As far as I know, Olwell bamboo flutes are pre-oiled(at least they
appear to be...). One thing that has concerned me about oiling mine,
is that the bore seems a bit rough(probably the nature of bamboo).
One would want to be very careful not to apply the oil to excess,
because it would be difficult to sop it all back up. Yet, if you
applied the oil lightly, you'd only end up oiling the lumps...
Therefore, I haven't oiled mine, and it seems ok(but like I've said, I
keep my house moist...(better for me, my instruments, and my husband's
equipment)
Also, be very sure not to use a *fuzzy*, or *fluffy* cloth.
Having done this once on an instrument, I'll just say, one doesn't do
it twice.
On a more serious note, any oil you use on a flute should have some
vitamin E added to it.
Good idea. Never thought of it... I never had a problem with
rancid smells, but then once I start oiling an instrument, I keep to a
regular routine, which each time probably removes some of the old oil.
I mean, it'd have to, because where would all that oil go? Sooner or
later the wood is going to have reached it's saturation point, and not
all of it gets rubbed off.
Hehehe, I have to admit, it gives me a certain pleasure to think
that perhaps that recorder got stinky(my wooden recorder was stolen a
few years ago). ;-)
Hain brand almond oil
(cleanest looking almond oil I've been able to find).
That's what I used to use. I came to like the almond oil better
than the olive oil. Wasn't available in our regular grocery stores
back then, but it was in our local natural food. Don't know if that
is still the case, as I am not currently oiling any instruments. One
of our local grocery stores has improved, and the natural food store
went down-hill, so I might try that grocery store the next time I need
good almond oil. :-(
Other popular oils include walnut oil and peanut oil. Mineral oils,
vaseline, and WD40 are to be avoided, as is dunking the flute in beer or
just pouring it through the bore (a common Irish flutist custom, believe
it or not).
Ewwwww. Have people really used vaseline and WD40? I suppose I
could see someone thinking baby-oil(mineral oil) was ok. Beer isn't
going to happen unless I have some old cracked instrument that I don't
care much if I ruin.
I hope you dont intend drinking from your flute, but discolouration
would be annoying. The reason probably has to do with olive oils low
'freezing' point.
Hmmm, I wonder if my olivewood flute will discolor over time? I
was also wondering if it was necessary to oil olivewood. I'm not
familiar with the wood, just the oil and the fruit...which puts me in
the mind of butter, which makes me think the wood is soft and greasy
to begin with, which I'm sure is a false impression...isn't it funny
how we get these ideas. :-)
For recorders, you must periodically suck in on the flute to clear the
windway, so you will definatly taste your oil. You clear a baroque flute
the same way. First time I gave a silver Boehm flute a quick suck to clear
the headjoint, I thought I was going to be sick. The silver residue tastes
horrible!
Ewwwww, nasty!!!! I never suck on it, but rather blow in
reverse. When I clear a windway on a recorder, I take the headjoint
off, seal the fipple-hole with the palm of my hand, and blow on the
open joint end. With a flute, take the headjoint off, turn it so the
embouchure hole is facing the ground, and blow from the oposite end.
It seems to work... Is there an advantage to sucking? Obviously,
blowing adds more moisture to the situation, but it's on the oposite
and more open end, so doesn't seem to cause a problem.
I loan most of my instruments out to others, so I don't think I
can think about sucking on them without getting really sick at the
thought. :-P
Lynn Hutchins petra@... ICQ#1734957(Tibicia)
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