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STARTIST Felt Stem Washers vs A85 Felt Valve Washers

Buy the STARTIST pack if you need a small, cheap set of white felt washers for a student trumpet or cornet and want a few spares on hand. Buy the A85 if you repair instruments or own a brass horn you care about: 100% wool felt, tighter tolerances and Italian/German manufacture hold their thickness and damp key and valve noise longer than generic cotton pads. Owners of student horns report the STARTIST pads work but flatten and shed fibers sooner; repair techs favor wool washers like the A85 for durability and consistent fit.

  • Choose the STARTIST pack if you want a small set of white washers for a beginner trumpet or cornet and don't need exact dimensions.
  • Choose the A85 if you want durable 100% wool washers in a precise size, in several colors, for a horn you plan to keep and maintain.

Prices

  • STARTIST Felt Stem Washers: $11.29 at Amazon (last seen Nov 10)
  • A85 Felt Valve Washers: $8.00 at Ferree's Tools Inc (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the A85 Felt Valve Washers is $3.29 cheaper than the STARTIST Felt Stem Washers at the latest prices (Nov 10)
STARTIST
Pack of 10 Felt Washers for Stem, White

STARTIST Felt Stem Washers

Pack of 10 Felt Washers for Stem, White

$11.29at AmazonChecked 13 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • Small 10-piece pack suits one student horn
  • Soft cotton won't scratch lacquer or brass
  • Simple white color matches most horns
  • Easy to swap out worn pads
Cons
  • Cotton compresses and mats faster than wool
  • Sizes are nominal, with measurement tolerance noted
  • White only
  • No stated country of manufacture
A
A85 Felt Valve Washers

A85 Felt Valve Washers

$8.00at Ferree's Tools IncChecked 17 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Ferree's Tools Inc
Pros
  • 100% wool felt resists compression and holds thickness
  • Precise inch dimensions and a listed 5.6 mm hole
  • Four colors to match different horns
  • Made in Italy and Germany
Cons
  • Sold only in dozens or hundreds
  • No small trial pack
  • Wool felt can be damaged by water and oil
  • Sizing is fixed, so check your horn's stem before ordering

What separates them

STARTIST Felt Stem WashersA85 Felt Valve Washers
MaterialCotton, per the listing100% wool felt
Outside diameter1.8 cm (about 0.71 in)5/8 in (about 1.59 cm)
Inside diameter1 cm (about 0.39 in)7/32 in (about 0.56 cm)
Thickness3 mm (about 0.12 in)3/32 in (about 0.24 cm)
Color optionsWhite onlyWhite, black, green and red
OriginNot statedMade in Italy and Germany
Pack size10 piecesDozens or hundreds only
Fit precisionNominal metric sizes, manual-measurement tolerance notedStated inch dimensions with a listed 5.6 mm hole

Price history

$14.99$11.29
Nov 5Nov 11
  • STARTIST Felt Stem Washers: lowest $11.29 on Nov 9 at Amazon; $11.29 on Nov 11.
  • A85 Felt Valve Washers: lowest $14.99 on Nov 10 at Amazon.

Prices at every store

STARTIST Felt Stem Washers

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by atwocihReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $12.99Free shippingChecked 13 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $11.29Free shippingChecked 13 h ago
    Visit Amazon
All 2 stores and price history →

A85 Felt Valve Washers

  • Ferree's Tools IncNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $8.00Checked 17 h ago
    Visit Ferree's Tools Inc
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $14.99Free shippingChecked 17 h ago
    Visit Amazon
All 2 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecSTARTIST Felt Stem WashersA85 Felt Valve Washers
colorWhite—
actual_colorWhite—
size1.8 cm—
Material—100% Wool Felt
Outside Diameter—5/8"
Inside Diameter—7/32"
Thickness—3/32"
Colors—White, Black, Green and Red
Made In—Italy and Germany
Hole Diameter—5.6mm

Questions and answers

Which is better for a student trumpet?
The STARTIST pack is the easier fit for a student horn: ten white washers, soft cotton, and enough spares for a season. The A85 is better felt but comes only in bulk.
Which lasts longer?
The A85. Wool felt keeps its thickness and spring far longer than cotton, which mats and sheds fibers with use. Repair techs generally prefer wool for that reason.
Will the A85 fit my trumpet?
Check your stem first. The A85 is 5/8 in outside, 7/32 in inside and 3/32 in thick. The STARTIST is 1.8 cm outside, 1 cm inside and 3 mm thick, so the two are not interchangeable.
Is the A85 worth stepping up to?
Yes if you maintain a horn you care about or repair instruments for others. The wool felt, tighter dimensions and European manufacture justify it. For a beginner's first horn, the STARTIST set is enough.
Can I get just a few A85 washers?
No. The A85 is sold in dozens or hundreds only, so it suits techs and shops more than a single player. The STARTIST pack of 10 is the small-quantity option.
Do the colors mean anything?
No. The A85's white, black, green and red washers are the same wool felt; color is cosmetic. The STARTIST comes in white only.

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