Posted by Frank Rosenau on October 11, 2003 at 23:27:11:
In Reply to: Vegetable oil is not my friend... posted by Moron on October 11, 2003 at 22:11:41:
Several of my packaging customers have used vegetable oil in the past for an industrial application with similar results.
As far as the valves are concerned you might try a degreaser such as Zep Power Solvent II (a brake cleaner) that leaves no residue or a citrus based cleaner such as Citrol #266 by Schaeffer Mfg. Co. This is an acid base product, so you must clean the valves thoroughly after use. However, it may do no good to clean the valves without cleaning the casings, too.
Probably your best bet is to get your horn professionally cleaned to get the residue out of the rest of the instrument.
Vegetable oil may be “organic” but it decomposes and in the process leaves a really nasty and stubborn residue.
I can say from experience that not even high pressure steam cleaning will get rid of it. It has to be chemically removed.
Good luck.
IMUEO (In My Unfortunately Experienced Opinion)