I’ve got Susatos with removable head section. The whistles come with joint grease and instructions to use at the joints, but nothing more is said. Is it best to use this at the top of the body? On the head section? How much? How often?
Similarly, if I have other sets of whistles with exchangable head sections–say in copper–should I use joint grease with them?
Any help would be appreciated.
Joint grease is essentially cork grease with more of a greasy consistency. Just use it where there is movement. I don’t think Susatos really need the joint grease, maybe just to get a good seal with the o-ring. That said, just apply some on the tuning slide.
FWIW, I just bought a set of three, and the specific reason that that the grease helps keep the o-rings from drying out. Even if they dried out, though, I would think that replacing them would be not a big deal – just kind of a bother. I would just put it on the male part of the joint, like you would cork grease on any other instrument.
That’s what the folks over at susato told me about joint grease as well: It was to keep the o-rings in good shape. They specifically told me this after one got kind of stuck and broke and I wrote them asking for the size so I could replace it myself from Home Depot. They sent me some more o-rings for free, and suggested I keep them lubed.
Based on a tip from the forum, I used silicone gel to lubricate my metal joints on tuning slides for my flute and whistles. This seems to work really smoothly. I got a little container, about the same size as a cork grease tiny tin, from a diver friend.
Has anyone else ever confused their lip balm with cork grease? Yuck.
Jennie
I’ve been playing flute for over 30 years and let me tell you that Vaseline will work just fine as cork grease. The o-ring does the sealing and not the grease. The grease is primarily to keep the o-ring moist and help the joint to slide easily in a out as needed. If you don’t like the idea of using Vaseline then any music store should have cork grease for clarinets etc that will work well. Believe me that Vaseline will work just fine in a pinch. Just put some on your finger and smear it around the o-ring and joint, don’t use a lot.
The subject line of this thread just BEGS for a joke.
What is silicon gel? I guess it is something that divers use, but how? And where can I get some if I don’t know someone who dives?
If you play daily…apply once a week.
I just made that up…but it seems reasonable.
It’s not a big deal…but you do want to keep any rubber from drying out.
Also, get another whistle, 'cause in my opinion those Susatos suck (I have one). They are harsh.
Check plumbing or hardware supply places. (I haven’t yet, living in a very small town.) I have silicone spray to lubricate other things on our boat. Seems like it would be a common commodity.
Now that wasn’t much help, was it?
Jennie
Thanks to all.
Silicone grease can also be found in tubes at swimming pool supply stores, where it lubes vacuum system o-rings & other parts. keep some paper towels handy though… it wipes off easily, but washing it off your hands doesn’t work (it’s waterproof), and it feels icky!