Selmer Tuning Slide and Cork Grease No. 2942.

 

I used to keep little packets of slide grease in each of my cases with a small packet of tissues to wipe the residue from my fingers. These days I much prefer a decent quality chapstick-like applicator. Vandorren or Rico are my favourite brands. I have encountered remarkably horrid near oil like in a chapstick applicator from a country renown for bad meat and nasty viruses.

 

They're making cork grease in the US?

 

Whatever the local music store has in stock when I run out.

 

I prefer the chapstick variety, primarily because it's less messy (I've tried a few different brands but haven't noticed any real differences).

However, the one unusual thing I could still argue about is the method of application: whenever I replace a neck or tenon cork, I use a heat gun to melt the initial cork grease into the new cork. After that, I apply it normally.

 

Shin Etsu grease. Silicone based. Epic for many things. Mainly car relayed but it's fantastic.
https://www.amazon.com/Honda-Genuine-Shin-Etsu-Grease/dp/B006Z9TZ9M

 

Greasy Kid Stuff, Formula #9.

 

Brylcreem. A little dab will do ya.

 

Yes, I did a search.
The last time someone asked about the best cork grease appears to be about 2005.
Surely some modern advancement in grease laden technologies have come around since (ya, that's a joke).

So, let's do this....
Best cork grease, and why...
What makes a cork grease good?
Gooey/liquidy vs. medium chap sticky vs. the firmer chunkier varienty.

Considering there are opinions about everything here, there must me some thoughts.....

For me, despise the liquidy type, and the other end 'too firm', I'm like Goldielocks on this one, should be just right.
But how does one know what brand will be that 'just right' one, or is it mearly an age thing?

1) Depends, I have lots (they come with the instruments that I buy), I prefer low to medium density and son't like the very high density
2) the capability of penetrating the cork and stay there grease that is staying outside is wearing out

I don't know where and how you search but "cork grease" has been discussed many other times after 2005 ...

You find there is a lot more (also things like beewax , lanoline and or vegan alternatives) than just the normal cork grease

This should be one of the latest but I chose a few more (post 2005 there are many more)

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?367396-Doctor-Slick-Cork-Grease

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt.../showthread.php?228368-Shea-butter-is-much-cheaper-and-better-than-cork-grease-!!!

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?122783-What-is-cork-grease-made-out-of

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?88112-Regarding-Cork-Grease

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?187932-Is-lip-balm-as-good-as-cork-grease

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?187083-Lip-balm-instead-of-cork-grease

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?46610-cork-grease-how-often

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?64162-cork-grease

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?45394-Odd-question-function-of-cork-grease

 

Yes, but no in-depth, highly debated, 'best of the best'.

 

I have a vintage Vandoren, Kenosha, WI, chapstick style cork grease with the utmost fabulous aroma and it's still perfectly functional. Its that lovely purple colour of some excellent red wines. I only bring it out on special occasions ;-))

 

All those threads and yet very little mention of the acoustic, sonic or vibrational properties of a good cork grease.

 

not quite

this was a prediction on next high mass products...

Ultra high-density cork grease?

 

I have some lemon scented that used to come with the Taiwanese saxophones that I was helping to sell as export manager , unfortunately I kept only that but It is not the only one I use, I have thin grease which came with a bassoon that I use when the cork is new, then a number of different ones, depending on what is needed , purple , I think, is " La tromba" , can't remember if it has any scent

https://www.thomann.de/gb/stoelzel_fett.htm

 

, purple , I think, is " La tromba" , can't remember if it has any scent

https://www.thomann.de/gb/stoelzel_fett.htm

My favourite is definitely La Tromba, amazingly available here in Adelaide, Australia. Lately it's been made a bit less dense, with a subtle scent.

I just use a tiny smear on well fitted neck corks & it lasts for ages.

 

When the ancient one found, what is now, my clarinet in a dusty corner of the family seat; it still had a pot of Swiss La Tromba Slide and Cork Greece. Must be over 50 odd years old.
So I'm using that. I'm not sure what I'll do when it runs out, though.

 

. I'm not sure what I'll do when it runs out, though.

Buy more?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/stoelzel_fett.htm

 

Oh if it says Greece is probably thousands of years old!

 

Only if they had autocorrect back then. I suppose the oracles did, not so much the greAse makers.

 

Yes, I did a search.
The last time someone asked about the best cork grease appears to be about 2005.
Surely some modern advancement in grease laden technologies have come around since (ya, that's a joke).

So, let's do this....
Best cork grease, and why...
What makes a cork grease good?
Gooey/liquidy vs. medium chap sticky vs. the firmer chunkier varienty.

Considering there are opinions about everything here, there must me some thoughts.....

For me, despise the liquidy type, and the other end 'too firm', I'm like Goldielocks on this one, should be just right.
But how does one know what brand will be that 'just right' one, or is it mearly an age thing?

Hello motteatoj,
I have never thought about importance of such item or qualities it should posesse until a technician who is Mikeysaxcat here on SOTW gave me little tube of MusicMedic cork grease stating that this particular one does not ruine cork itself:
Maybe it was due to the fact that it's silicon based. I cannot remember. I lost it in the orchestra pit and never had recovered.
Neither can I support his claim that other cork greases destroyed corks in the long run.
This product is pictured in MusicMedic Saxophone Care Kit and is not sold separately on their web site.
Meanwhile this is what I use instead. The product I have found on duty free store shelve.
Does the job equally as good as music store products.

Отправлено с моего POCO F1 через Tapatalk

 

My personal experience:
I haven’t used cork grease in 30+ years.
I literally just put the neck cork in my mouth for a couple of seconds before I put my mouthpiece on, get it wet, and I’m good to go.
I have heard stories from people saying that the saliva will break down the glue or other bonding agent underneath....
Well, 30 years later I can tell you I’ve never had that happen on ANY of the saxophones that I’ve owned. Never.
That’s my 2 cents on cork grease.

 

My personal experience:
I haven't used cork grease in 30+ years.
I literally just put the neck cork in my mouth for a couple of seconds before I put my mouthpiece on, get it wet, and I'm good to go.
I have heard stories from people saying that the saliva will break down the glue or other bonding agent underneath....
Well, 25 years later I can tell you I've never had that happen on ANY of the saxophones that I've owned. Never.
That's my 2 cents on cork grease.

Anarchist. I actually bought my first tube in about 20 years a few months ago, I was buying some reeds so I thought I would. Sometimes I remember to use it.

 

None!

Sand cork accordingly, and use a nicely applied wrap of teflon...You'll never go back to greasy kids stuff!

 

Lol

I love all of your posts. They always make me smile.

 

I don't choose cork grease.
Cork grease chooses me.

 

Bacon grease ..... lasts forever, in fact, you can't get it off if you tried

 

I agree. The Hickory smoked low sodium bacon produces that sweet dark sound.

 

The best I have ever used is Dr. Slick Cork Grease available at Doctor's Products. The description below from the website explains why I prefer it to the cheap "animal tallow" cork grease sold in music stores.

"Cork is wood and therefore should be treated with products that protect wood.
Doctor Slick™ is made with expensive plant derived oils and waxes which will keep cork supple and compressible with the needed moisture that prevents cracking and flaking. An exclusive extract of Slippery Elm Bark makes Doctor Slick™ lubricate well and it is not sticky or greasy like petroleum cork grease.
 Other petroleum based "chap stick" cork greases will destroy your cork, turn it black, and will loosen the glue holding the cork on the tenon."


 

The best I have ever used is Dr. Slick Cork Grease available at Doctor's Products. The description below from the website explains why I prefer it to the cheap "animal tallow" cork grease sold in music stores.

"Cork is wood and therefore should be treated with products that protect wood.
Doctor Slick™️ is made with expensive plant derived oils and waxes which will keep cork supple and compressible with the needed moisture that prevents cracking and flaking. An exclusive extract of Slippery Elm Bark makes Doctor Slick™️ lubricate well and it is not sticky or greasy like petroleum cork grease.
 Other petroleum based "chap stick" cork greases will destroy your cork, turn it black, and will loosen the glue holding the cork on the tenon."


Terrifying!
I'm shocked and surprised threads on this are not more frequent...

But... If I'm sure that I'd I can find some cork grease that smells as good as Dr. Weinberg's clarinet bore oil, my whole saxophone sound concept would be revolutionised

 

I prefer to condition the cork with paraffin wax melted into it.

I used to use cherry or mint flavored Chapstick, but now I’m back to whatever cork grease happens to be in my case (Yamaha, Leblanc, etc.).

 

Ben,
I'm not the only one who does this?...amen!

 

I think I first observed it from Dagradi, so I just realized it's a lot easier than applying a smidgen of cork grease every so often. I've seen a few others do it too.

 

Dr Slick. Why? My MacSax has never needed to be re-corked. It seems to preserve the cork well and has the right amount of slick vs grip on the mouthpiece.

That's my vote anyway.

 

I’m another Dr Slick cork grease happy user. No mess, no fuss, it just works great.

 

I was pleased with Dr. Slick until I wasn't. It's not supposed to release the cork adhesive, but I 've found that it eventually does on a clarinet. It also seems to get gummy on the corks over time. No longer a fan.