Hi! This is my first post though not my first time perusing.
I recently purchased a used Fred Rose High D whistle made of solid blackwood (no metal parts), which Mr. Rose made only about a dozen of more than a decade ago. She sounds wonderful and will probably sound even better after I keep playing her for a bit (not so much at first).
Otherwise, I have a brass Feadog (D) and a tin Oak (C) whistle, and really haven’t taken much thought to maintaining.
However, I just purchased today a perfect fitting cleaning rod from Sam Ash, but couldn’t find any almond oil (none at Whole Foods grocery either…) nor cork oil (without buying a whole flute kit). I hear the petroleum based stuff isn’t good either, but a regular fragrance free chap stick should work…
So, my question is, can I just use a regular chap stick, and almond oil when I find it? I don’t even think I can post pictures of the whistle as I am a newwwwwbie but she’s a beaut! It’s becoming colder and colder here so I am a bit worried about the dry air… and I play outside too sometimes in the parks (not a crazy person).
Argofoto,
I would try and find some cork grease at a music store that sells woodwind instruments and use that on the cork wrap on the tuning slide. Chap Stick will also work in a pinch. You might want to store the whistle broken down so as not to compress the cork from constant pressure. That could result in air leakage problems. This information is in addition to that which I sent you via private message. Also, do a search for Bore Doctor products and you should be able to find the care products you need for your wooden whistle(s).
I just replied to your pm asking about the cork grease, but your second post answers that. I hear bad things about “petroleum based” cork greases though so will try to find one that isn’t.
If you are unable to get Almond oil you might be able to get Grape Seed oil in you local health food store/superstore or at a pince on-line. This oil is almost tasteless and very very light in texture.
I would highly caution against using any sort of ‘food’ oil like almond or grapeseed to care for your whistle. I was over at Casey Burn’s workshop the other day, and he demonstrated why he prefers ordinary woodwind bore oil from the music store. He had several flasks of very high-grade food oils including almond oil that he was testing as flute oil, and they all went rancid. Apparently these oils can and will go bad inside your flute or whistle.
Don’t overthink. As Cayden said, pick up a tube of delicious minty cork grease at your local music store for a buck or two, smear some on, wipe the excess, and you’re done. Reapply as needed. I and others have been using the stuff for 50+ years on everything from $2 whistles to clarinets and saxophones worth many thousands. Works fine.
If you choose a food oil as bore oil, make sure it comes fortified with Vitamin E as an antioxidant, or add a few capsules before use. I’ve also used standard petroleum bore oil, but I really don’t like the smell. Reminds me too much of early mornings in 4th grade band class.
Good idea, I will email Fred and see what he says and let you know.
Speaking of Rosie, she seems to sound better, i.e. fuller in a way, or maybe my ears deceive me as I am slowly adjusting to the different air requirements and getting the notes right… Its’ definitely a difference when I switch between the brass Feadog D to the Oak C then the Rose. Hopefully soon I’ll feel confidant to go to the local seisun.
I’d just like to add that adding vit E to food grade oils will only work as a temporary measure to prevent oxidation. Sooner or later, it will go rancid.
I played in the cold but the sun was out… the whistle played fine, but i play first my brass whistle when i step out of the car to let the wood whistle change temperature more slowly and such.
How cold is too cold? It is like in the 40s, 50s F here.
Cayden pointed out Bore Doctor, which is an excellent product. It has high-grade antioxidants and will not go rancid. Expensive, but a little bottle will last for years. I used ‘sweet oil’ from WalMart until I got Bore Doctor. It is a refined olive oil that won’t go rancid. It is clear and will not harden. Music store bore oil is mineral oil and not very good for the job. Some of it is thinned with petroleum products. I don’t know why they sell it, other than that is all the wholesalers sell. Most pro woodwind players don’t use it.
I’ve heard of substituting chapstick for cork grease, but who’s done it the other way around? …or is that just me? I had the Susato tube in my pocket and it smells exactly like my burt bees lip balm.
Loren is absolutely correct. Wood is an organic material and it will expand when warmed and contract when cooled. Rapid changes in temperature can lead to cracks. Remember that you are blowing air that is the internal temperature of your lungs into the whistle - like 98 degrees. The temperature swing effect on the wood will vary depending upon the piece of wood. Best to “play it safe”. I cringe every year when I see folks playing holiday music out in the cold on nice wooden instruments - and let’s not talk about the Mummers.
Here’s another tip related to the holidays. Say you order a nice blackwood whistle. And good fortune smiles on you and it is delivered via mail from the maker just prior to Christmas Day. But you are not home when it is delivered by the stalwart postal delivery person. It sits in the mailbox in sub-freezing temps for several hours before you can get home and retrieve it. Exercise some patience my friends. Don’t unwrap the package and immediately play Kid on the Mountain. Maybe every whistle wouldn’t crack under this scenario but I can attest to one that cracked even after waiting at least three hours before opening the box. The sound of the wood cracking was memorable indeed. Let the whistle remain in the packing materials for several hour, maybe even 12 hours or so. Let the whistle warm in the package until it comes up to indoor temperatures.
I forgot about the 98 degrees part… Good thing is next year I will be in SE Asia where it will be humid and hot so should be able to play this all day and night!
My head must be cracked to even think of leaving a somewhat stable job in the states to go teach in Thailand in a wholly different career field… but that’s what the whistles are for, easy to carry and play when sh…stuff hits the fan I’m hooked on playing the Arran Boat song because my love is going away to Peru and the next time I see her will be the last for a long time…
Speaking of travel, what are the precautions to take for blackwood whistles on airplanes. It will be in my carry-on, and besides not entertaining dozens of fellow passengers and screaming infants with a few tunes, what should I do?
I’m hooked on playing the Arran Boat song because my love is going away to Peru and the next time I see her will be the last for a long time…