I will be getting two used Flutes which are both wood and want to know some care like breaking in period and stuff I know how to oil them. If you are wondering they are a Lew Paxton Price E Flute and a no name Fife in Bb.
Gotta go.
Usually makers recommend one or two hours max at a time for a few weeks. Older fluts/fifes have probably dried out some and need to be broken in again slowly. Be gentle at first is the rule of thumb. A few of my older fifes (50 to 100 years) get played now and again but never for extended periods. I just play them to let them know they’re still loved.
BillG
Like how long each day?
Casey Burns instruction sheet says: “a few minutes at a time up to a cumulative amount of one hour a day.”
George Ormiston says: “Ten minutes at a time for the first week, 20 minutes for the second week and 30 minutes at a time for the third week. This may be repeated a number of times each day.”
Dave Copley has no limit for the beginning except to oil the bore once a week for the first month then once a month after that.
Rod Cameron only says that the flute should be played in gradually.
I can’t find my Skip Healy instructions but check out his web site at http://www.skiphealy.com
So, as you can see, instructions for breaking run the gammut. I guess to use good judgement and break in slowly.
BillG