After reading some interesting missives from the mid-1800s and early 1900s regarding oiling of the flute, I was curious how frequently people oil their own.
Particularly the inside of the flute, but also the outside.
so, how often folks?
Basically whenever the flute starts to sound dry - which ends up being about once a month for the inside, and maybe every 2 or 3 months for the outside… I think!
Deirdre
I shoot for once a month - around the first of the month so I remember - for the inside. Sometimes when the outside around the embouchure hole gets grungy I apply an oily swab (kept in a plastic bag) to clean it. I do the outside usually when I do the inside but that depends on how much time I have. I have three flutes that get the bath monthly.
BillG
David, share the wealth. What did those
interesting missives have to say about oiling
in “the olde days”. Put me down as a once
per month, inside an’ out oiler.
David, share the wealth. What did those
interesting missives have to say about oiling
in “the olde days”. Put me down as a once
per month, inside an’ out oiler.
I’m on no strict schedule, but I’d say it’ something like once every month during the cold, dry month (Oct-April) and once every two months during the warm, wet months (May-Sept).
Best,
Chris
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-11-14 21:32 ]
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-11-14 21:32 ]
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-11-14 21:31 ]
I plan generally to do a monthly oiling, inside and out…
Like Chris, I usually oil once a month during the dry months, and almost never during the summer. When I do oil, I do the outside as well.
The blackwood never really seems to need it, so my oiling is more a matter of better-safe-than, but my antique rosewood (or what I think is rosewood) flute needs oil more frequently, and really seems to sop it up.
[ This Message was edited by: Gordon on 2002-11-15 10:46 ]
I also shoot for once a month.
I’m also asking, David, please give us your suggestion – I kind of think of you as a referent authority on issues such as this.
I also have another question: should one oil a blackwood flute/whistle as often as one made of another, more moisture sensitive wood such as cocobolo or, even moreso, boxwood?
I recently got an antique boxwood flute refurbished by Patrick Olwell. To my surprise, he recommended oiling it once a week.
Carol
Its not a fixed schedule for me, but I do it when I think the blackwood looks like it needs an oiling, (which tends to be once very 2-3 weeks) on the outside and inside. Sometimes I find that oil gets “expelled” on the outer surface of the flute (usually after a period of dormancy)
Its weird how some people advocate oiling very often while others do it with long intervals in between. A pro-level flute player once told me not to oil the flute often unless I’m not playing it for weeks as it will spoil the flute!
I almost never oil my flutes (except for my boxwood Bb by Wilkes). I oiled them once a week for a month or two when they were new, but since then I’ve only oiled them maybe once a year, during the winter, if they looked particularly dry. I’ve never had a crack in any flute. I had an old German flute that I didn’t oil at all for almost 10 years, no problems. And I have some Abell whistles in blackwood that I haven’t oiled for at least 12 years, maybe 15, no cracks or other problems. So I personally think the whole practice of oiling is a bit overrated. I oil my boxwood flute more regularly because that wood seems more persnickety than blackwood. I don’t think oiling does any harm, but I’m not convinced it does much good either, despite all the intuitive sense it makes.
I agree with you, Brad, particularly in regard to blackwood. I oil mine, semi-occasionally, but get absolutely no sense that it’s actually sinking in; the wood is quite oily and non-porous by itself. As I said earlier, I oil it more out of a sense that it can’t hurt, even if it doesn’t help. It does make it look nice and shiny on the outside, for a day or two, but it’s played so often that, frankly, I don’t think it ever really has time to sink in. I oiled it regularly, as instructed, when I first bought it, but now I just feel like I’m furniture polishing – looks nicer, but unless company’s coming over, doesn’t do much for the sound. In addition, I actually think it plays better when I haven’t oiled it, as long as I play more regularly.
As I also said, my old German (which I think is rosewood, or some sort of cocus, not ebony like most) likes to sop up the oil, but if I forget about it awhile (since I don’t play it nearly as often), it seems no worse for having not been oiled.
I have an old Moeck alto recorder in maple that I have never oiled, going on almost thirty years. I heard once, though,that these recorders were impregnated with a parafin, and shouldn’t be oiled (as it will undo the parafin). Anyone know if this is true?
On 2002-11-15 10:45, Gordon wrote:
I have an old Moeck alto recorder in maple that I have never oiled, going on almost thirty years. I heard once, though,that these recorders were impregnated with a parafin, and shouldn’t be oiled (as it will undo the parafin). Anyone know if this is true?
According to the Moeck website, you don’t need to oil the impregnated versions but there’s no harm if you do; it just rolls off.
Thanks – I did wonder about that (without taking the time to check out the Moeck website. When I bought the recorder, in '75 or so, there were no websites).
I won’t oil it, then. Thanks again.
the old manuals say “sweet oil” or “sweet almond” oil.
The recommended frequency: after you put it down from playing.
That is, swab out the moisture of playing, then lightly swab a light “glistening” coat of the oil inside.
Don’t oil the flute in preparation to play, but only afterward, to inhibit any additional moisture retention.
I must say, I’ve done this recently with the old Pratten that I’ve been playing. I can’t wait to pick it up the next day to play. It’s a beautiful sound (after it’s been standing up on a stand overnight).
I always swab the flutes out of moisture after a session or gig. Then when I get them home, they get the inner swab of oil. Of course, my flutes are all in a humidity-controlled room of my home (65% with no lower than 50%).
The outsides I oil about once a month in the winter months, except the boxwood flutes, which get it once a week. They look nicer, too!
Oh, and the best rag to apply the oil…the dust-free cloths available at eyeglass shops for cleaning lenses. (The ones with no solution impregnated in them of course)…best are the silk types. Cost is about $2,50 and they last a long time.
Either way, great to see people taking care of their flutes. Be sure to do the ends of tenons and the block mounts (any end grain!). The flute soaks it up as needed.
Now that’s interesting, David. That means oiling while the bore is damp. For some reason, I’ve always oiled when my flute hasn’t been played for about 24 hours, so the wood in the bore is relatively dry (Colorado climate!). I swab on a coat of almond oil, let it sit for a few hours, then clean off any excess that I can. I’ll then wipe the outside lightly with the oily cloth. I sometimes wonder if it all really makes a difference.