Does anybody here have any experience with putting vaseline on the underside of the batter head around the edges? I know this is done, but my problem is that the vaseline is "bleeding" though to the top of an Evans Hybrid head. Students in the line I'm teaching got a hold of the new heads while the BD stepped out and put the vaseline on.

I haven't seen the heads yet but the BD said they look really bad now. Anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks in advance!

Might try paraffin wax instead. Works just as well and is much cleaner!

never tried Vaseline for the heads. it works in a pinch for tension rods, but it is messy.. Paraffin wax is the best for keeping the heads sliding over the bearing edge.

Never heard of anyone using Vaseline or any other kind of viscous lube for bearing edges. Honestly, it doesn't seem like it would work all that well. What doesn't get wicked into the fabric will just get "squeegeed" out as the head moves across the bearing edge.

Like the other guys have already mentioned, paraffin wax is a commonly used bearing edge lubricant. Just rub the stuff on like a crayon. It'll stay put, won't wick or displace under tension, and won't melt or run.

I have heard of people using Vaseline to lubricate tension rods, but lithium grease does a much better job. Unlike Vaseline, lithium grease doesn't thin out and run when exposed to summertime heat.

We used soap (irish spring to be exact) in summer band. Wax tended to melt in the extreme heat.

Quick tip.

The easiest way to find parafin is go to the grocery store and ask where the canning supplies are. It generally comes in a cube-shaped box containing approx. 4"x1"x1" bars of wax.

For $2-$3 you'll get a package that will supply the school for many years (or until it's lost.)

Ok, cool. Thanks for the replies. It didn't help that the under side of the head is woven and not plastic. Might of worked with plastic. You should of seen the mess I had cleaning that stuff off. I'll use that wax from now on.

I used Vasoline on heads and grease on lugs until it was brought to my attention that these attract dirt. This season, I'm trying just oil on everything. We'll see how it looks next time I have to replace a head.

Also, is it possible that what you see "bleeding through" is water damage from rain or oil from the head itself? I've seen the weather cause both these problems for heads.

It would still work although maybe not the best choice.

This is exactly what we did too. It worked pretty well.