Chiff and Fipple Forums

Does anybody have any recommendations on a brand of almond oil and a cotton pipe cleaner to use to clean the Abell Blackwood D? Also, how would I swab oil in the inside of it? Thanks!

I just used raw almond oil from a health store, and added the contents of a Vitamin E capsule. For a swab, I used a piece of a silk flute swab (smaller, due to the narrower bore, don't want to get wedged), and a plastic (Yamaha?) swabbing stick (with slot at the end). You could also use a thin makeup remover pad or pistol swab.

I don’t have time for a long explanatory post at the moment, but in an effort to save you serious grief before you do something you’ll regret: LEAVE YOUR WINDWAY ALONE. It’s a new instrument and the windway shouldn’t need cleaning for years, unless you are in the habit of playing while eating food. And when it eventually does come time to clean your windway, Pipe cleaners are not the answer, they are bad for cleaning wood whistle windways, period. First and foremost because eventually you are going to jam the metal wire of the pipe cleaner into the edge of your labium, forever changing the sound and playability of your instrument. And trust me, this won’t be a change for the better.

“Hear me now and believe me later” - Hans and Franz

I AGREE TOTALLY WITH LOREN!

Certainly do not be poking any wires into the windway.

Thank you for your responses! Got it! No pipe cleaner. I guess almost any almond oil will do, right?

Matthewlawson3 wrote:Thank you for your responses! Got it! No pipe cleaner. I guess almost any almond oil will do, right?

Food grade almond oil is much
less expensive than the almond oil
sold for cosmetic/massage use.
Health stores sell both.
The vitamin E is essential (no pun intended)
to preserve the oil from oxidation and rancidity.

oleorezinator wrote:

Matthewlawson3 wrote:Thank you for your responses! Got it! No pipe cleaner. I guess almost any almond oil will do, right?

Food grade almond oil is much
less expensive than the almond oil
sold for cosmetic/massage use.
Health stores sell both.
The vitamin E is essential (no pun intended)
to preserve the oil from oxidation and rancidity.

Do you have a recommendation for an oil with vitamin E that can be used?

Matthewlawson3 wrote:
Do you have a recommendation for an oil with vitamin E that can be used?

Any vitamin E capsule will do the job.
I’d buy the cheapest.

oleorezinator wrote:

Matthewlawson3 wrote:
Do you have a recommendation for an oil with vitamin E that can be used?

Any vitamin E capsule will do the job.
I’d buy the cheapest.

So I just break one Vitamin E pill and pour the liquid into any almond oil?