I oil my flute as directed, but I’m just curious. As long as a flute keeps drinking up what you give it, is it possible to oil too much?
What kind of wood and what kind of oil?
Not that I can answer the question.
I dunno. The question is hypothetical at this point. I play a rosewood flute and use a commercial bore oil. Or, we could work with a worst case scenario, which could be rather interesting. Whatever wood soaks up the most, with something like peanut oil that can be used, but doesn’t provide a lot of protection.
I would say that yes, you can certainly over-oil, and depending on the circumstance (kind of wood, kind of oil, how much, how long) you can damage the wood or even severely damage the flute.
I would say drying oils like linseed oil are the best protection for the flute but also the most likely to harm the flute if misused.
–James
Much discussion about these matters if you search.
Loren, I believe, once said that he has seen more
flutes harmed by over-oiling than by under-oiling.
He was working as a woodwind repair person.
I’ve had one highly respected maker tell me never
to oil his flute (or, at least, that there was no need
ever to oil). My own feeling is that oiling is
optional, especially after the flute is broken in–but, of course, that doesn’t mean it does positive harm.
I dont use anything else but pure Almond oil on the flute, and dont over do it. Try oiling the flute with a rag wrapped around the end of a pipe cleaner that has been dipped in the oil. Some times people dont realise that not playing a new and unseasoned flute for long enough can be every bit as bad as over or under oiling a flute. The rule of thumb is supposed to be that you should play a new flute until the slabbers come out the end in drips. Sam Murrays advice to me when I was 14yrs. It works for me still. 
Taken that you are in Ireland. You could play for hours down here now without the hint of moist (45 cent. degrees). 
However, Murray told me there was no point in oiling his flute.
BTW. Maire, can I know what flute you played in Caceres Fleadh? I can’t remember. What a sound!
Thanks all. I know people who oil religiously and wondered whether they could actually be doing more harm than good. Then, there are others who never, ever have oiled in their life. I guess it’s one of those things that can just depend so much.
What’s the worst than can happen when over-oiling apart from causing a sludgy residue on the inside of the bore 
?
The flute gets a bit heavier?
I think the trend is towards more frequent oiling… I used to oil my flutes about once a month, if not a wee bit less.
Recently, my teacher, a maker and a performer have leaned towards oiling once a week.
The humidity in the UK is high for most of the year, so it’s not that.
You can get oil on the pads or keys, harming the pads, and making the key action sluggish. I had managed to get some oil into the block mount of the Eb key, and it was sticking open (all keys are normally closed except low C & C#).
Kevin Krell
What’s the worst than can happen when over-oiling apart from causing a sludgy residue on the inside of the bore ? 
If there is already a weakness in the grain of the flute, the oil can serve as the force that may make it seperate, causing a split in the wood. But only if you are really unlucky, also it plays havoc with the joints and tuning slide. I have seen over oiled flutes where the slide has come away from the barrel completely.
Sylvester, I play a Goodlad and Willis London Quays flute circa 1832. And Yes, she is a beast (her names Bessie). 
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an absolute piece of work.
I agree Sylvester, you dont get many like them any more, and she is quite a loud wee hooter when she is played properly (which I endeavour to do as often as I can) How is your flute going in this weather? I took note of your comment about the heat where you are living, and to be honest, it never crossed my mind that each country would have its own issues of this type. That what you get for being parochial 
For Bessie’s voice I can vouch for. And one of the loveliest sounds as well.
Less than a week ago I was in Ireland (Co Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry) To be honest I found a better reedy sound in a more mild climate rather than back here. Maybe the flute got inspired at home or perhaps it was me. I find the Murray too ‘dry’ now and think that it might need some light oiling despite Sam told. I also think I should put a small humidifier into the case due to extreme dryness in the air.
having experienced one cracked bansuri and a cracked blackwood head (Irish flute) as the significant issues the past decade I have taken the following approach.
Oil monthly during dry weather (whether cold or hot) and at the prospect of it. Otherwise not at all. This covers both bamboo and wood and reconciles all the paradoxical and contradictory info out there.
I use only almond oil now - it is both light and relatively more heat stable (high monounsaturate content) than other edible tree product oils.
Less than a week ago I was in Ireland (Co Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry) To be honest I found a better reedy sound in a more mild climate rather than back here. Maybe the flute got inspired at home or perhaps it was me. I find the Murray too ‘dry’ now and think that it might need some light oiling despite Sam told. I also think I should put a small humidifier into the case due to extreme dryness in the air.
I would go ahead and oil your flute slightly Sylvester. He also told me the same about my flute along time ago, and he is right, but when the flute has experienced the amount of drying and humidity that yours has, it does need the protection. I find that carrying my flute in a padded case is the best thing. The humidity can escape or be absorbed more readily, and in my opinion plays better. Works for me. 
Thanks Maire, I’m actually doing already (almond oil). I’ve always oiled my flutes (even one that has a varnished bore.) It’s the less I could do it for them in exchange for so many good times. After oiling Sam’s plays just easier and brighter, maybe it’s a placebo effect, but works for me. Doing the humidifier gadget tonight…
By the way, I drove past a street post-termometre right now 5PM, and I saw 48 centigrades…
Thats hot! 