1) Greasing a Tuning Slide
It is very important to move all of the slides on your instrument every time you play it. Always put your instrument in its case with all of the slides pushed in to avoid gathering dust on the interior slide and on the grease. Occasionally you should remove the grease from your slide and apply new grease. Slides that are not maintained on a regular basis will freeze up and require service from a band instrument repair business. The procedure below is shown on trumpet and trombone tuning slides. Brass instruments with piston valves have at least four slides that will require repeating this procedure. This does not apply to the playing slide of a trombone.
2) Oiling Piston Valves
3) Oiling Rotary Valves - Method 1
French horns and tubas are the only brass instruments today that still commonly use the rotary valve system. The valve is operated with a key attached to a string or mechanical linkage that rotates the valve in its casing to manipulate the air flow through it. Rotary valves need consistent maintenance and can cause lasting problems if neglected. If a valve becomes sticky, it is probably already too late. The images in this section are French horns, but the concept is the same for tuba.
4) Oiling Rotary Valves - Method 2
There may be conditions that require you to oil your valves quickly. This method will help you get back to playing your French Horn or tuba faster, but it will cause you greater problems if it is done improperly. Use caution in order that the oil does not slide down the inside of the tuning slides and drag dirt and grease with it into the valve.