Somewhere I saw "pharmaceutical grade almond oil with vitamin E added " recommended for wooden flutes/whistles, so I went to my pharmcist today to ask about it, and he says he doubts that I’ll find it in a pharmacy.
So, does anyone else use this stuff, and where do you get it?
What are the best alternatives? I’ve also seen a recommedation to smash walnuts wrapped in a cloth, then use the oily cloth on the wood. Anyone tried this?
Is the vitamin E just needed to prevent the entire bottle of oil from going bad? If so, then the walnut trick should work with almonds, too, no?
I believe you can get it in various health-food shops.
However, everything I’ve read leads me to believe almond oil does nothing to protect wood.
I use a good quality clarinet bore oil; cold-pressed linseed oil is also fine. Apply very sparingly to the bore of an instrument that hasn’t been played for about a day, just enough that the bore turns a bit shiny. Allow to dry overnight before playing.
I try to do this about once a month. This seals off any exposed end-grain in the bore and can help prevent cracking.
Almond oil is an herbal thingie. You can probably get it at a health food store or some place like that. You can add vitamin E yourself. Just squeeze a couple of capsules into the oil and shake it up. Vitamin E is to keep it from going rancid.
Darwin
I would never use Walnut oil - too rich in polyunsaturates, which though healthy when fresh,
deteriorate quickly with heat, air and light.
Almond has one of the highest MONOUNSATURATE content
of any of the edible oils (aside from olive).
MONOUNSATURATES are significantly more stable than
polyunsaturates.
The so-called refined almond oil
has had a lot of the incidental nutritional components removed
leaving an oil more concentrated in monounsaturates - therefore
more stable for hardware use.
FYI.
The pro’s and con’s of ‘to oil or not to oil’ and if you do,then what to use have gone on for years- J.J. Quantz even discusses this very question in his ‘Versuch’ compiled in 1752(!),and sounds remarkably like the preponants of oiling today.
The subject has been done to death on the Flute forum (and rightly so-aren’t we all paranoid about our prize wooden flutes disintigrating before our eyes? )
Personally,I use Almond oil from a local pharmacy,and, as Bretton says,it certainly doesn’t do any harm.
I tried this type once and it made my lips tingle. This is the kind recommended for body message, et al. I went for the salad oil type Almond Oil, added my own Vitamin E from a capsule, keep in it the fridge and it works great. I oil about once a month - and it tastes good too.
As has been said, the beat goes on about oiling or not and what type to use. Makes me feel better and maybe the flute too!
Yes, it does have certain antioxidant qualities
but it is only 42% mono CV almond’s 78%.
Also, have you ever handled sesame?
Its so thick it could clog your bore.
One is boiled in oil. I use almond oil mixed with
monkey blood–everybody says something
different and I have doubts that anything
works. I got the almond oil at a health
food store, keep it in the fridge, lasts
a long time, as mentioned, does no
harm, makes wood look good. Best
I was told by my violin teacher that the best way to “polish” my fiddle was to smash walnut meats in a lint-free cloth, scrap the pieces off and rub the violin with the oiled cloth. But then, it’s not like the fiddle is subjected to a lot of moisture, unlike the inside of a whistle.
Just as a mtter of curiosity, if almond oil goes rancid, I suppose it would be obvious from the smell. My pharmacist advised keeping it under in a cool cupboard rather than teh fridge.
I simply use whatever the maker recommends. Usually it’s bore oil or almond oil.
I don’t use oils in the making of my whistles, but I have used it in finishing some of my N/A flutes and for me the main concern is whether the oil is a type that will dry or not. Some oils such as almond won’t completely dry and so will turn rancid. My preference is for organic food grade walnut oil, which can be purchased in health food stores, and will dry and will not turn rancid after it is dry. Because it will dry it will build up coats and provide an excellent sealer for wood. This info is based on the experience of a friend of mine who makes and repairs stringed instruments (Bellwood Violin in Ashland) and my own experince.
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