I need to get my hands on some almond oil for my new wood Whistles. Where the heck do you get it?? I figured I could brave the weather and go out and look all over the place; but its so much easier to sit here warm and cozy and ask all of you! I know the vitamin E capsules can be found in the drugstore.
I have been using regular bore oil I got at the music store but am now obsessivly convinced that the Almond oil/Vitamin E mixture would be better.
Thanks for all help! 
Hi Andrea,
I’ve heard a lot about almond oil/vitamin E too. I’m pretty sure it’s for your Busman and Weasels.
A while back I got a Lon Dubh second hand that needed oiling. I wrote to our good friend Paul Busman and he suggested Tung oil, which can be found at most hardware stores and even Home Depot.
It’s easy to use and leaves a great protective shine.
Check with Paul on what he recommends more for your whistles.
And it can wait until after the storm clears. Patience!
Mike
I’m looking for the answer to this too.
Thanks
Many pharmacies carry almond oil, and those that don’t usually can order it for you. Also, check health food stores and herbal shops.
Eric
Health food stores almost always have it. I think ours came from a place like Bed Bath and Beyond – it was sold as massage oil. Paul and Glenn both recommend a mixture of almond and olive oils. This is what I’ve been using, and when I sent my three-year-old flute back to Glenn for some tweaking, he remarked that “someone’s been taking really good care of it.”
I use pretty much whatever the maker recommends and I’d suggest you do too. Usually it’s almond oil or bore oil. Chas is right about Busman and Weasel recommendations. I don’t always use the vitamin E but its role is to keep the oil from going rancid, it doesn’t have a protective role.
You can store almond oil in the refrigerator with no ill effects. since you only need a few drops per use, you can let that small amount to return to room temperature before using.
I read an article where a few shelled walnuts were place on a small cloth that was rolled (or folded several times) You then hit the cloth lightly with a wooden mallet crushing the walnuts into tiny pieces. When you unroll the cloth you remove the pieces (which can be used in a food recipe) and the cloth was saturated with walnut oil. It was enough to rub down a few woodwind instruments. In this case the maker only advised oiling the outside and not swabbing the bore.
That’s where I get mine.
I was able to get almod oil at higher-end grocery stores in Houston, like Rice Epicurian, and Randall’s Flagship. HEB Central Market has it at an inflated price. You can usually find it in the same section as the olive oil.
I haven’t had much luck in regular grocery stores, like Tom Thumb (Dallas branch of the Randall’s chain) and Super Walmart.
We also ended up getting some at Bed Bath and Beyond here in Dallas.
I also found it at a health-food store. Plus, the almond oil already had vitamin E added to it.
As long as the oil is organic it doesn’t make much of a difference. The best stuff is the stuff made for Blackwood I will post a link go to go find one…
Got it http://www.thebagpipeplace.com/page129.html it is made specfically to protec Blackwood (and would be fine for use with Rosewood and Cocobolo because they are all the same family). Yes it is made for Bagpipes but read the description it is for use with all Woodwinds. 
My roommate just picked me up some almond oil at the grocery store. It says “Sweet Almond Oil” used for fish and baking and stuff. Would this be suitable for wooden whistles?
-Mike
Sweet almond oil is the stuff. You’ll be fine.
Eric
WOW! Thanks everyone! I checked out the bagpipe bore oil for Blackwood. That looks neat. I wonder if it could be used on other hardwoods with the same benefit??
I’ll check out the Tung Oil…thanks Slowair! And will also browse the drugstore for the almond oil with Vitamin E already added. Or the health food store.
Heres another question…I purchased two flute bore swabs. They are made of cotton. I use one to dry the bore of my whistles after playing and I use the other to oil the whistles. I keep it sealed in a zip-lock bag when not in use so it won’t dry out. I keep a cotton rag in there too for the outside of the body. Does anyone else employ this method or is there a better instrument to use?
I’m sure the bore oil from the music store works just fine…but…there are just so many choices! And I want to make sure the new babies are going to grow up big and strong!!
I get mine from Sainsbury’s Supermarket, in the health/cosmetics section.
It’s sold as “aromatherapy massage oil”, pure Almond Oil with tocopherol (Vitamin E). £2.99 a bottle which does all my flutes and my beloved Busman too.
I got a nice bottle of almond oil at my local supermarket in the salad oil section. Got a bottle of Vit E capsules too, and add the contents of one capsule to an ounce or so of the almond oil.