Klarinet Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 1994/08

From: Talmage Powell <TPOWELL@-----.EDU>
Subj: Bore oil
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 1994 22:36:36 -0400

Have I missed something? In the discussion about bore oil I
haven't caught anything about that most important preliminary, preparing
the instrument for the oil. To put it another way, you mean you oil a
bore coated with the residue of garlic spittle, beer breath, last winter's
head cold virus? I maintain that prior to oiling the bore should be cleaned.
For swabs I personally use strips of old-timey, all-cotton, Birdseye baby
diaper material, which I buy at a fabric shop. Prior to oiling I wipe the
bore with a moistened swab several times, never getting the swab overly wet.
The cleaner? Exercise care. I've found that grain alcohol of about 100
proof does the job nicely and respects the wood enormously. A 100-proof
vodka will do the trick, and also clean your pipes if you happened to be
a pipe smoker.
When the bore is clean and dry the oil should be applied sparingly.
If the instrument is made from high quality grenadilla or black wood the
penetration is not going to be much, regardless of the oil used. I view
the oil more as a resistor to moisture penetrating the wood. I go with
the almond oil advocates, although a pure, very light vegetable oil gives
good results. My one verboten is some of the petroleum distillates that
are bottled by the ounce and palmed off as "bore oil".
No need to get gung-ho with the oiling bit. If you swab out the
clarinet properly after every playing and bore oiling once or twice a year
is your schedule you've bought what in my opinion is the best ticket.