Working where I do, I see litereally hundreds of used instruments come through the workshop every month. The majority of these instruments (flutes and recorders mostly) I do some sort of repair or restoration work on. Seeing so many instruments, certain patterns emerge over time, and I thought I’d mention a couple of things that might save folks some trouble down the line, I’m short on time, so I’ll be less wordy than usual.
1.) Do yourself a favor and don’t over oil your instruments. Regardless of what type of oil(s) you prefer, too much oil (left on) is a bad thing, and can seriously gum up the bore, tuning slide, sockets, and tenons of your instrument, which can affect performance.
2.) With regards to cracks: Should one develop in your instrument, do NOT attempt to temporarily plug the crack with wax, cork grease, Otter fat, or whatever else you happen to have lying around. Why? Because once you get that crap in the crack, completely removing it (which is paramount to completing a proper, long lasting repair down the road) can be VERY difficult.
I’d like to add one to this: it’s never a good idea to leave a flute (or other instrument) lying on a chair, particularly if there are non-musicians around.
…pauses in stirring a cauldron of fresh otters. Whoops it’s too late to put them back in the river now!
Seriously I was told by the maker of my main flute to lightly oil the bore with almond oil once a week, if I am playing it every day. By another every 2 days. By the maker of my previous flute once a month . By a well known recorder maker every 3 months…I know this topic keeps returning but I aways feel that I might be doing it wrong!
I have never had an instrument crack yet even after 15 years, so that tub of otter fat I keep in the cellar hasn’t been used.
Peter Noy told a friend of mine he didn’t need to oil his blackwood flute at all, claiming the wood’s density and natural oilyness didn’t require it. Of course, that was for a flute that was made AND delivered in the Seattle area.
I think your native climate (and it’s humidity) is a much larger factor in determining how much to oil a flute rather than how often it’s played.
I’d like to add one to this: it’s never a good idea to leave a flute (or other instrument) lying on a chair, particularly if there are non-musicians around.
–James
My favorite flute advice comes from a site I saw long ago…
“A flute on the floor is a flute no more!”
One of the saddest things that can happen to a flute is to be sat on. This has hapenned to me (i put the flute down for 10 seconds, someone sat on it). The most important item a flute player can have is a couple of sturdy, dependable and portable flute stands. Keep one at home and one in your gig bag.
While I think oiling flutes during breakin is agood idea,
I’m struck by the wide diversity of opinion
about oiling flutes and have my doubts
that it much matters otherwise, at least
under normal circumstances.
Whatever you do about oiling, just don’t do too much of it. Almond or peanut oil is almost impossible to overdo, since they don’t stay, but other oils are not so forgiving. My rule of thumb is, after the initial period, oil only when the bore stops being shiny in places. When oiling, the idea is to apply a light coat, not make it wet to the point of dripping.
No kidding, it’s shocking how many instruments I see in the shop that have been sat on, why the heck would anyone put their instrument on a chair in the first place? All it takes is one look at an expensive flute with a snapped off tenon…excellent aversion therapy.
With regards to oiling: The biggest thing that causes problems is leaving excess oil on the instrument. Oil, let sit for an hour or two to soak in, then make sure to wipe/swab off ALL of the excess oil - this includes the bore, sockets, tenons, tone holes and embouchure hole.
Dammit Loren, why didn’t you tell me this ealier? I’ve been keeping my flutes submersed in tupper-ware containers full of linseed oil to keep them from drying out in the dry New Hampshire Autumn.
Well, I guess I’ve got to clean all this oil off now. I wonder if blackwood is dish-washer safe?
Hi Loren, How do you get cork grease out of a crack? I have to repair a crack in a socket that cracked while the flute was assembled, the cork grease injected into the crack. Any ideas?
Jon
