There are a lot of good posts in here on what kind of oil to use, how often it should be done etc. (like http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=29728 & http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=23908) - but I was wondering - HOW do you actually oil your flute? Do you pour some oil on cloth and wipe it on the flute? How about the inside and the holes? And what about round the cork like on the picture?
(Fred Rose)
I’m a newcomer playing a polymer, so this is new territory for me Maybe there’s a “Beginners Oiling Guide” somewhere, but I haven’t seen it.
When I received my used Seery, there was a greasy film in the bore. I instinctively swabed it all out.
When I next spoke to the previous owner (who is a professional Irish Flute player) she said “… Desi Seery had told her to oil the bore of the flute to produce a better tone.”
I being a man of science, thus conducted experiments and concluded that a thick oil (I used olive) did produce a better tone in the Seery.
*Note…Olive oil will go bad and if used should be scrubbed out periodically and reapplied.
Jordan - I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not oiling my Seery makes any difference in tone. At first I thought no, later yes, but I’m back to no.
Did you just pour in the oil and swish it around or did you apply it on a rag?
My current theory is that oiling it with a rag simply cleans out the gunk that polymer flute players let accumulate in their flute since they don’t have to oil them like wood (although that’s debatable, too).
I’d think even pouring in oil and swishing it around is likely to break up gunk that’s stuck on the sides and clean out the flute…
I now just swab mine out weekly with just a cloth and wash it every couple of weeks with dish soap…and the tone is no different than when I last did the oil experiment.
When I had my Seery, the thick oil (Olive) seemed to make a difference. I applied it liberally with a rag.
The Seey was also the most improved instrument by the installation of my non-patented, Acoustical Sound Wave Amplification Device (a.k.a. section of 5/8" wooden dowel replacing the cork).
As a side note: There are no Sessions in my near future. The family is double booked on thursday nights.
Jordan - sorry to hear you won’t be able to make the session. I’ll let you know if the perpetual “soon to be started” full tempo session ever finds a home since it’ll be on a different night.
I’m not surprised your Seery improved with a new cork…I think Desi is pretty meticulous in making his flutes, but his corks are pretty cheap. I replaced mine with a nice synthetic wine cork and that worked wonders. For a while I had a dime glued to it, but I’ve grown to prefer the tone without the dime.
Maybe there’s a “Beginners Oiling Guide” somewhere, but I haven’t seen it.
I’m not oiling my polymer, don’t worry 