Freezing slides and valves when carol playing

[eflatbass]

From deep in the recesses of my memory, I dragged some recollection of using Glycerol as an anti-freezing agent when carol playing with the SA YP Band back in the 1950’s.

“Glycerol dissolved in water disrupts the hydrogen bonding between water molecules such that the mixture cannot form a stable crystal structure unless the temperature is significantly lowered. The minimum freezing point temperature is at about -36 °F / -37.8 °C corresponding to 60-70 % glycerol in water.”

It is also dissolved in water to reduce damage by ice crystals to laboratory organisms that are stored in frozen solutions, such as bacteria, nematodes, and fruit flies.

 

[Perchead]

Freezing slides, sticky valves are problem with temperature adjustments being so drastic. I know this is one of the main reasons why brass players like to take their instruments rather than outing them into the hold of a plane.

 

[Pyman71]

The family & I were carolling in Penrith on the 21st, the valves & slides were freezing solid while we were finding the next carol which resulted another ten minutes of hard blowing thru the insttruments just to free them

 

[WhatSharp?]

I was going to try wrapping some chemical hand warmers either side if the valves this year. Didn't get the chance though as our one carolling job I couldn't make

 

[Aidan]

some of the norwegians recommend mixing a bit of spirit in with the valve oil, I'm not stupid enough to do outside gigs in this weather to try it though.

 

[brassneck]

Does anyone use Snake Oil or similar with PTFE mixed in? It's meant to work well for temperature extremes.

 

[P_S_Price]

My Valves were Frozen stuck this morning when we started playing!

 

[eflatbass]

My Valves were Frozen stuck this morning when we started playing!

Hi Pete

At least SA bandsmen/women can sing the carols when their valves have frozen!

Happy Christmas.

Barry

 

[trumpetmike]

Does anyone use Snake Oil or similar with PTFE mixed in? It's meant to work well for temperature extremes.

Worked well for me today
(once I had freed up the valves that were solid from not playing cornet enough)

 

[brassneck]

Worked well for me today
(once I had freed up the valves that were solid from not playing cornet enough)

I thought it might be okay. Similar circumstances with my instrument at home ... not enough use these days (tsk! tsk!) :redface:

 

[GJG]

At least SA bandsmen/women can sing the carols when their valves have frozen!

So can us heathens; just not necessarily the words you'd expect ...

 

[P_S_Price]

So can us heathens; just not necessarily the words you'd expect ...

We only have to sing the occasional verse of a carol when our lazy Cornet players get too tired (Particularly as our BM plays corne when we are carolling).

:icon_lol:

Happy Christmas to you all.

 

[cornet96]

Rochdale SA played carols in Manchester a few days ago, I thought you were a great example and thank you all very much!

 

[P_S_Price]

Rochdale SA played carols in Manchester a few days ago, I thought you were a great example and thank you all very much!

Yes we were there on King Street 10 - 4. Ooohh it was Cold!

Hope we sounded Ok.

Thanks for you very kind words!

 

[Neillyboy]

A great way to keep the bass valve blocks warm is to buy some disposable hand warmers and thread them through the gap between the first and second valve and the second and third valve and keep your hand there too. It keeps the block warm and although reduces the register due to not using the 4th valve, it keeps the instrument playable.

 

[feelyon]

Erm.... we tough Scots simply carolled inside Tescos, Morrisons, The Loans Inn, Bogside Golf Club, Gailes etc fuelled in part with Terry's Chocolate Orange Popping Candy version. Slides were frozen before the gigs but the roaring fire inside the Golf Club and heating in others thawed us out.
Such a hardy race we are! Worth a mention that 2 of our members sell home made tablet as well to us so fuelled by sugar too.(They raised £1000 for the band this year with it):icon_cheesygrin:

 

[Neillyboy]

.
Such a hardy race we are! Worth a mention that 2 of our members sell home made tablet as well to us so fuelled by sugar too.(They raised £1000 for the band this year with it):icon_cheesygrin:

If its wee wardy mccormacks tablet then ive heard it is the best in the whole of ayrshire land no joke!!!. I can see a transfer just for this tablet comin on haha

Back to the post. You lucky people gettin an indoor gig, Killie got frozen to bits lol

 

[Bass Trumpet]

home made tablet ....

There were a few home-made tablets flying around school when I was a wee lad, but the sellers didn't usually go Christmas carolling :biggrin:

 

[feelyon]

No Neillyboy it's Margo and Gill's specials. £1000 says its good though! You Killie folks are tough though and surely the cold would make Craig fall silent lol. Ah Duncan I would have to say i was too old for that era but my wild friend has told me all about those days...Talking outside gigs I'm thinking the tablet will have to travel down with Tartan Brass to Whit Friday so form an orderly queue....I feel a franchise coming on.
Just in case you think all is cushy up here I play in a church which has no heating in the Band area all winter so blankets are standard issue.(For the knees down) Hats off to the SA bands though.

 

[P_S_Price]

It was -10 this morning when we started our Christmas day carolling session - Valves and slides freezing up left right and centre.