'Just found some of this stuff lying around, so…what’s your opinion on it? I thought right away “save it for the pipes,” but I think I remember hearing (was it here?) that it leaves a varnish.
True?
Linseed oil never really dries up..and can leave a REALLY nasty residue if used improperly. I KNOW, I made that mistake. As a newbie piper many years back, I thought I was being responsible by oiling my pipes up after a few months in my dry house. So, I lathered on a nice smooth coating of linseed oil…and left the pipes alone for a day.. ACK! When I came back to them, they were encased in a solid, jelly like, goo substance! The linseed and solidified and not soaked into the wood as I had hoped! I spent DAYS carefully picking off that CRAP with a guitar pick..it was awfully tough getting it out of the fine decorative turnings…
so…oiler beware!
I’ve been recommended Tung Oil as the lightest mineral oil suitable for instruments, though I haven’t used it. (I think it is a component of Danish Oil, but I don’t know whether you can use that?)
Cheers
Alan
I’ve heard tung oil is acceptable as well. I will use linseed oil to provide a finish on things that I’ve turned on the lathe. I know Tim Britton does as well. In order to “re-treat” a musical instrument, I generally will only use almond oil. Not the cooking stuff because that actually has added ingredients like alcohol which will dry out the wood. But the stuff from health food shops that says “100%” and is virgin extract is good. I’m sure there are many other acceptable oils as well. I think the key is “moderation”
Ref Oiling
[ This Message was edited by: bagpipeworks on 2002-12-14 11:46 ]
Almond oil.
Be sure to get the 100% pure version from a health store or essential oils store (sometimes sold as massage oil). The cooking kind has something added (sugar I think).
Dionys
Is it tung oil mixed with rubbing alcohol that thins it enough for pipes maintainance ??
If you have a music store in your area that deals with wind instuments ask if they carry bore oil. It is usually made by Honer or Selmar. If it works for clarinettes, oboes and recorders it should be fine for bagpipes.
I’ve used it on highland pipes and practise chanters with no ill effects.
If you are very nice, ask your local highschool’s marching band director if they have any to spare or would be interested in trade for a demonstration to the band classes. (just a thought)
Marc
[ This Message was edited by: marcpipes on 2002-12-07 19:52 ]
My pipemaker suggested using grape-seed oil for timber; Be it for maintenance or keeping out moisture.
Cowan
The linseed oil reacts with hi-density woods, I tried it once on Cocobolo and it oozed for several weeks. But the stuff work great on convention fruit woods like Walnut, cherry, etc.