I posted this originally on the World/Folk Winds Forum, but except for a reply from Gaiteiro do Chicago (and thank you!) I didn’t get any action. But I know there will be opinions here!
I recently bought a Peruvian quena from a South American busker and it’s a pretty nice little flute. When I was oiling my other wood instruments I decided to give this one a taste, too. Neither the outside nor the inside were very interested, but the edges of the sound holes lapped it up. The notch was somewhat interested, too. This made sense to me, given the nature of the cells of grass-like plants. Still, I’m wondering if oiling an unfinished cane or bamboo flute is a good idea. The instrument is bound, so there is already some protection against splitting.
Any opinions? (Especially those based on experience.) Thanks.
FWIW, I would leave well enough alone.
I’m not aware of bamboo/cane instruments
being oiled. Been around them a good deal.
Maybe some of our Indian music
gurus can say something.
I can’t address the “protective factor” issue of oiling
Andean endblown flutes as I’ve never oiled any of my
quenas/quenachos. One of the stateside vendors/players
I’ve dealt with says it’s not necessary. I’m wondering,
however, if most Peruvian native players wouldn’t
take umbrage with you interfering with that “direct
link to nature”.
i make bamboo flutes----------if it was done right-it was heated right after the picking (it strengthens the cell structure and brings potential cracks to the surface) -when heated a natural wax flows from the cell structure to the top and while it is still hot additional beeswax is added---------definetly oil ( walnut, or sweet almond) the inside while dry--------if the inside gets too dry it will crack from the inside out
My Japanese Shakuhachi and Chinese Dizi are rather well lacquered on the bore.
I have a large bore reed whistle of unknown origin… No finish what so ever and it was very dry when I got it so I oiled the heck out of it and played it in like any other wooden instrument.
I lightly oil my Olwell bamboo flute every now and again; I figure a little waterproofing can’t hurt it. It doesn’t seem to mind … once I soaked it rather heavily and it seemed to get a bit gunky, so now I limit myself to a swab or two.
I use sweet almond oil with a few drops of vitamin E mixed in as a preservative.
sweet almond i think is the best --it is light and does’nt gunk -i tried walnut it is fine too --but i also tried mahony’s finish-a combo of walnut and beeswax-----it is very heavy -it gunks up bad—on the inside ----it is great on the outside but not on the inside- its mainly for wood bowls and cutting boards-------polishs up great i use almond on my dymond wood SWEETS----------by the way i have a nice BIG LOW A bamboo flute for sale-if anybody is interested
I have several bamboo flutes from different countries and sometime use to oil them with almond oil , I don’t think a bit of oil hurt the flute , but of course , don’t oil them too often and not to much oil !!!
Before I’ve used also olive oil and camelia oil for bamboo flutes and they seem to be fine !
