Best Valve Oil For Trumpet (3 Very Different Options)

Valve oil is essential for any trumpeter.

You already know that.

But what valve oil should you get?

There are so many different brands on the market.

And what about making your own and saving some money. Is that worth the trouble?

Keep reading for a rundown on the best valve oil for trumpets, plus a brief description of how to make your own valve oil and whether we think it is generally worth it.

 

Best Valve Oil For Trumpet Compared

06/09/2023 09:57 am GMT

 

Best Trumpet Valve Oils Reviewed

Below are brief reviews of the best valve oils for trumpets. There are six in total, with 3 different types and two choices for each. The first two are our recommendations for most people. The next two are a good bulk deal and a budget oil. The final two are complete care kits.

 

Best Valve Oil: Blue Juice

It may not be the best sounding brand name on this list, but Blue Juice is an amazing oil for trumpet valves (or valves of any instrument). In fact, many professional players use it with great delight and you can read all of the positive feedback on its Amazon page.

Once you’ve tried it, there is no turning back. This oil will lubricate your valves so well that you won’t even feel yourself pressing them. And what’s more, the oil lasts for a very long time. Top spot, without a doubt.

 

Best Synthetic Valve Oil: Yamaha Light

Yamaha is well known for both its bikes and instruments. Of course, being such a diverse company, they also make instrument care products.

Because this oil is synthetic, it is fantastic for various reasons. First of all, it can adapt to various temperatures, so no matter how long you play or where you play your trumpet, the oil will do the job well. Also, It prevents corrosion so you can play even in rain.

The bottle is small and has a childproof cap. It’s very easy to apply and works incredibly well.

 

Best Bulk Buy: Al Cass Fast Valve Oil 3 Pack

This package gets you three bottles of Al Cass valve oil for less than 20 bucks (usually, it comes out to approximately $6 per bottle), which is a bargain. While not as lasting as the previous two choices, with three bottles you can maintain your trumpet for a very, very long time.

The oil itself is fine and it does its job perfectly well. Although not of the highest quality like Blue Juice and Yamaha Light (won’t last that long and valves are not 100% smooth), it is a very good oil and anyone who needs lots of oil should not think twice before buying this package.

 

Best Budget Valve Oil: Music Nomad Premium Valve Oil

While the previous choice has the best value-for-money, it still costs a bit more, since you get so much at once. If you want a bargain without the bulk buy, go with Music Nomad’s pure synthetic oil.

Being synthetic, this oil was made to last. It’s also odorless, a feature that many welcome. Apart from that, it is toxic-free and petroleum-free. In other words: a very safe product.

 

Best Trumpet Care Kit: Libretto Complete Trumpet Care Kit

Those who need more than just oil can find various cleaning kits around. The one that has the best price-to-quality ratio is definitely the Libretto cleaning kit.

In this pack, you get everything: valve, mouthpiece, and bore brushes, valve oil, slide grease, and a cleaning cloth.

Unfortunately, there are no gloves in this pack but the quality of included products is surprisingly high. Plus, there is a manual guide on how to clean your trumpet. That alone is worth the cost if you are a beginner.

Speaking of the valve oil, it’s synthetic, meaning it’s odorless and lubricates well.

 

Best Budget Care Kit: Pampet Trumpet Care Kit

Just like Libretto, Pampet has made a cleaning and care kit for trumpets. This kit is a bit cheaper, but consequently also of lesser quality.

In the package, you get slide grease, valve oil, brushes for valve and mouthpiece, a microfiber cloth, cleaning gloves, and a zip bag to keep it all in. In addition, there are record sheets for practice and fingering charts as well. So it’s a package to both maintain your instrument and your skills.

 

Where To Buy Valve Oil For Trumpet

You can find valve oil at any good music store, but these days, it is easiest to buy it online. We always link to Amazon, because it is the simplest for most people. Almost al of us have an account with them these days. But virtually all other online music stores sell valve oil too, if you have another shop you prefer.

 

What About Homemade Trumpet Valve Oils?

Valve oil is essential for the proper functioning of any good trumpet and is used to lubricate the internal mechanisms of the valves that move when the pushers are pressed.

As mentioned, valve oil is sold in any musical instrument store. It comes in different formulations.

If you can’t find one that works for you, or if you’re just looking to save some money, you can make your own oil.

We don’t generally recommend it, but there is nothing wrong with it. For us, even the best trumpet valve oil just isn’t very expensive, considering how long a bottle lasts.

If you do want to try making your own, here is how to do it. Play with the proportions of the ingredients to get a thicker or more liquid oil.

Add a couple of drops of essential oil to the bottom of the bottle. Add enough lamp oil to cover the bottom of the bottle, then shake the mixture to combine the two oils. Start by using less essential oil than you think you will need (if you need it); you can always add more later, but you can’t remove it.

Fill the bottle three-quarters full with lamp oil. For this purpose, measure the “top” of the bottle as if it were about a half-inch (1.25 cm) below the highest point you can fill, to leave a little space for mixing and to prevent overflow when opened. If necessary, mark this point with a permanent marker.

Finish filling the bottle with sewing machine oil. Add enough to get to your designated fill point. Shake the bottle. Cover it, and then give it two or three vigorous shakes to blend the three oils.

Check the odor level and adjust it. Give the bottle a little sniff to see if you like it. Keep in mind that when using the oil you will want the odor to be subdued, otherwise, the smell from the valves can be overwhelming for you and others.

 

How Often To Lubricate Trumpet Valves With Oil

To keep your trumpet in perfect working order, cleaning and maintenance should be part of your routine.

Lubrication and greasing is important part of routine maintenance that will keep your trumpet sounding and performing its best at all times. It is important to know how much your trumpet needs oil and grease, as the valves, slides, faucet, and caps must all be serviced on a different schedule.

The valves should be greased a minimum of twice a week. Some players take extra precautions and oil the valves every time they play.

Lubricating the valves on your trumpet keeps them from being slow or sticky. The oil lubricates, cleans, and fills the air gap between each valve.

You should also oil the valves every time you remove them to clean your trumpet. You can partially remove the valves by removing the top caps, pulling the plunger out halfway, and coating the surface in oil.

Slowly lower the valve downward, carefully turning in a clockwise motion until the valve clicks back into place. As the valve goes down, the oil will naturally scatter itself around the valve.

You should also lubricate the slides of your trumpet. It is important to use slide grease specially designed for your trumpet. Never substitute slide grease for another product, as it can cause corrosion on your trumpet.

You should grease your slides at least once a month. This is true for any type of trumpet, from the standard to a small pocket trumpet.

If you would like to avoid this necessity, you could get a plastic trumpet. Most of the best plastic trumpets are designed to use without lubrication, but you can still use it. You need much less of it though.

Carefully remove the trumpet slides and wipe off the old grease wiped with a towel. Apply a new layer of grease and put the trumpet back together with some residual grease that was wiped off the sides.

Regular slide greasing ensures that the trumpet does not become melted together or difficult to disassemble for cleaning. If you find your slides difficult to remove, speak to a professional at your local music store. Never use tools or try to force the slides of your trumpet.

It is better to oil and grease your trumpet too much rather than not enough. Grease and oil will not harm your trumpet if applied too much. It will keep your trumpet lubricated and easy to play.

Neglecting your trumpet and not giving it enough grease and oil will make the instrument difficult to play and take apart for cleaning. Any time your trumpet is disassembled, be sure to put small, delicate parts in a place where they won’t get damaged or lost.

 

Best Trumpet Valve Oil: Final Thoughts

The top two valve oils for the trumpet that we listed above are easily the best. They are the ones we recommend for everyone.

That said, if you are on a budget, or you find yourself needing to buy a lot of oil, the next two options are still very good.

The two kits are great in that they give you everything you need to maintain your instrument for a low price. If you need all of the other tools, these are great purchases. But if you only need the oil, buying a kit makes no sense, obviously.