Chromatic slide plates revisited, sticky plates
First and most important, I really apreciate all the help I get from Y'all..
When I pick up my chromatic I play straight blow and draws to warm it up.. Then after a while I press the slide button.. some times it moves other times It requires a little more pressure.. I bought slide oil and valve oil.. But I am unsure if I should use them? They seem to be petrolium based?
From your suggestion previously, I am now washing my slide plates with very warm-hot water and soap so they are kept pretty clean.. However still sticky after playing.. I usually lossen the screws on the slide plate to help, but still have the issue.. I never over tighten the screws,because I disassemble often to clean when required.
Thank you very much for your thoughts,, k
First, don't use oil made for trombones or trumpets. It smells and tastes awful. Brass players blow out *into* that oil and send it farther away from their lips, throats, and lungs. They don't inhale it.
Lubricants are chancy because they can attract dust and creep into the harmonica and gum up the valves. That said, Brendan Power has made videos where the slathers Vaseline on the slide. Suzuki used to make a slide oil that was just the right consistency and was odorless and colorless, but I haven'ts een it in a long time.
When cleaning the side, using something like a Brillo pad may help to remove debris.
One thing you can do while playing (aside from the obvious and usual advice not to eat or to drink anything sticky before or durng a playing session) is get a small mister bottle, fill it with plain water, and periodically mist your mouthpiece and slide. It helps prevent sticky buildup.
By the way, if you have a stuck slide, try wiggling it back and forth against the edges before trying to push it in. That motion can help loosen up the slide so you dont end up banging hard on the button and potentially bending the slide.