What do you use cork grease for?

Cork grease is a tube or container of grease that you apply to the corks of your woodwind instrument to soften the cork and make putting the pieces of the instrument together easier. Without cork grease, the corks of your instrument would quickly become dry and stiff, making it difficult to assemble the instrument.

How do you lubricate cork?

Typically petroleum jelly (like Vaseline), lip balm, and lanolin are used as cork grease alternatives. You can also make your own cork grease with bee’s wax and a plant-based oil like coconut oil, or from tallow and lanolin. A good cork grease will both preserve and lubricate the cork but not harm your instrument.

How often should you grease your corks?

So how much is too much? A good guide is for a new cork apply grease every time you assemble the instrument for a week or two so that the cork grease gets impregnated into the cork. A very thin layer over the cork is enough. After this period once every couple of weeks is usually sufficient.

What is instrument cork grease made of?

Cork grease can help woodwind players adjust their instruments’ tuning pieces (e.g. barrels, necks, bocals, staples) in respect to their pitch. Cork grease is made with ingredients such as elm extract, organic sunflower oil, coconut oil and hemp seed oil. In the past it was made from animal fat.

How long does cork grease last?

When a clarinet is new you should use cork grease every time you put the instrument together for the first week or two. After that, the corks will soak up some of the grease and you only need to use it once or twice a week.

Is cork grease the same as slide grease?

Thanks ! Re: Trumpet slide grease for clarinet cork? So long as it doesn’t contain petroleum jelly or other petroleum based ingredients, it should be fine. La Tromba cork grease can be used on tuning slides – it used to say ‘Slide and cork grease’ on the tubs, now it only says ‘cork grease’.

Can you grease cork grease as slide?

You can use cork grease for the tuning slides as an alternative to slide oil. In fact, you can find products that companies market as both cork grease and slide grease.

How do you clean clarinet corks?

Use a paper towel to wipe the cork grease from the mouthpiece cork. You should also remove any built up cork grease. 2. Put some warm water and a few drops of liquid soap in the bowl.

What can I use instead of slide grease?

So, if you don’t have a tub of slide grease, there are some easy replacements that will work fine:

  • Vaseline (petroleum jelly). This thickness of this will not be awesome all by itself but it’s safe to use on your instrument.
  • Lanolin.