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Hetman oils

Posted by Not a brass player on 2/22/2023, 4:23 pm

I have been asking my brass students to buy the Hetman oils for sometime now because more experienced directors recommended them but they are becoming increasingly difficult to get. I don't know what issues they are having. What valve oils do you require for your trumpets, euphoniums and piston tubas and which rotor oils do you require for your french horns and rotary valve tubas?

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by DJ on 2/28/2023, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Hetman oils"

I heard the same thing about Hetman...hard to get.
I heard from HH that JM (J. Meinelschmidt?) is the exact same thing. I use it on my horn and I'd say that synthetic does play nice with Al Cass. Never had any trouble.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Nick on 2/23/2023, 10:01 am, in reply to "Hetman oils"

A music store representative told me that Hetman has gone under and that's why it's hard to get. What's out there is what it is. Al Cass has always served my brass players well. But, in all honesty, just about any brass of valve oil will work with proper maintenance.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Hetman... on 2/24/2023, 4:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

has not gone under. He is having supply problems of some kind like many other businesses.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by HB22 on 2/26/2023, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

My music store rep told me he was told they are having supply issues with getting plastic for their bottles.

Personally love Hetman Oil for my 30 year old trpt valves.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Not fully relevant on 2/22/2023, 7:20 pm, in reply to "Hetman oils"

Hetman oils, IIRC, are fully synthetic oils. They don't play nice with non-synthetic oils, therefore, if you make a change, every valved instrument will need a cleaning.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Me on 2/23/2023, 8:15 am, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

I personally use Hetman. But for the students, I purchase and recommend Al Cass Fast oil. It's a little more affordable, easier to find, and doesn't leave a residue or dry out as much as some other cheaper, colored alternatives.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Me on 2/23/2023, 11:45 am, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

I've found Al Cass works very well in outdoor situations, as it's quite thin and works in high temp situations. But when I get to indoor playing, it doesn't stand up - I have to re-oil valves every day or every other day.

For me, Blue Juice has been the answer for a long time. I can oil my valves once a week and have them still work very well.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Juicer on 2/23/2023, 6:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

Agreed. I've used Blue Juice for years and it's worked better than anything else I've tried.

Re: Hetman oils

Posted by Algernon on 2/23/2023, 4:22 am, in reply to "Re: Hetman oils"

That was true with the early synthetic oils like Alisyn, but not so with modern synthetics. Wiping the valves and slides is sufficient.

Yamaha synthetics are a good alternative to Hetman when you can't find it.

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