Klarinet Archive - Posting 000052.txt from 1994/09

From: Timothy Tikker <tjt@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: Bore Oil (fwd)
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 1994 12:33:16 -0400

Another on this topic from the Bagpipe Network

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 94 08:17:05 EST
From: SKMACLEO <skmacleo@-----.com>
To: bagpipe@-----.edu
Subject: Re: Bore Oil

At the Balmoral School this summer, Mike Cusak recommended not oiling as well,
but I'm not sure of the exact reasoning.

For those interested, commercial woodwind bore oil (e.g. Selmer) is indeed
mineral oil. Mineral oil is a long chain hydrocarbon and never dries, although
eventually the lighter fraction will evaporate. The hydrocarbon oil is not
"soluble" in the wood and really doesn't penetrate well (i.e. it is a surface
treatment).

Other oils (vegatable or animal sourced - e.g. linseed, almond, peanut, etc.)
are basically related to fats or triglycerides and may be much more able to
penetrate into the wood surface. These oils do eventually "dry", but I'm not
sure of the mechanism.

One point that hasn't been raised is that oils do affect the appearance of wood.
In addition to changing the index of refraction at the surface (adding depth to
the finish), there is also the issue of dirt. Since mineral oil never dries, it
acts like a magnet for dirt. The initial sheen on an oiled blackwood chanter
can soon become a dark opaque finish.

Steve MacLeod
SKMACLEO@-----.COM at Internet