Re: [Harp-L] Slide lubricants - food grade grease (NSF 51/61)

[David McCurry <david.mccurry@xxxxxxxxx>]

After living and breathing with chromatic harmonicas for 35 years, I can
say that any lubricant will do just as said above, attract and collect dirt
and actually SLOW down the slide action. The best remedy for "sticky"
slides is to make sure they are 1) absolutely clean, 2) absolutely
straight, and 3) absolutely set-up correctly with regard to pressure from
the mouthpiece retaining screws. Moisture from your breath provides all the
lubrication needed if all 3 are above are attended to.

Dave

On Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at 2:21 PM, Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> So, we know that lubricants are generally a bad idea for the reasons
> Winslow mentions (as I've been hearing for years from various pros who
> recommend the "1 drop of water" solution) and that Hohner (and probably
> other manufacturers) use lubricants at the factory anyway -- I'm assuming
> because without it, the slide will freeze up much faster than it would
> otherwise.
>
> There are 3 slide chromatics that I'm aware of that don't tend to have
> sticky-slide problems:
>
> 1) CX-12
>
> 2) CBH 12 or 16 (no longer manufactured)
>
> 3) Bends Tonica (which has a teflon-coated slide, no longer manufactured)
>
> Well, at least we have choices ;-).
>
> - Slim.
>
> www.SlideManSlim.com
>
> On Nov 13, 2014, at 10:21 AM, Winslow Yerxa wrote:
>
> > Almost anything you can put on  slide that won't evaporate has the
> potential to:
> >
> > 1) Attract dust and other undesired particles;
> >
> > 2) creep into the harmonica and stick to the valves, potentially
> sticking valve layers together and sticking the valve to the reedplate.
> >
> > Additional downsides can include rancidity, toxicity, etc.
> >
> > Some folks report good results with various lubricants, but I'd err on
> the side of caution.
> >
> > Winslow
> > zzzzzz
> >
>
>
>


-- 
David S McCurry, EdD

DS McCurry Fine Arts Studio
www.davidmccurry.net
Jacaranda Educational Development, LLC
www.jacarandaeducation.net