Posted by Lee Stofer on January 13, 2003 at 08:01:39:
In Reply to: Lapping valves on 45-SLP posted by Josh on January 12, 2003 at 20:48:16:
Josh,
If the instrument is a year old, it's time to have a chemical-cleaning, to remove the light film of calcification from the valve casings. that, and some Hetman #1 Light Piston Oil should give you valves that are as fast as they are going to get.
Lapping will give you looser valves, not necessarily faster valves. And, buffing pistons as mentioned elsewhere is potentially dangerous, and I do that only when the surface of the piston has been damaged.
Try the safe method first, and hopefully you can have many years of satisfaction with your "big valve" horn.
Lee Stofer