen as needed.
Additional Tips
Every horn player should keep an
emergency repair kit handy that has a
selection of small screwdrivers and
replacement strings, precut and tied.
Should a quick string change be neces-
sary, having the materials at hand will
make the process easy.
Horn maintenance can be viewed on the
internet at www.youtube.com/watch?v=h
x3-zNotyTo&feature=channel.
James Boldin is an assistant professor
at the University of Louisiana Monroe,
where he teaches applied horn and music
history courses. He received degrees from
Appalachian State University and the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.