Oiling Wooden Flutes & Whistles

[Denny]

psychodonald:
If you do make it in under 5 seconds, would you then be flush with success?

Bob

there's more to it than just being in the right place

presentation counts for a lot sometimes

[an seanduine]

But,then again, it's been said that 'Just showing up is 90 per cent of success.'
Bob

[Denny]

yup, but is 90% good enough?


often, it is...

[psychodonald]

Bob, yes, I would be flush with success, but also a little wiped out. Toilet humor, it never gets old.

Well, back to the subject. I ordered and just received a small amount of Doctor Bore Oil and have applied it to several of my instruments. The instructions recommended using only 10 drops, which I did. It soaked in very quickly. I didn't think that my flutes or bagpipes were dry, perhaps they were. I have oiled with Bore Oil every quarter, at least, as the climate I live in is very dry most of the time. Doctor Bore Oil certainly has a long shelf life (10 years). Who would have guessed?? Here I was sitting fat, dumb and happy until I read this thread, now I've switched to a new product. I guess that's the point really--obtaining new information, learning from others, examining what we have always been doing, and making changes if necessary and prudent.

[cavefish]

Bob, yes, I would be flush with success, but also a little wiped out. Toilet humor, it never gets old.

Well, back to the subject. I ordered and just received a small amount of Doctor Bore Oil and have applied it to several of my instruments. The instructions recommended using only 10 drops, which I did. It soaked in very quickly. I didn't think that my flutes or bagpipes were dry, perhaps they were. I have oiled with Bore Oil every quarter, at least, as the climate I live in is very dry most of the time. Doctor Bore Oil certainly has a long shelf life (10 years). Who would have guessed?? Here I was sitting fat, dumb and happy until I read this thread, now I've switched to a new product. I guess that's the point really--obtaining new information, learning from others, examining what we have always been doing, and making changes if necessary and prudent.

let me know how it goes bro-------i have found the Docs oil does soak in but i need more than 10 drops--i have talked with the Doc many many times-- he is a good dude, but he also says Each piece is a different PIECE of WOOD, he is right------ so he will apply AS MANY coats as will LEAVE oil unsoaked on the surface and then wipe it off---- me myself i need to top it off with Almond, it it s thicker oil----------i have a 25 year old flute maybe that is a factor---- hey did you get the cork grease---- remember i told you it evaporates more than i would like on my ferrule string-------- well i started thinking about it------ ITS CORK GREASE-- when i had a wood whistle this would Soak into the cork----- either way you still have the Brass GUN SHELL

[psychodonald]

Bob, thanks for the information--very helpful. Going to give a second coat. I didn't get the cork grease as of yet, but that will most likely be my next purchase. I'm really going to try to brew me up a batch as you suggested as long as I don't set myself and the house on fire. Keep in touch, it's nice to hear from you--I'll do the same.

[Sigmund]

Hi.

Usually I use only almond oil for my flute, but I have found out that if I add a teaspoon of Jasons's 5000iU vitamin E oil (to every 5th tablespoon of almond oil), the sound of the flutes improves greatly.
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Natural-Cos ... B0000535TD
The oil is made for skincare, but works great for flutecare also!

First I could not believe that it could make such difference, so when I for two months moved away from my hometown, I did not bother to bring the vit E oil. During that time, I used almond oil only, without the vit E add.. surprisingly the flute sounded not that clear, pure, sharp. On a visit back home, I once again oiled it with extra vit E, and the sound improved, yet I still had not figured out the connection..hehe..(could not believe it made that much difference) so I did not bring it back to my temporary home. With only almond oil, the sound declined a bit, as "expected". The flute is new, so I oil it every second week.. There is little climatic difference between the two places, and I don't think that is the reason for the difference in tone.

THe oil consists of different nut oils, as well as a few other types of veg oils. It has also added natural vit E.

Cheers,
Sigmund

[talasiga]

almond oil is a rich source of vitamain E

[cavefish]

Hi.

Usually I use only almond oil for my flute, but I have found out that if I add a teaspoon of Jasons's 5000iU vitamin E oil (to every 5th tablespoon of almond oil), the sound of the flutes improves greatly.
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Natural-Cos ... B0000535TD
The oil is made for skincare, but works great for flutecare also!

First I could not believe that it could make such difference, so when I for two months moved away from my hometown, I did not bother to bring the vit E oil. During that time, I used almond oil only, without the vit E add.. surprisingly the flute sounded not that clear, pure, sharp. On a visit back home, I once again oiled it with extra vit E, and the sound improved, yet I still had not figured out the connection..hehe..(could not believe it made that much difference) so I did not bring it back to my temporary home. With only almond oil, the sound declined a bit, as "expected". The flute is new, so I oil it every second week.. There is little climatic difference between the two places, and I don't think that is the reason for the difference in tone.

THe oil consists of different nut oils, as well as a few other types of veg oils. It has also added natural vit E.

Cheers,
Sigmund

i have noticed this too, the viscosity of the oil adds density to the wood, and true Vitamin E in very thick, i have medical grade-
in my case i have oiled the living crud out of it and it made my flute too sharp--30+ cent off ----- i believe when thinner oils are used it gives more room for sound absorbtion, in other words the sound Retains in the chamber longer , giving it a deeper ,Darker fuller note------on the opposite side, when the wood is fully aborbed in oil the sound "leaves" the chamber faster, almost like "Delrin", leaving a brighter sound, Less Wood vibration--which is not at all what i like -------- it takes away the 'woody" sound, some one else has called it "rick"-- but this is just my observation, from a wood workers view and oil experiments i have done on projects and my own flute

in my flutes case ,the less oiled the "flatter" and woody the sound and so forth

my flute does not have a tunable head, that being said when i oil it I have to wait a few days for a decent A440 to come in

[Gabriel]

I once treated my flute with alcohol and played it immediately afterwards. My playing improved a lot, but the effect didn't last long and left me back with a massive hangover.

[Aanvil]

Bear fat.

The problem is in the getting.

The bears tend to not go along with the idea.