Use of the Lx Stethoscope:
Listening to the heart with the wooden bell will be the brunt the stethoscope’s use. It takes no special hand positioning or covering of anything, as it is a closed sound chamber when listening with the wood bell. When listening with the diaphragm, cover the wood bell’s aperture fully, partially or not at all with your finger to hear higher and lower frequency ranges. Experiment with this process, as we all hear things a bit differently. We like to think of its design as the “manual transmission” of stethoscopes. You are in control of the stethoscope’s operation, it is not in control of you.
The threads of the brass earpieces match those of the earbuds included. But, if you have another brand of earbud that you like, they can be cross-threaded over the existing threads on the earpieces. The threads on the brass earpieces are sharp, and any earbud insert softer than brass (which is almost all) will cross-thread just fine for a consistent fit.
The spring is coated with a tough black nickel finish. It should never need replacement nor ever need to be moved. In the case that you would like to move it slightly up or down for comfort, hold it by the bend while twisting and pushing/pulling the earpieces sliding them through the binaural spring in the desired direction. Avoid metal tools, as they can scratch the finish.
All the brass should be treated the same way: polish. Brass is a marvelous metal that will keep its shine with care. We recommend Brasso Polish, but there is a wide variety of metal polishes available. This brass junction piece (sound chamber), tubing clasp and ear pieces are not clear-coated and will corrode if not polished/cleaned regularly. However, the natural corrosion of brass is a desired effect for some. It is green in color, similar to the patina on the Statue of Liberty. Disassemble the brass parts to clean and polish. We recommend a soft microfiber cloth for applying the polish. Watch for corrosion on the inside of the earpieces and sound chamber, as those spots are often overlooked. Q-tips work well in polishing the harder to reach areas. Brass does take maintenance, but its acoustic qualities are well worth the upkeep. If corrosion occurs, do not panic. There are many safe methods for removal. Light cleaning with a wire brush and/or scotch brite works quite well.
The bell is coated in a polyurethane varnish designed to withstand heavy use and alcohol based sanitizers. It is a good idea to remove it once in a while to make sure no dust or debris has made its way into the bell’s chamber. Avoid bleach. Care for the brass insert as much as desired. All bells are hand lathed. Although similar, no two wood bells are alike.
The brass diaphragm has an electroless nickel coating for corrosion resistance. It does not need polishing. A small ½-inch wrench is included for disassembly and cleaning.
CorrosionX Aviation for care. It is not only a great rust inhibitor, but it is a non-toxic and eco-friendly product. 
Occasional light oiling with a cloth will keep the disc in great condition for many years. The second disc is stainless steel. It will not corrode and takes no maintenance. Take caution when removing the discs to clean, as they are thin and sharp.